Turns out the internet is not quite as united on the issue of DRM as we were led to believe. A fan by the name of David Fontenot has started a petition on Change.org claiming that “consumers were uninformed” during the initial outcry against the DRM policies that were announced with the new Xbox One.

To review, when the Xbox One was initially announced at E3 in June, it was also announced that the Xbox One would have to log in via internet connection every 24 hours to verify ownership. If a log in was missed, gamers would not be able to use their consoles to play games until a connection was re-established. Microsoft also talked about their game sharing and trading policies, stating that games used games could be resold, given as gifts, and even resold to retailers, but this could only be done once per game license.

And as they are wont to do, gamers got a bit upset.

After about two weeks of listening to their fans’ rage, Xbox announced that they would be repealing their DRM policies on the Xbox One, and the system would operate largely the same as the 360 does currently, with no online requirement and infinitely resell-able games. Unfortunately, along with the removal of DRM, came the loss of several features that were announced with the Xbox One, namely the ability to trade and resell digital licenses for games, and play your games on any Xbox One.

What really needs to happen here is that both parties need to step back, take a deep breath, and really look at what each side is asking for. Xbox made a serious misstep in their initial release statement by claiming that “every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection”, and not highlighting that it is the DRM policies that allowed several of their notable new features to operate. This situation exacerbated by Phil Spencer’s sarcastic claim that “We have a product for people who can’t access the internet, it’s called Xbox 360”.

The fan response could have been a little more controlled as well. Any appearance of the letters DRM these days seems to cause an immediate, visceral reaction in gamers, leading to copious quantities of “nerd rage” and not a lot of well thought out research and reasoned discussion. Perhaps a calm complaint would have elicited a more informative response from the executives at Microsoft, than the wave of outrage that was put forward.

So where do you stand on the Xbox One DRM policies? Do you want the many-featured, but DRM restricted Xbox? Or are you in the DRM free, but less innovative camp? Let us know in the comments below, or over in the forums. To check out the petition, head over to http://www.change.org/petitions/microsoft-give-us-back-the-xbox-one-we-were-promised-at-e3-2

~kemosaabi

Corning, makers of one of the most popular types of glass used to make screens on modern smartphones, is apparently planning to make it even better. Already famous for the Gorilla Glass that offers tough, highly impact-proof screens which can be curved to provide an ergonomical form factor for phones against the ear, Corning are now reportedly working on a new iteration of Gorilla Glass with an anti-microbial layer.

By “anti-microbial”, what Corning mean is the glass will contain a chemical that acts as a constant disinfectant on the screen. Supposedly able to kill 99.9% of common germs found on a phone, the chemical is always reacting with the screen’s surface and, so Corning claim, can completely disinfect a typical smartphone screen in two hours, meaning a phone could be left on a table for a while and then could be picked up and be clean and safe to use without ever needing to touch a disinfectant wipe or cleaning cloth. Given the wide variety of places a smartphone is used nowadays – many people never allow it to leave their hands for long and constant exposure to one’s hands – plus the added bacteria that could be picked up if a person regularly uses it near food or takes them to less hygenic places such as toilets – phones can easily get dirty surprisingly quickly, so a technology that can help to clean a phone screen by itself is incredibly clever.

Corning aren’t stopping there, however. Also on the agenda for the next iteration of their glass screen technology, the company apparently want to improve the clarity of the glass so as to make the screens as transparent as possible, which would help to improve colour and visibility of what’s on the screen. Reports from the company suggest that they already expect the new screens “to be as transparent as purified water” – which, if true, would be some amazingly clear glass indeed.

While Corning are giving no words as yet as to how close the screens are to being shown off or when they’ll go into mass production, people are already highly excited and eager to see it on the next wave of smartphones. The real question though, is how much of a premium will have to be added to the cost of each phone to subsidise what is unlikely to be a cheap new technology, for which only time will tell. More news as we get it!

[via Technically Motivated]

After a legal battle lasting several months, on Febuary last year Apple lost a landmark case filed by parents across the United States, which claimed iOS Apps targeted to younger children were often including downloadable content or extra features that required in-app purchases to unlock; for which the apps were actively encouraging the children to purchase the extra content without adequately explaining that they cost actual money. Many of the children were of too young age to understand the concept of in-app purchasing; and the claim by parents that Apple did not offer enough protections to prevent unauthorised purchases by the children of parents who owned iOS devices or explain that they were about to actually purchase items with real money was upheld in court.

As per the terms of the settlement, Apple were instructed to offer parents worldwide the ability to make claims as individuals for compensation as a result of the negligent practices. Today, Apple sent an email to the press announcing that they will now accept compensation claims made directly to the company from individual parents who have been affected by this case.

Parents can claim for the total cost of any string of in-app purchases made within 45 days of each other, up to the date where Apple implemented repeat password requests or disclaimers to counteract such activity. Of course, there IS a catch: Claims for under $30 will qualify only for a $5 iTunes Voucher as compensation; however, larger transactions may have the total of all valid disputed transactions refunded as cash. What's more, there's a deadline of January 13th, 2014 for at least some types of claim.

When the XBox One was revealed at E3 earlier this month, many details were revealed about the console that caused widespread criticism of the console by both players, press and gaming journalists alike. I’m sure by now you’ve read the myriads of articles about it; but if not, here’s a quick recap: The console would require an internet connection every 24 hours to check validity of licences to play any games stored on the console (possibly being unusable for gaming if a connection could not be established); used games could only be transferred to a new owner once; reactivating a third-hand game would cost a fee and games could not be resold for less than 90% of their original value (meaning buying used games could end up MORE expensive than buying them new); and so on.

After soon being followed by Sony’s announcement of the PS4 allowing full sharing of disk-based games just by giving the game away like you would do today, lack of online requirement and £100 lower price tag, Microsoft were looking like real losers in this year’s “console wars” (an endearing term given by the media to explain the concept of gaming consoles battling for control of the market by selling the most consoles). Even Nintendo got a pot shot in, with Satoru Iwata revealing in an interview his view on controlling the trade of used games:

“The best possible countermeasure against people buying used product is making the kind of product that people never want to sell. Taking as an example Mario Kart or Smash Bros., even though you might think, ‘I’ve done enough with this,’ you’ll still have second thoughts. ‘Wait a minute. If one of my friends comes over, I might need this again.’ You’re never going to want to sell these games. That’s something that always occupies our minds. We need to make software that players don’t want to sell.“

It seems Microsoft have finally thrown in the towel and admitted their plans to control usage of their console AND trade of used games just isn’t going to work. On Wednesday, in an official posting on XBox Wire, Microsoft announced a complete reversal of their strategy, ditching the online requirement and removing control over used games.

Read the rest of this entry »

A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

Wow…   Just wow…

Seriously, THIS is the Superman film we’ve been waiting for!  Now the station staff know I’m not the biggest fan of the Dark Knight Trilogy (although yes, I will be going to watch the three film IMAX next month), but they, and Christopher Nolan‘s input shines through, grounding the film from the VERY Scifi start.  The direction by Zack Snyder is solid, the story by David S. Goyer shines, from start to finish.

In Man of Steel we actually get to see more of the life of Krypton than we EVER have before.  This is a test tube society, people are bred for specific roles in life, Warrior, Scientist, Diplomat… and the society has suffered because of it!

Krypton is a dying world, years of harvesting energy from the planets core depleting it and leading to a catastrophe.  Zor-El (played AMAZINGLY by Russell Crowe), tries to warn the ruling council, but knowing how it will turn out, he and his wife, Lara Vor-Ul (the incredibly beautiful Ayelet Zurer), give birth to the first (and last) son of Krypton to be born be natural means.  Whilst Zod (Michael Shannon), tries to stop the council by military coup, but ultimately fails and is banished to the Phantom Zone by the council.

This is an incredibly strong opening for the film, Crowe is on fine form (something I, and others, will be shocked by, considering his films of late have been, well, flat) as Jor-El and he steals the film up until the destruction of Krypton and beyond.

This, of course, leads us to Earth, 33 years later and an adult Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), hiding from the world and doing odd jobs here and there, having to move on when he uses his power for good and saving people in case he is found out and shunned.

We very soon get to meet Lois Lane (played brilliantly by Amy Adams), looking into an alien ship discovery.

Some excellent Smallville shout outs happen here, firstly we meet Dr. Emil Hamilton, played by West Wings Richard Schiff, however, the US Air Force technician helping him is played by Alessandro Juliani, who played Dr. Hamilton in the TV series (and yes, quite a few people in the cinema also recognised this when you heard the little giggles to see him)

From here on in, the films turns into a tour de force of just HOW powerful Kryptonians can be on Earth.  Not only Zod, but his small army aswell, ESPECIALLY his right hand lieutenant Faora-Ui (Antje Traue), who (with the help of some amazing CGI, takes down US soldiers with a combination of military martial arts, super speed and super strength.

We also meet US Colonel Nathan Hardy (Christopher Meloni), who goes by the codename Guardian throughout the film, in, what I am hoping, means we will (somehow) see the return of this character in a sequel as the Star Labs hero.  Here’s hoping!

The fight scenes between Superman and others, and all the destruction they bring, truly leap off the screen, and not just because of 3D (I watched the 2D screening), but because they are so strong and perfectly done.

JJ. Abrams can learn a lot from Zak Snyders use of lens flare aswell, what is in the film has a natural place and looks like its MEANT to be there!  The whole film looks beautiful throughout and I’d happily goto see the film again if I can.

I’ve mentioned in previous reviews about my “tingle factor” for films and how I base my scoring of a film on how it makes me feel.

Avengers made me tingle and scored highly because of it.  Man of steel didn’t give me the tingles, it made me feel stronger, as a person, but thats because the character is meant to do that and Snyder brings that out brilliantly!  Superman is a shining beacon for all humanity to strive to be better, compared to Batman, who is there to instill fear in those that would do wrong, Superman brings the light to the world.

It’s clear we’re gearing upto, if not a full on Justice League movie, a live action Batman/Superman would be IMMENSE!  And with Zak Snyder, David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan at the helm, we could genuinely see a really good cinema takings scrap between Marvel and DC, something the fans want AND DESERVE!

This film LITERALLY flies!

9/10

~Lone