Tayla Lyell: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

For Asia’s gay professionals, technology is equality’s champion

How can technology make life easier for the modern gay professional? Evan Tan from Freelancer shares some resources for LGBT workers In a much-celebrated move timed during this year’s Pride Month, US President Barack Obama expressed his unequivocal support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) movement — not just in the United States, Read the full article...

The post For Asia’s gay professionals, technology is equality’s champion appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1x8XtTM

A whopping 8M users signed onto Steam at once on June 30

Huge sign-in numbers were due to the tail end of the digital service’s annual summer sale; numbers jumped from 7M concurrent users since this January Trust the people at game publisher/developer Valve to make waves in the PC gaming community; first with its multiplayer titles DOTA 2 and Team Fortress 2, then with its annual Read the full article...

The post A whopping 8M users signed onto Steam at once on June 30 appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1mfPG46

Video ads pump revenue into mobile games without hurting IAPs

Good news for Asian game developers for the F2P mobile market! Video ads aren’t going to cost you your audience or their spending power Are video ads on a free-to-play mobile game detrimental towards audience attention span and their ability to buy in-game apps? Hardly, according to recent findings. Ad mediation firm Fuse Powered*(via Venturebeat) Read the full article...

The post Video ads pump revenue into mobile games without hurting IAPs appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1x8Xt67

Microsoft puts the focus back on the desktop

After the failings of Windows on new platforms, Microsoft goes back to what it knows best.

Steven’s Sinofsky’s vision for Windows seems to have had its fate sealed with a new report from ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley. Yes, the operating system will still be available on tablets and smartphones, but the centerpiece of Windows’ modern look: the Modern UI, once known as Metro, will be virtually erased from existence on the desktop *in favor of a return to the traditional Start Menu paradigm.

According to a report by ZDNet, which was later confirmed by The Verge, Microsoft’s next version of Windows, currently codenamed “Threshold”, will follow the trend started with Windows 8.1 — different versions of Windows for different hardware profiles. Desktop users will get a Start Menu and the Modern UI will be suppressed; mobile users will still have the touchscreen friendly interface. Users of Two-in-one devices that are Windows exclusive will have a hybrid, depending on what configuration their device is in.

Originally the return of the Start Menu was expected with Update 2 of Windows 8, but it looks like this will be now reserved for Threshold.

For Microsoft, Threshold is an attempt to undo the usability sins of Windows 8: the traditional Windows style desktop was useless on tablets, while the Modern UI was the wrong fit for the desktop.

Microsoft needs to do all it can to give Windows a second chance. Many two-in-one devices ship with Android for a reason — Windows has yet to prove itself as a viable mobile operating system. At the same time desktop users have largely avoided making the move from Windows 7 to Windows 8 because while the operating system itself is technically sound, the inclusion of the new UI was a major turn off to many.

It isn’t clear yet if Threshold will be Windows 9, or a major update to Windows 8. It all likelihood Microsoft will be eager to abandon Windows 8 and all its baggage, but nothing yet is confirmed.

The public preview of Threshold is expected to arrive in the fall, shortly after Windows 8.1 Update 2.

Sources: ZDNet , NeoWin

Thailand-based Pocket PlayLab acquires Anino Games

Going forward, Philippines-based Anino Games will be able to focus on creating new original titles, instead of developing games for other companies Pocket PlayLab, the two-year-old company behind tropical match-3 game Juice Cubes, today announced its acquisition of Philippines-based game studio Anino Games. The acquisition sum remains undisclosed. Jakob Lykkegaard Pedersen, Co-founder, Pocket PlayLab, told Read the full article...

The post Thailand-based Pocket PlayLab acquires Anino Games appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1qdjUF9

[Singapore] We Are One SG Launch Party

We Are One SG – “Empowering Community Events for Social Change” Synopsis: We Are One Singapore (WAOS) is a team of dedicated individuals who believe in empowering community events that give positive impact to our society. We believe that anyone with brilliant event ideas should be given support to make their ideas come true. Our Read the full article...

The post [Singapore] We Are One SG Launch Party appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1qdjRt5

First batch of winners for the Sword Art Online Awards announced

With Sword Art Online II making its worldwide premiere very soon, the anime’s official website has announced the first batch of winners for their Sword Art Online Awards, which asked fans online about their favorites from the series.

The first batch of winners include “Best Male Character”, “Best Female Character”, and “Best Episode”. The winners for each category are even awarded with their very own official wallpapers. Here are the winners:

Best Male Character:8th*place: Eugene

7th place: Recon

6th place: Diabel

5th place: Nishida

4th place: Heathcliff

3rd place: Agil

2nd place: Klein

1st place: Kirito

Best Female Character6th place: Sachi

5th place: Lizbeth

4th place: Silica

3rd place: Leafa

2nd place: Yui

1st place: Asuna

Was there even any doubt on who would win first place for the Best Female and Best Male characters? Kirito and Asuna are considered one of the most popular anime couples on Earth. The other members who completed the Top 3 (AKA The Finalists) were also not surprising as Leafa, Yui, Kline, and Agil have proven to some of SAO’s most beloved characters.

Best Episode7th Place: Episode 24: The Gilded Hero6th place: Episode 10:*Crimson Killing Intent5th place: Episode 25: The World Seed4th place: Episode 11: Morning Dew Girl3rd place: Episode 3: The Red-Nosed Reindeer

2nd Place: Episode 12: Yui’s Heart

1st place: Episode 9: The Blue Eyed Demon

While 1st place Episode 9 may not come as a bit of surprise, Episode 10, one of Sword Art Online’s most highly rated episodes has surprised many by only taking the #6 spot. Episode 10 not only featured the duel between Kirito and Heathcliff, but also Asuna’s daring rescue of Kirito from the hands of Kuradeel, but what Ep. 10 is most famous for is that it implied something happened between Kirito and Asuna later that night in what the fans might call as 16.5. Yui’s Heart and The Red-Nosed Reindeer were also highly rated episodes which made many cry.There are still many awards to be announced in days to come and they include the “Best Monster Award”, “”Best Costume Design Award”, and many more.

You can also read more about*anime**here on SGCafe. *Also join in on the community’s discussions at*http://ift.tt/1ahtbFO

*Source: Sword Art Online Official Website

Read More: http://ift.tt/1qLKq7R

via Singapore Cosplay Forum by SGCafe - SGCafe.com News http://ift.tt/1r998Bq

CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-I Gaming Keyboard Review

Cooler Master is a well know manufacturer of hardware and gaming equipment. In this review we are looking at their CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-I Gaming Keyboard. It uses Cherry MX Brown keys, and the overall specifications sounds promising.

CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-I mekanisk tastatur - CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid-I - Tweak.dk

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1iOlD31

Apple rolling out iOS 7.1.2, fixes issues with iBeacon, mail attachments

iOS 7.1.2 is a minor update that includes stability improvements and patches for security vulnerabilities.

Apple is updating the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to iOS 7.1.2, a minor release that plugs security holes, fixes bugs and improves stability.

Among the tweaks made in the update are improvements to iBeacon connectivity and stability, and a fix for a data transfer bug that was affecting certain third-party accessories, including bar code scanners. The update also patches a security issue with attachments in the Mail app, which was resulting in attachments not getting encrypted. Current jailbreak exploits remain unplugged, though that will likely change with future updates, well before iOS 8 officially rolls out.

The update comes in at approximately 30 MB on the iPad and 32 MB on the iPhone, and can also be obtained*via iTunes, though that will need a much larger 1.4 GB download. As usual, the update should be available from the Settings » General » Software Update menu, on all devices currently running iOS 7.

Via:*Apple Insider

Axent Wear gives headphones some Anime swag

Axent Wear is a soon-to-be headphone set that combine coolness and cuteness into one neat package.

As a tech fashion item, headphones are already pretty standard, sometimes even a bit weird. But here’s one that tries to be both cute and cool. Axent Wear may not be the most technologically advanced headphones but it does win points in looking quite radical.

There’s not really much to go into detail just yet, as the project for Axent Wear had just started last May and there is barely any info about its specs. The latest update however, gives a glimpse of what the actual product might look like. One definite function of the headphones though is that the cat-ear like design would serve as extra optional speakers, so it won’t exactly be an exclusive tech fashion item.

After gaining lots of positive feedback, the developers of the concept have finally announced that they are about to start Axent Wear’s own Kickstarter campaign. No exact dates, but the announcements hint that it’s going to be very soon. If you’re interested, you might as well sign-up at their official website, or check for updates at their official Facebook page.

Source: IT Media (JP), Axent Wear

Read More: http://ift.tt/1r6GSiY

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1r6GG3f

We are building the future together with entrepreneurs: Chiah Li Ong

How can one feel breathing in a space that brims over with ideas? Chiah Li Ong, a Partner at JFDI, gives an insider’s view This is in continuation of our series on the startups and the people from startup accelerator JFDI (The Joyful Frog Digital Incubator).* JFDI’s Chiah Li Ong*started her career in the media Read the full article...

The post We are building the future together with entrepreneurs: Chiah Li Ong appeared first on e27.

More...

via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://ift.tt/1vojtqW

Urusei Yatsura's Lum Invader promotes new energy drink

Suntory’s new Regain is rolling out today and they’re making sure fans get a truly out of this world experience, and they have even enlisted the help of a certain lovable, yet-overly attached alien girl from the classic anime and manga series, Urusei Yatsura.

Thanks to the yellow and black can that Regain comes in, fans of Lum are in for a treat as cosplayer Sumire shows her modelling skills as Lum and promotes the new drink.

It’s tiring shocking your husband all the time, but apparently Lum can keep up her energy levels with an earth-style pick me up.

Speaking to the crowd, Sumire states that “I was able to become Lum-chan~!”

What better way to pull off all nighter anime marathons than with an energy drink sponsored by this classic character? You can almost hear “my darling~” coming out of the can.

Check out even more anime news here on SGCafe! Also feel free to join in the community discussions going on in the forums at forums.sgcafe.com!

Source: Anime-Anime

Read More: http://ift.tt/1lsg2tE

via Singapore Cosplay Forum by SGCafe - SGCafe.com News http://ift.tt/1pErw5T