The information comes from the folks over at Shack News, which says it was told by Evans himself that Microsoft plans to launch the Kinect on PC as well. “We will bring this to PC. We will have more information soon.” This isn’t terribly surprising, considering that the currently available Kinect is also available on PCs as of last year.

Unfortunately, no other information was provided except confirmation that it will happen. There’s no word on whether the PC availability will be there when the gaming console hits shelves, or whether consumers will have to wait awhile to see the option. If the last Kinect is anything to go by (and there’s a good chance it is), buyers will likely have to wait at least a few months before Kinect for PC surfaces.

As we reported earlier today, the Xbox One will require the Kinect in order to function, something that is part of Microsoft’s goal to make the next-gen gaming console a full entertainment setup. Developers are being encouraged by Microsoft to develop for the device, and users will need to keep it synced up with the console. Some users consider this a good thing or regard it indifferently, but some feel it is unnecessarily restrictive and that it isn’t the right course to take.

In other Xbox One news, speculation has abounded about whether users will need to pay a fee in order to play used games or games shared with them by friends or other users. The belief has been “yes,” but ealier this evening a tweet was spotted on one of Microsoft’s Xbox support Twitter accounts saying that such a rumor is false. The excitement from that was short-lived, however, with a different tech support employee expounding on that and saying that all previous tweets regarded specific situations, but that such information isn’t available, instead pointing them to a generic post on Major Nelson.

SOURCE: Shack News

Throughout the entire Q1 2013 quarter, a total of 46 million laptops were shipped, so 4.57 million touchscreen variants certainly isn’t a lot, but with a healthy increase from the previous quarter, touchscreens in laptops are becoming more popular than ever. Most likely, the number of these kinds of laptops will only increase in the future.

Specifically, manufacturers like Lenovo, Acer and ASUS have set higher targets for themselves to achieve over 20% of touchscreen market share, which could be quite achievable, but it’s really only up to consumers who want to adopt touchscreens in their laptops. We already know Apple thinks that people don’t want them, but a 51.8% increase says otherwise.

Much of the adoption of touchscreen technology in laptops is thanks to Windows 8, which includes a touchscreen-friendly start screen that you can swipe and navigate around using your fingers. Of course, the new operating system hasn’t received a lot of compliments lately, and its adoption rate is slightly slower than what Microsoft or PC makers were expecting, but most OEMs have added touchscreen laptops to their repertoire due in part to Windows 8.

Plus, as laptop prices get lower and lower, touchscreen laptops will become more affordable. Right now they’re quite on the pricey side, with a decent machine running over $1,000, but former Intel CEO Paul Otellini says that touchscreen laptops will break the $200 barrier in the near future, so the technology could eventually become the norm.

VIA: Tom’s Hardware

SOURCE: DigiTimes

With the HP Split x2, consumers get a 13.3-inch high-definition touchscreen display that can be detached from the base, which contains an extra optional hard drive for additional storage on top of the storage in the detachable unit. As with the dual hard drives, there are dual batteries for “ultramobility,” all of it wrapped up in a soft-coated shell to keep fingerprints to a minimum.

Under the hood, users will find a 3rd-generation Intel Core processor (Core i3 and Core i5 options) and up to 8GB of RAM, while audio is provided via Beats Audio and HP Connected Music. There’s a multi-finger ClickPad trackpad, as well as a 2-megapixel HP TrueVision Full HD integrated webcam for video chatting. Storage can be expanded via an SD card slot in the base and a microSD card slot in the slate. You can see the device in action in the video above.

There are the various software trimmings you’d expect, such as support tools and other similar resources, as well as various warranty options for protection against accidents. The HP Split x2 is slated to hit shelves in the United State this upcoming August, and will have a starting price of $799.99.

Said HP’s Senior VP of Consumer PCs Ron Coughlin: “Customers want to access and share content anywhere, anytime, on any internet connected device-and they expect those connections to be seamless. The HP SlateBook x2 and the HP Split x2 are next-generation devices and the latest examples of our continued commitment to evolving the computing experience by providing the flexibility necessary for customers to be productive at home, at the office or on the go.”

As I write this, I’m working on a Mac Pro that I bought several years ago. At the time, the computer was state-of-the-art and capable of handling all kinds of tasks. For me, it was a perfect solution: it offered me the flexibility to run three monitors, had the power to handle some video editing, and was running OS X – an operating system, I believe, is superior to Windows.

But now years later, I’m lamenting my purchase of the Mac Pro. Although it’s still chugging along, it’s not working as well as it once did. And despite my best attempts to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of this supposedly high-end computer, it’s falling short on several fronts.

While all this has been going on, Apple has been launching new Macs at a torrid pace. Since my Mac Pro purchase, the company has launched two new Mac designs – the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display – and continued to update the iMac with outstanding design ideas. But it’s the Mac Pro that, save for a slight upgrade, has been ignored by Apple.

Now, I know that I’m not alone in wondering what is happening in Cupertino. Over the last few years, we’ve all been watching with baited breath as Apple hits the stage to unveil new Macs, hoping that a Mac Pro will be one of them. But each time, we’ve been disappointed. Apple’s customers have even e-mailed CEO Tim Cook to ask what in the world is going on. His response? Be patient.

Still, it’s hard for us to be patient. We’re watching our friends running Windows doing far more than we can with the Mac Pro. And it’s making us think twice about making the leap to a custom-built Windows desktop that, while not ideal, could actually deliver the enhanced power we need.

I’ve been holding off taking that plunge because I believe Apple has something up its sleeve for the Mac Pro. The trouble is, I just don’t know how much longer I can hang on. Yes, my Mac Pro is still doing its job, but it’s getting harder and harder to complete tasks. And I’m becoming more frustrated by the computer by the day.

So, I need to ask, Apple: where in the world is my new Mac Pro? If you’re not going to launch a new one, just put us out of our misery and tell us. If you are, make it quick; we’re losing faith that you’re actually going to launch a replacement. And the sooner we lose faith, the sooner you lose us to a Windows PC.

I never thought I’d say it, but it’s possible that I might just have to ditch my Mac Pro for a custom-built PC. Don’t make me do it, Apple. Don’t. Make. Me. Do. It.

For instance, tap your phone or tablet against your notebook, and you can push a website address from your laptop, or vice-versa, Sony suggests. The NFC can also be used as a way to quickly pair two devices via WiFi or Bluetooth, much as Sony has already done with its NFC-enabled smart TV remote controls.

Meanwhile, there’s aluminum detailing on the Fit 14/15, an optional capacitive touchscreen, and Exmor R webcams. The Fit E-series models get plastic casings, with the Fit 14E and 15E having “big box” speakers, Sony says, while the 15E also gets a subwoofer.

The Fit 15/15E also accommodates a separate numeric keypad, though all the models have backlit ‘boards. NVIDIA GeForce graphics with up to 2GB of dedicated memory are optional, and there’s a choice of regular HDD, hybrid hard-drive, or SSD options. DVD and Blu-ray are also on offer.

Sony says the VAIO Fit 14 and 15 will hit shelves in mid-May, priced from $649 for the Fit 14 and $699 for the Fit 15, each available in black, pink, or silver. The Fit E 14E and Fit 15E will be offered in black, pink, or white, priced from around $549 and $579 respectively.

While each of the units being presented in the HP ProBook 400 notebook PC series is a significant amount thinner than its predecessor, the line also brings up to 18% lighter weight points as well. Like HP is want to do with their notebook lineup across the board, the company is pushing a “115,000 hours of reliability testing” point here with the 400 series. They’ve also suggested that this line has gone through “extensive platform qualification” as well.

The HP ProBook 430 G1 will be released alongside the HP ProBook 440 G0 while the HP ProBook 445 G1 will be offered along side the ProBook 455 G1 and the ProBook 470 G0 as well, all of them starting to hit shelves this month starting at $499 USD. You’ll be able to have a peek at this lineup this month right alongside the HP 200 Series Notebook as well, this lineup made for small businesses from start to finish.

With the HP 200 Series Notebook, HP has created a business machine made for content creation and consumption in a rather stock-ready sense. Both the HP ProBook 400 notebook PC line and the HP 200 Series Notebook line work with HP 3D DriveGuard for hardware protection of your data – that’s for real bumps and sudden movements making with the otherwise deadly crashes on your machine.

NOTE: While it’s mentioned here that the HP 200 Series Notebook will be aiming to take on the rising Chromebook market, it will not be working with Google’s Chrome operating system. Instead users will be working with Microsoft’s Windows OS.

The HP 200 Series Notebook line works with a durable casing that comes in any color just so long as it’s black, and you’ll have the choice of picking this machine up in two iterations. There’s the HP 250 Notebook and the HP 255 Notebook, the line starting at $249 USD, looking ready to take on the inexpensive Chromebook segment head-on.

Resident Evil: Revelations was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS, and it has been the first Resident Evil game in quite some time that has generated mostly positive reviews from critics and gamers alike. The game adopts the same gameplay style as Resident Evil 4/5, however, it also includes classic aspects of the Resident Evil series, such as puzzles. It also brings back the horror aspect to the game, which seemed non-existent in the recent Resident Evil releases.

The game has done so well on the Nintendo 3DS, with retail sites like Amazon having a 5/5 star user rating for the game, that Capcom decided it needed to capitalize on its success. It announced back in January that it would be porting the game to all of the current-gen consoles as well as the PC. It would improve the graphics, add a trophy system, implement a co-op mode for the main campaign, and more.

With the demo, gamers will be able to test out the game before they purchase it, which is what many gamers would have loved to do with Resident Evil 6 before they spent their money on it. Currently, the demo is speculated to be held-up due to the certification process it needs for each platform, but as soon as that’s done you’ll be on your way to navigating through the horrors of the Queen Zenobia.

[via Capcom Unity]

Gaming rigs from boutique computer makers usually cost a couple thousand dollars, but Digital Storm is aiming to put that fact to rest with their Vanquish lineup of gaming PCs that start at $699. The entry level rig comes packing with an AMD FX-4300, 8GB of RAM, 1TB HDD, Radeon HD 7750 graphics, and Windows 7.

Digital Storm says that this only $38 more than what you would pay for these same parts on Newegg, with the company’s most-expensive Vanquish rig only costing $58 more than the same build from parts on Newegg. Of course, this isn’t a huge difference and you’re obviously still paying a bit more if you bought from Digital Storm.

However, this isn’t the cheapest gaming rig we’ve seen from a boutique computer maker, iBUYPOWER’s newer Revolt gaming rig lineup starts at just $499. We ended up reviewing one of their high-end Revolt builds, and we liked it a lot. However, there’s simply nothing more satisfying than building your own PC. No matter which way you go, it seems Digital Storm is at the ready for when you decide purchase a pre-built machine.

With the update being offered this week, NVIDIA has delivered new support for a series of games most recent to the market. Support of what NVIDIA says is “up to 20% faster performance” is included for games like Dead Island: Riptide, Neverwinter, and the Star Trek title associated with the film Star Trek Into Darkness. Dead Island: Riptide is also included in the GeForce Experience instant optimization collection.

NVIDIA continues to make pushes in the gaming market both in the desktop and mobile gaming arenas. Earlier this year at CES, NVIDIA announced several cross-over projects that would have traditionally mobile platforms such as Android working with high-powered gaming PC graphics processing over wireless local networks. Have a peek at our coverage of NVIDIA’s Project Shield to see NVIDIA’s mobile gaming device hero that’ll be released later this year.

Have a peek at other recent updates to NVIDIA’s gaming environment and see for yourself how they’re aiming to keep their name in gamers minds through 2013. Let us know if you use NVIDIA’s GeForce GPUs and how you find the upgrade process as well, and if you’re a gamer who uses something other than a GeForce GPU, too!

It’s a rather unique concept – when folded, the device looks and functions like your average everyday tablet running Windows 8. It is portable, and can be used with a stylus, for example. There are bound to be times, however, when you need to do something more hardware-intensive than a tablet can handle. Instead of switching to a laptop or desktop, the Inhon Tablet has a built in sort of Turboboost mode.

On the half of the tablet/laptop hybrid that doesn’t hold the screen, there’s said to be USB 3.0 and Mini DisplayPorts, as well as a cooling fan that is exposed when the device is opened up. As such, the increased cooling is used in conjunction with a TurboBoost of the processor (overclocking?) that gives users a big jump in processing power.

Because it can no longer be used as a tablet once it is unfolded, the Inhon Tablet can be used with an optional accessory that looks very similar to a Touch Cover, functioning as both a trackpad and a keyboard. When it hits shelves, the quasi-tablet will be priced between NT $29,999 and NT $39,999, which is roughly $1000 to $1300 USD.

[via Engadget]

Is this monster worth the monstrous price it comes attached with? The device itself is one massive display that you can mount on your wall or sit flat on a table – or on a carpeted floor if you’re all about the cross-legged way of going about things. When you’ve got it all set up (when you’ve got it turned on, that is), you’ll be playing a collection of uniquely tuned games made specifically for this interface.

You’ll find Monopoly – the real deal! – Draw Race 2, Raiding Company, Air Hockey, and a whole heck of a lot more! Each of these games are either built-in to the PC or will be available for download in their full form for free. Not that you’ll be worrying about the cost of a piece of software after you’ve dropped the $1,700 USD you’re spending on this device, but it’s nice to know how simple it’ll all be.

Inside you’ve got a 27-inch 1920 x 1080 full HD display optimized for not just 10-finger touch, but a collection of accessories that come with the machine as well. Paddles for air hockey, game pieces for board games, and a unique 6-sided die that the computer can read with ease!

The most basic model you’ll be working with has a 3rd-gen Intel Core i5 processor with NVIDIA GeForce GT620M graphics and 2GB of memory. Along with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, you’ll be blowing up the finest of next-generation touch-friendly games. You’ll be given a stand to set the Horizon up if you wish, and higher-powered versions of the machine are in the pipeline – stay tuned for more!

According to Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report, 24% of all PCs are absent of any kind of anti-malware software. Microsoft says that unprotected computers are 5.5 times more likely to catch a virus than computers that have anti-malware software installed. However, it seems some users are willing to take the risk.

According to the report, the country who has the most unprotected computers roaming around is Egypt, with a whopping 40% of unprotected PCs laying around, with India coming in second at 30%, and Russia with 29%. The US comes in at 26%, with the UK at 21%, which ties for the lowest percentage along with Brazil and Australia.

However, Microsoft notes that the reason for unprotected PCs may not just be about laziness on the users’ part, but they simply may not be well-informed on the importance of having anti-virus software on their computer. There’s also other contributing factors, like free trials expiring without notice, or a virus itself disabling your anti-virus software.

Apple currently makes up 45% of all PC operating profit, with Dell making up 13%, HP at 7%, Lenovo at 6%, ASUS at 6%, and Acer at a measly 1%., with 21% of the total pie consisting of “other” PC manufacturers. Of course, it’s important to note that profit is different than sales. Apple may not have sold the most computers, but they made the most profit from the ones they did sell.

The data comes from industry analysis firm Asymco, who say that the volumes which “made up for” low margins with PC sales are “disappearing.” Of course, Apple is experiencing the same problem, but on much lower scale, because they have “positioned themselves for growth with devices and content commerce and services.”

The problem seems to be OEMs’ reliance on Windows 8, which has been met with criticism as a step backward in desktop operating systems, whereas Apple integrates its operating system with its own hardware. Simply tacking on Windows 8 to various hardware is certainly cheaper for OEMs, but if Windows 8 fails, hardware sales go down with it.

[via Cult of Mac]

According to From Software’s data, over 375,000 copies of Dark Souls was purchased for the PlayStation in Japan. Overseas, over 1.3 million copies of Dark Souls was purchased for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 combined. From Software had a separate chart for copies of Dark Souls with the “Artorias of the Abyss” expansion. The expansion was included in the PC edition of Dark Souls, and was released as a DLC for PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 users. 137,000 copies with the expansion sold in Japan for both the PC and the PlayStation 3, while 555,000 of the copies sold overseas for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

These figures come shortly after gameplay footage of the game’s sequel, Dark Souls II, was released. Dark Souls II will feature the same gameplay mechanics as Dark Souls, but will feature a world that is twice as big. The game will still keep its challenging gameplay renown in the series since Demon Souls. Yui Tanimura, co-director of Dark Souls, states,

“We do not plan on having an Easy Mode since we are creating this game with a thought that challenge and difficulty are core elements of the game.”

Dark Souls II will again be released by From Software in Japan, and like Dark Souls, will be released by Namco Bandai in North America. It will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC for both countries, and will continue on the same momentum as its predecessors. While Dark Souls took place in the kingdom of Lordran, Dark Souls II will take place in a completely new setting. The game will once again revolve around a character seeking out a cure for a curse he has been afflicted with. Check out the 12-minute Dark Souls II gameplay video above.

[via NeoGaf]

As this most recent IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker report shows, the first quarter of 2013 was not extremely kind to the likes of HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, ASUS, and the rest of the bunch. With a total average drop in PC shipments of 13.9%, it’s not appearing too positive for the near future in next-level PC production. That 13.9% drop is compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, while year-on-year the decline was a rather similar -12.7%.

“At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market.” – Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program Vice President, Clients and Displays

You’ll find that Lenovo – good ol’ Lenovo – was the only vendor to have stayed flat from the quarter before this one to the one we’ve just completed. Their market share also went up a couple of percentage points while each of the other top-5 groups decreased by at least .2 points of a percentage – that’s Dell hanging in there as well. HP remains on top of the stack with a 15.7% share of the market but was hit hard with a 23.7% drop over the past year.

“While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market.” – Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program Vice President, Clients and Displays

According to the top 5 vendors chart of United States PC Shipments, Apple reaches in for a piece of the pie – as does Toshiba. Here we’ve still got HP up on top, Dell not far behind, and Apple butting heads with Toshiba and Lenovo. Here you’ll find Lenovo once again the only brand of the top five to not have lost market share over the past year with a 13% gain from Q1 of 2012 to Q1 of 2013.

Of course when you average the collection of the top 5 vendors of PCs in the United States, you still get a cool 11% drop this quarter compared to 2012′s Q1. Apple on its own also lost 7.5 points year-on-year in this market, still running strong with an estimated 1,418 units shipped in Q1 2013.

Have a peek at the timeline below for other recent IDC reports to see how the mobile and desktop PC universes are making their time here as we roll into the spring of 2013.

[via IDC]

While the original Dishonored story followed a man by the name of Corvo Attano, “the last bodyguard to the Empress”, this time you’re playing one of the assassins that inadvertently ruined Attano’s life. While it’s not said explicitly in the trailer you’re about to see, we can’t help but wonder if you and Attano will be meeting by the time this whole saga is over. Your name this time is Daud, and for six months you’ve had the weight of the world on your shoulders.

You’ll be BAMFing your way from one wall to another, knifing your enemies in the back here and there, and electrifying all those who would oppose you without end. This DLC for Dishonored will have you working with tricks you’ve seen before as well as a whole bunch of new bits and pieces only a real hardcore OG assassin would know.

This downloadable addition to your Dishonored experience will require that you already own and have installed the game (or have the disk in your drive if you’re on a console). You’ll be downloading Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall starting on April 16th for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC all at once. Make with the cash drop!

In Q1 2013, there were a total of 76,294,000 PCs shipped worldwide. HP accounted for 11,997,000 of those shipments, garnering a 15.7% market share. However, its total shipments last quarter was 23.7% less than the 15,726,000 it shipped in Q1 2012. Lenovo came in second place with 11,700,000 PCs shipped, and 15.3% of the market share. Its PC shipments was off only by 5,000 compared to Q1 2012.

Dell came in 3rd place with 9.010,000 PCs shipped, and 11.8% of the market share. Its shipments dropped 10.9% from its 10,110,000 shipments in Q1 2012. Acer came in 4th place with 6,150,000 PCs shipped, claiming 8.1% of the market. It suffered a whopping 31.3% decline from its Q1 2012′s 8,952,000 PCs shipped. ASUS comes in last with 4,363,000 PCs shipped, claiming 5.7% of the market. It suffered a 19.2% decline from the 5,401,000 PC shipments it made in Q1 2012.

All of the other PC manufacturers shipped a total of 33,075,000 PCs, claiming the remaining 43.4% of the market. Their shipments dropped 10% from last year when it shipped 36,739,000 PCs. IDC Research Director of Personal Computing, David Daoud, states, “Although the reduction in shipments was not a surprise, the magnitude of the contraction is both surprising and worrisome.” According to the IDC, Q1 2013 was the worst quarter ever for PCs, and it has been tracking PC quarterly shipments since 1994. The IDC states that a major factor for this huge decline is most likely due to the restructuring that both HP and Dell are going through

The TV show, which is set to premiere next Monday, is set 30 years after 2013. Aliens known as Votans have come to Earth in search of a new home. After some conflicts, and a Votan ambassador being assassinated by a human supremacist, the Votans and Humans go to war. The war wages on for 30 years before both species agree to a ceasefire to ensure their survival. Joshua Nolan, a former Marine, declares himself the Chief Lawkeeper of Defiance (the revamped St. Louis) to maintain peace between the Votans and the humans, and to protect the town from the dangers of the outside world.

Defiance worked together with Trion Worlds to develop the Defiance MMO. The game is available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC for $59.99. Characters are able to create their own characters and play in the Defiance world. There are massive co-op battles, tons of weapons, “Fierce Shadow War” multiplayer, and constant updates, including 5 DLCs set to come out in the future. For PC users, there is a deluxe edition available for $99.99 that gives you many extra bonuses. There is no subscription fee for the game.

Kevin Murphy, writer and producer of Desperate Housewives, is the executive producer for Defiance. In an interview with Reuters, he stated, “What’s unusual about what we’re doing… is we’re building the second-screen concept into the actual DNA of the show-game combo.” He states that in future seasons of the show, there will be crossovers between the game and the TV show, including implementing actual user characters into the TV show in later seasons and having actions in the video game affect the plot of the show. The game and the show cost $100 million in total to create, and the crossover between both will hopefully secure a dedicated fan base.

[via Reuters]

“While there will be some individuals who retain both a personal PC and a tablet, especially those who use either or both for work and play,” Gartner research VP Carolina Milanesi said of the stats, “most will be satisfied with the experience they get from a tablet as their main computing device.”

That satisfaction means existing PCs are far less likely to get replaced, whereas once they might have been regularly updated. Whereas many vendors have blamed the global recession for underwhelming sales, Gartner argues that, in fact, it’s a sign of far more complex changes. “This is not a temporary trend induced by a more austere economic environment” the firm warns, “it is a reflection of a long-term change in user behavior.”

By 2017, Gartner expects PC and notebook shipments to have dwindled to 272m units, down from 341m in 2012. That will be partially offset, the analysts predict, by what it calls “ultramobile” – ultraportables and ultrabooks – shipments, which are tipped to more than quadruple between 2013 and 2017, to 96m units worldwide.

Headed in the opposite direction are tablet and phone shipments. Gartner estimates 197m tablet shipments in 2013, rising to 266m the following year, and then surging to 468m in 2017. Phones, meanwhile, will go from 1.9bn this year, to 2.1bn in 2017.

As for what OS will be reaping the rewards, Android is singled out as the likely top candidate. Apple and Microsoft will tussle for second place, it’s suggested, with Windows tipped to maintain a lead over iOS/OS X through to 2017.

Where the regular Pro tablet comes with a one month trial of Office 2013 Home and Student, however, the Chinese Edition gets the full package. That’s despite the local variant being priced the same for the 128GB model, even though Office 2013 would usually be 699 yuan ($113).

However, there are some limitations too, not least from the underlying restrictions on Windows 8 for China. The biggest is likely to be language support, since the OS can only be used with the Simplified Chinese UI language pack; you’ll need a full (paid) copy of Windows 8 if you want to use any others.

Whether the third variant of the tablet will improve sales for Microsoft, or just confuse them, remains to be seen. The inclusion of the full copy of Office suggests Microsoft is looking to combat software theft – something the low-cost, download-only Windows 8 for China was also intended to do – but having it on sale alongside, rather than instead of, the regular Surface Pro could end up puzzling potential buyers.

Preorders of the new Surface Chinese Edition are open now, priced at 6588 yuan ($1,062) for the 64GB model and 7388 yuan ($1,191) for the 128GB model. They’ll begin shipping come April 10.

[via istartedsomething]

Before the update, you would have to choose between regular browsing or private browsing with Firefox. You couldn’t have both. Now, Firefox has taken a page of out Google Chrome’s book and is now allowing you to simultaneously do both. This is great if you have multiple email accounts and do not feel like signing out of one just to access another. It’s also great for “other” things as well. This new feature is included in Firefox Browser for Android.

Also with this update, Firefox’s Download Manager is now integrated into your toolbar, so you can easily monitor your downloads without opening another window. You will be able to view and minimize your downloads with one simple click. And finally, Mozilla has integrated getUserMedia with its browsers, which allows developers to create web apps that can utilize the user’s camera and microphone. You can download the latest Firefox browser here.

Firefox Browser for Android now allows you to add shortcuts to your homescreen for your favorite sites, similar to Google Chrome’s Android app. Mozilla has also provided support for ARMv6 devices, so now many more lower-end Android phones will be able to take advantage of Firefox Browser for Android. Mozilla states that by supporting ARMv6 devices, it is able to bring its service to over 50 million more phones. In similar news, Mozilla is also gearing to launch its FireFox OS phones later on this year to over 18 operators. It’s an impressive OS looking to break into the mobile market.

[via Mozilla]

In the SEC filing, in which the company lays out its plans to go private, the company expressed a handful of concerns with the issues facing the PC industry, including the “decreasing revenues in the market for desktop and notebook PCs and the significant uncertainties as to whether, or when, this decrease will end.”

Other points of discussion on the dying PC industry also involved Microsoft, and the lack of sales of Windows 8 is ultimately causing an overall drop in PC sales, saying that there is an “uncertain adoption of the Windows 8 operating system, unexpected slowdowns in enterprise Windows 7 upgrades and the increasing substitution of smartphones and tablets for PCs.”

Dell also mentions “the overall difficulty of predicting the market for PCs.” Overall, it seems that Dell definitely isn’t all that into the PC market anymore. Of course, we already knew that — the company has long been shifting its focus away from the traditional desktop and laptop market in favor of their mobile and enterprise business.

[via Forbes]

If you have a travel down our Diablo III tag portal, you find a series of stories that are just as often negative and full of disappointment as they are exciting and action-packed. This release was one of the most long-awaited in the history of gaming, with 8 years separating the second installment of the series (Diablo II in 2000) and the announcement of this title.

Though Diablo III was first announced in 2008, it was only actually released to the public on May 15th, 2012. That’s one massive amount of time for a game to be in development, especially with the 5-minutes-of-fame atmosphere we’re in now. Then there’s the bits and pieces that Blizzard has had to change right from the outset. Today’s big kicker is the announcement from former Diablo 3 Game Director Jay Wilson.

Speaking with Joystiq this week about Diablo III’s real money action house, he suggested that the feature has “really hurt the game.” According to Wilson, over 50 percent of the players that play regularly use the auction house, while most of the auction house’s use is with in-game virtual gold rather than with real cash.

Because of this gold use, not necessarily the real money, motivation to collect gold and broken items (otherwise useless, able to be sold in the game to virtual vendors for gold), have become far more popular goals for users. There’s simply not as much junk everywhere anymore – Diablo II continues to be a massive mess of item drops and coins.

“I think we would turn it off if we could, [but it's] not as easy as that.” – Wilson

Citing the near-impossible task of figuring out how much of the Diablo III user population wants the auction house to stick around or be kicked to the curb, Wilson was clear on one point: they are looking for a “solution.” A solution to what, exactly, we might never know.

There are some cross-platform MMO games when it comes to the mobile world to allow different devices to play the game together. A company called Game Insight has announced a new cross-platform MMO called Dragon Eternity. The game has come first to the iPad and is available for PC gamers using a web browser version of the game. That web browser version of the game is currently in open beta and has over million users globally.

The game developers promise to deliver an Android version of the game in the near future. The developers of the game promise unprecedented depth and a huge variety of content to form a deep MMO experience allowing players to choose sides in the game world. Players can play as Vaalor or Sadar factions and as one of three different character types.

The character types include Paladin, Berserk, and the Witcher. The game play has players completing quests and collecting various weapons and sets of armor. The goal is to eventually earn the trust of the Dragon that will follow the player and fight with them. The game also supports nine different harvesting and crafting professions and has an in-game auction system. Players can also take advantage of five different varieties of combat including head-to-head and player versus player combat styles. One of the interesting things about the game is that a player can start a new adventure on the iPad and then pick that adventure up from where they left off on a web browser.

[via Dragon Eternity]

What you’re seeing here is the trailer shown on-stage today courtesy of Hideo Kojima – the presenter at hand, mind you, was wearing a bandage around his head and a t-short that read “Phantom Pain” as he did so. None too subtle! If you don’t see it here already, you’ll soon be having a peek at some more gameplay as well.

As far as the title Ground Zeroes goes – that’s just another piece of the game’s plotline. According to TheSixthAxis, we’ll be seeing Ground Zeroes late in the game while The Phantom Pain will be a bit of a prologue sort of presentation. For those of you wondering, that’s actor (and again voice actor) Keifer Sutherland helping Snake out of the hospital, and the band Garbage doing the soundtrack we’re hearing thus far.

Here you’ll see The Phantom Pain as revealed at the 2012 Video Game Awards – remember and freak out accordingly!

Also be sure to remember the greatness that was – and will be – Ground Zeroes in its first trailer here:

Stay tuned as we find out more information than you can handle about this futuristic blast-fest and dive deeper into tapping on windows and walls than you’ll ever have wanted to go! Check the timeline below for more Metal Gear Solid action as well!

For the Humble Mobile Bundle, you can pay any price you want to get access to the tower defense game, Plants vs. Zombies, the physics-based puzzler, Contre Jour, the reverse tower defense game, Anomaly Korea, and the third-person action brawler, Bladeslinger. However, if you pay more than the average price, you will also be able to download the 3D puzzle game, The Room, as well as the classic side-scrolling shooter, Metal Slug 3.

For the Humble Weekly Sale, you can pay any price you want (with a minimum payment of $1) to get access to two popular THQ titles. You will be given Steam keys for each game to be redeemed on any gaming-capable Windows PC. The first game you’ll get is Red Faction: Armageddon, where you will be fighting an evil alien species looking to spread Armageddon upon mankind. The second game is Darksiders, where you get to play as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. If you pay more than the average price, you will also given access to Red Faction: Guerrilla, as well as Darksiders sequel, Darksiders II.

The Humble Mobile Bundle will last two weeks long, while the Humble Weekly Sale will, of course, only be available this week. Humble Bundles are a great way for players to directly support game developers. Donations will also be split up and given towards several, select charities, including Child’s Play Charity, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the American Red Cross.

[via Humble Bundle]

There will also be a new mode added onto Borderlands 2 called “Ultimate Vault Hunter’s Mode”. It will be available for free for all players. To access the mode, you’ll have to beat “True Vault Hunter Mode” and be at least level 50. A new weapon tier will also be added to the game. The new weapon tier, called Pearlescent, should be familiar to those of you who’ve played the original Borderlands. It is set to be the rarest loot in Borderlands 2.

Gearbox is also looking to bring a new, playable character to Borderlands 2. The character, Krieg, is a new, psycho Vault Hunter that will bring a new level of bloodiness to the game. He will have 3 skill trees: Bloodlust, Mania, and Hellborn. His action skill is Blood Axe Rampage, a skill that regenerates his health when he’s murdering an enemy. His Bloodlust skill tree focuses on dealing damage, his Mania skill tree focuses on taking damage, and his Hellborn skill tree focuses on elemental damage.

The Krieg DLC is set to launch sometime late in May for $9.99. Unfortunately, the Krieg DLC isn’t available in the Borderlands 2 Season Pass because its not part of the main campaign. Speaking of main campaign DLCs, the fourth Borderlands 2 DLC, speculated to be called “Bunkers & Badasses”, is set to be released sometime in June. The new DLC is being developed by Gearbox itself instead of by 3rd party developers.

[via IGN]

The analysis shows that since 3 months ago, over 9 million more people made the change from regular cell phones to smartphones. It also showed that 18 million more consumers have purchased a tablet device. The number of connected devices per U.S. Internet household has grown from 5.3 internet devices per home to 5.7 internet devices. The study also shows that unsurprisingly, most of those devices are Apple or Samsung branded devices.

Smartphone adoption rose up 5% since 3 months ago, and tablet adoption rose up about 18%. The PC still remains the most commonly used internet-connected device in households, with over 93% of households owning at least one PC, a number that hasn’t changed in the past 3 months. John Buffone, director of devices at NPD Connected Intelligence, stated, “It’s hard to believe that tablets and smartphones are still somewhat in their infancy. But as we have seen in just the past few months, there is significant potential for this market to develop further.”

Consumers are adapting to mobile devices at a rapid pace, especially with the help of Android and its low-budget tablets. Android tablet sales are forecasted to dominate the tablet market this year thanks to the cheap options offered, such as Amazon’s line-up of Kindle Fires, Google’s high-end, yet affordable Nexus 7, and HP’s upcoming Slate 7. The IDC predicts that over 190 million tablets will be shipped worldwide this year.

[via NPD]

What you’re working with here in the newest chapter in the Saint’s Row franchise is another look at the go-anywhere and do-anything universe the public first fell in love with in the game known as Grand Theft Auto III. Open-run blast-anything and ride-everything returns here with Saint’s Row IV and we couldn’t be more pumped up about it. Have a peek at the first teaser trailer right this minute!

This game has been teased as taking place everywhere “from the Crack House to the White House” with no less than “ball-busting” excellence from start to finish. As you’ll see here, this game is ready to allow you to ride a car through town, murder your way through enemies galore, and fly. Fly right through the sky if you want – go for it!

The release of this game is set for some time inside August of 2013. At the moment it’s looking like a PC-certain release with current-generation consoles on deck. This means we’ll likely see Saint’s Row IV on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 – no word yet on PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720 action as yet. Stay tuned for more!

[via DeepSilverHQ]

It’s no secret the PC industry has been stumbling, no small part of that being due to the proliferation of smartphones and tablets. But Dong-soo says the blame also falls on Microsoft, with its Windows 8 operating system having received a mixed reception among consumers. Back in November 2012, for example, a survey by Avast showed that a mere 9-percent of users in the US planned to upgrade to a new PC with Windows 8.

Said Jun Dong-soo, “The global PC industry is steadily shrinking despite the launch of Windows 8. I think the Windows 8 system is no better than the previous Windows Vista platform. MS’s rollout of its Windows Surface tablet is seeing lackluster demand. Meanwhile, previous vigorous pitches by Intel and MS for thinner ultra-books simply failed and I believe that’s mostly because of the less-competitive Windows platform.”

He went on to say that it is expected the PC industry itself will fade away, an expectation that has prompted Samsung to greatly reduce the amount of memory chips it produces, instead ramping up production of chips for smartphones and tablets. He then discussed the Galaxy S IV and Samsung’s unveiling of the device in New York next Thursday.

[via Korea Times]

IDC states that emerging markets are no longer buying PCs and at an increasing rate. It also states that sales of PCs in emerging markets are nearing the same sales figures as those in the mature markets. In the IDC smartphone forecast, you can see that emerging markets play a huge role in sales as many countries begin adapting to newer technologies. In Q4 2012, there was a year-over-year decline of 8.3% in PC shipments, which is a huge decline considering Q4 is holiday season.

PC shipments are expected to only experience growth in the single digit percentile all the way through 2017. Total shipments of PCs are expected to equal around 207.1 million in emerging markets for this year. Total shipments for PCs are expected to reach around 138.7 million for mature markets like the United States. All in all, there should be around 345.8 million PCs sold this year worldwide. The second half of this year we should be seeing a slight increase in PC sale momentum.

PCs aren’t like smartphones, where people replace them every 1-2 years (or every 4-5 months for me). The average user can stick to the same PC for years to come, and they see no point in spending nearly a thousand dollars on a new PC when their current one is already capable of doing the regular tasks, like web browsing, online-shopping, document editing, etc.

[via IDC]

If you’ve seen a recent MSI all-in-one, the AG2712 shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It’s a symphony of plastics, stacking various colors, shades, and finishes – clear, black, grey; matte and gloss – into a blunt-edged monolith with an adjustable stand (angle, not height).

It’s not going to win any design awards, nor any for quality feel; still, it does what it promises to. Down the left edge there are power/control buttons, indicator lights, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, and a memory card reader. On a recessed panel on the back, you get two more USB 3.0, along with a pair of USB 2.0, audio in/out, an ethernet port, and VGA output. You also get a pair of HDMI ports, one outputting for a second display, and the second accepting an input so that you could use the AG2712 as a standalone display for a PS3 or Xbox 360, for instance.

Finally, on the right edge there’s a tray-loading optical drive. MSI throws WiFi in the box too, though if you want the 10-point multitouch display you’ll have to pay extra; as standard, it’s a regular Full HD screen. Either way, you get a welcome anti-glare finish which we found did a decent job of avoiding the show-floor lighting.

It’s the pure specifications that MSI is most proud of, though, and so you get a choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, paired with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670X graphics. Audio is courtesy of THX TruStudio Pro processing, though we’d be tempted to plug in some external speakers since, while the AG2712 goes loud, it lacks thump at the low end.

MSI isn’t saying how much the AG2712 will cost, at this stage, and given the all-in-one is competitive with a laptop on specs, but not a regular desktop, we’d hope the company bears that in mind when it slaps on the stickers.

That’s a blow to Microsoft, seeing as it means those would-be tableteers simply browsing the shelves at PC World or Currys are unlikely to actually see the Surface RT and add it to their list of contenders. Both retailers stock the iPad and iPad mini in-store, for instance, giving Apple’s tablet an instant boost in impulse-purchase appeal.

Still, given retailers and manufacturers alike were concerned that there would be no interest whatsoever in Surface when Microsoft first announced its intentions to enter the tablet hardware business, even getting PC World and Currys onboard is arguably a success. Microsoft is still yet to announce any official sales figures; the Surface RT showed up in the UK first in John Lewis stores.

Meanwhile, there’s no sign of the Surface Pro – which runs the full version of Windows 8 – showing up at the two new stores. Released last month, the Surface Pro comes with a special digital stylus for handwriting recognition, sketching, and more, though is significantly more expensive than its RT-based sibling.

Currys and PC World will be selling the Surface RT from £399.99 for the 32GB tablet-only, while adding in the Touch Cover takes that to £479.99.

Bioware posted on its Mass Effect 3: Citadel FAQ, “For Xbox 360 users, the Citadel DLC pack will come as 2 downloads on Xbox Live. ME3 Citadel is larger than our previous DLC packs, so it had to be split into 2 downloads. The first pack is priced at $14.99 and the second pack is tagged as free. Players need to purchase and download pack 1, then download pack 2 at no additional cost.” The FAQ continued to say that you can download pack 2 without downloading the first one, but users will only receive an error message that will redirect them to download pack #1.

Players will be able to access the Citadel DLC download after they stop the Cerberus coup attempt on the citadel. You do not have to complete the entire game before being able to access the DLC. You will, however, have to meet the characters in the original storyline before you can interact with them in the Citadel DLC. The game will have no effect on the ending, or the extended-endings of Mass Effect 3.

The DLC expands the longevity of Mass Effect 3 and should keep many avid fans happy. The game will also have a few tie-ins with Mass Effect 3′s upcoming comic series, Mass Effect: Foundation, which is a comic book series that will go back through the existing stories in the Mass Effect universe and elaborate on them more. The Citadel DLC will be available on March 5th on all platforms.

[via Bioware]

Despite the feedback about the maturity rating, the game developers for Tomb Raider do not believe they were wrong when they added more violence to the game. They also said that they were not influenced into adding more violence to the game because of games like Call of Duty. President of Eidos Interactive, Ian Livingstone, stated that gamers have a desire for “gritty realism”, which is exactly why the developers included all the gore, traps, hunting, and more in this game. His point is proven in this Tomb Raider trailer when we see everything that Lara Croft has to go through in order to survive.

Livingstone stated, “A decision was made to make it 18+ because of the combat involved, the graphics involved, and that gritty realism. It’s definitely the correct decision.” He stated that Eidos wanted to improve the fighting elements of Tomb Raider, because it always seemed to be placed on the back burner while the puzzle elements were front and center. While the game still follows the elements of exploration, adventure, and puzzle solving, there will be a lot more combat in this reboot.

This Tomb Raider reboot will take you back to the origins of Lara Croft and how she became who she was in the previous games. The game is set to be released world wide on March 5th via its publisher, Square Enix. In this game, you can take part in Lara Croft’s first human kill, as well as her transformation from a scared, young girl to the tough, fearless tomb raider she is in the 1996 series.

[via The Guardian]

The protagonist of this game is Captain Edward Kenway, an infamous pirate able to “clear the deck of a Spanish galleon like it were nothing”. The trailer shows Kenway in action as he’s able to assassinate almost an entire ship with ease, and able to commit murder in public without anyone (except his new mistress) batting an eye. To many loyal Assassin’s Creed fans, this game will be another welcome addition to the group, while to others, it just seems like Ubisoft is milking the Assassin’s Creed franchise for all it’s worth.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and the PC. It will also be available for the next-gen consoles whenever they come out, so those of you willing to wait, you can purchase the game for your future PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720. You are able to pre-order the game now, and if you do, you’ll get a limited edition poster created by cartoonist Todd McFarlane.

It looks like Ubisoft can go ahead and cancel that “World Premiere Trailer” website they had designed and prettied up all for Assassin’s Creed IV. Besides getting a sneak peak at the game, and finding out its official release date is October 29th, there isn’t much else we know yet about the game. It is rumored that Assassin’s Creed IV will be taking place in either Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, or England.

Office 365 Small Business Premium offers the user 5 ProPlus licenses that they can use to install Office on their PC or Mac. It also gives you access to the web-based versions of Office products. It includes business-grade email, shared calendars, website tools and HD video-conferencing capabilities. Office 365 Small Business Premium costs $150 per user, per year, which equals roughly $12.50 per user, per month. It’s user-friendly, so you will not need your IT department to help you set everything up.

Office 365 Midsize Business offers the same benefits of Small Business Premium, however it also offers enterprise-quality communication services and collaborates with Exchange Online, Lync Online, and Sharepoint Online. It is user-friendly, and it includes Active Directory integration alongside a web-based administartion console and “business-hours” phone support. It makes managing your huge office a much easier task. The cost is $180 per user, per year, which is about $15 per user, per month.

Office 365 ProPlus, offers 5 licenses to install the Office software on PCs or Macs, and it also allows you to access the Microsoft Office 2013 via the web. You can access your Office 365 from any device, with all of your documents and settings stored in the cloud. It, however, lacks the business-specific capabilities the other packages offer. It’s user-friendly, giving you the tools necessary to update your apps and control various features. Office 365 ProPlus is offered at $144 per user and is meant for businesses who don’t find the other two packages appealing.

Alongside these three new offerings, Microsoft is also keeping its original business offerings for businesses that don’t need the whole package. So for businesses that are satisfied by just using the Office web-based apps, or businesses that only need access to enterprise-grade email, those cheaper options will still be available for you. Businesses can also test-run the new Office 365 business offerings without paying a cent. They can get a feel for the products before they commit to it.

[via Microsoft]

The CtW Investment Group is affiliated with the labor group, Change to Win, and is an adviser to union pension funds that total around $200 billion in assets. There are 5.5 million members in the Change to Win labor group, and they all represent workers in various sectors like health care, hotels, and ports.

Pryce-Jones will attempt to get investors to vote against Thompson and Hammergren’s re-election. He also wants to stop the renewal of HP’s auditing firm, Ernest & Young. Pryce-Jones wasn’t able to discuss the reasons behind this, but he says that the CtW group has been questioning Ernst & Young’s responsibilities with HP. Aside from the Autonomy deal, CtW is also upset with HP’s acquisition of both the Electronic Data Systems Corp, as well as Palm’s WebOS, who we’ve just recently learn has been sold to LG.

The meeting today was held between HP’s Raymond Lane and 20 investors. HP stated that it regularly meets with investors before its annual shareholder meeting. They had discussions about the company’s future and the investors’ concerns. The discussions are then continued at the annual shareholder meeting, which will be held this year on March 20th in Mountain View, California. It looks like investors are getting a bit antsy with HP’s direction. Pryce-Jones stated, however, that Lane was credible on HP’s turnaround, and that Lane “laid his reputation” on it.

[via Reuters]

The Redstone update features a lot of changes to the gaming engine. There will be rendering optimizations that will improve your Frames per second. There will be new texture pack formats that will add support for HD texture packs, as well as allow textures to be animated. There is an added scoreboard system that lets players track kills, deaths, or player commands. There is an improved inventory management system that makes managing your stacks much easier. Death messages now include the cause of death, items used to kill you, and the player who killed you. In creative mode, you can now hit mobs or players from 5 blocks away.

There is a huge list of added items including the Redstone Comparator, Hopper, Dropper, Daylight Sensor, Trapped Chest, Weighted Pressure Plate, various decorative blocks, Activator Rail, Detector Rail, Minecart with TNT, Minecart with Hopper, Minecart with Spawner, and a lot more to improve your Minecraft experience and keep you hooked on the game for eternity. Many of the mobs will feature improved UI, and they will no longer be able to walk over rails unless they are pursuing you. Last, but not least, there is a LONG list of bug fixes that will improve your game play.

This new update will rekindle your love for Minecraft (as if you lost it in the first place), and have you playing hours upon hours of this strangely addicting game. Now you have a lot of new items to help build your insanely designed castles, towns,slaughterhouses, brothels and more. With the new optimizations and bug fixes, Minecraft should use less resources, meaning your computer will no longer double as a makeshift heater. But we’ll see about that.

[via Twitter]

When asked about the extended longevity the COD games now have, Hirshberg doesn’t seem too scared of possible profit depletion. He says that the game has found the right supply and demand for new content for the Call of Duty community. Players are able to play the same game for longer times, and Activision and Treyarch are able to keep their profits up and keep players hooked by selling DLC packs.

Commenting on whether or not Call of Duty will ever be made into a movie, Hirshberg stated that Activision has been approached several times by a variety of companies to turn Call of Duty into a movie. Activision’s primary business, however, is making games and they don’t want to jeopardize that in the “pursuit of making movies”. Hirshberg did hint that if they do dabble in movies, “it’s going to be with the right partners, and at the right time, and for the right reason.”

Hirshberg also commented on their big investment in the free-to-play gaming space. Activision released Call of Duty free-to-play in China, which drew in “tens of millions” of gamers to its gaming franchise. He says that the free-to-play space is something the company is doing on a “case by case basis” and they’re still learning more about it. Hirshberg says that they will implement more free-to-play investments “where we think it’s appropriate”.

[via Digital Trends]