Following the enormous round of layoffs announced this morning, Microsoft has now confirmed that Xbox Entertainment Studios will be getting the axe as well. Re/code was the first to report that despite the fact the entertainment division of the Xbox team didn’t receive a mention in Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s letter on Thursday morning, Microsoft will be shutting the door on future Xbox original programming initiatives.
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Google on Thursday reported earnings of $6.08 per share on revenues of $15.96 billion, which missed the consensus estimate of earnings of $6.24 per share while beating the consensus estimate of revenues of $12.32 billion. The past quarter was a very busy one for the search giant, which unveiled its new Android L platform that features a completely new user interface design, as well as Android Wear, its first attempt at making a platform for wearable computers.
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For many of us, nine years was far too long to wait for a new generation of consoles. Although the PlayStation 3 and especially the Xbox 360 were as much platforms for continued growth as they were gaming consoles, many would argue that the industry was going limp by 2013. There were plenty of standout releases, but if anything was going to reinvigorate developers, it would be new hardware.
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One big takeaway from Thursday’s terrible news that Microsoft is laying off 18,000 employees is that the company now sees former CEO Steve Ballmer’s decision to buy Nokia as a Gob Bluth-style huge mistake. 12,500 of the affected employees came from the Nokia devices and services division, which amounts to around half of the roughly 25,000 employees that Microsoft absorbed when it officially acquired Nokia earlier this year.
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What happens when a great idea and a gorgeous modern design meet traditional materials and phenomenal craftsmanship? Eight happens. Handmade speaker designer Stark recently unveiled Eight, the company’s latest creation that is like no iPhone accessory you’ve ever seen before.
Hand crafted from beautiful walnut or birdseye maple wood, the Eight is an acoustic amplifier that needs no power to amplify music or any other sounds played by an iPhone. It’s not a speaker, but rather an amplifier that projects sound from two large hollow chambers.
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Samsung’s upcoming phablet, which will be launched in early September – and which, for the first time ever, will have to face an Apple phablet – is said to pack an exclusive sensor that should further differentiate it from other competing devices. According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 4 will have an ultraviolet (UV) sensor that will help users stay out of the damaging rays of the sun.
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As of 1pm ET on July 17th, the public beta for Destiny is officially live on the PS3 and PS4. In order to get in, you need to preorder Destiny from a participating retailer, but we managed to get our hands on a few extra codes for those of you with quick fingers. Each code will need to be entered on Bungie.net, where you will be able to decide which platform you want to play on. You should then receive three codes for your chosen console, which you can with as you please. Keep in mind that although the beta is live on PlayStation consoles, Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners will have to wait until July 23rd to join in on the fun.
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Apple’s iOS devices may get even more secure in the future, a new patent application discovered by AppleInsider reveals, as devices will be able to get used to the owner, and determine differences between iPhone users in order to prevent theft and unwanted access. As a result, iOS devices would be able to lock themselves down when a stranger is detected, and even transmit an alert to a predetermined person.
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Do you still use classic headphones instead of earbuds just because most earbuds tend to fall out of your ears when you’re on the move? If so then you may want to check out a new Kickstarter project called OwnPhones that will let you 3D print earbuds that will fit exactly into your ears’ shape and size.
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Amazon completely changed shopping as we know it. The company has single-handedly put countless brick and mortar rivals out of business by undercutting their prices and by offering almost anything consumers might need under one virtual roof. Add fast shipping and a smooth shopping experience into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for success.
But even though low prices played a huge role in making Amazon the retail giant it is now, the company doesn’t always offer the lowest prices around — and now there’s a simple tool that tells you when that’s the case.
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