Posts Tagged ‘holiday’

Sony has teased the hardware design for its upcoming PlayStation 4 for the first time, after a February reveal that kept the device completely under wraps and left fans guessing about how Sony’s next-generation console would look. In a new video, shown below, the company teases the PS4′s hardware with a blurry black rectangle and flashes of design details. The timing of the tease is no surprise, with Microsoft set to reveal its own next-generation Xbox tomorrow at its campus in Redmond, Washington. Based on the video’s title, we should expect to see the PlayStation 4 unveiled on June 10th at the company’s E3 presentation.

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Sony teases PlayStation 4 hardware ahead of Xbox event, says you’ll ‘see it first at E3′

Google’s earnings are out and its a strong showing for the search giant in terms of profits, with weaker figures on the revenue side. Last quarter , Google earned $14.4 billion in revenue, less than half of which came from the US and most of which came from Google-owned properties. Wall Street was expecting that number to actually decline, as the first quarter is typically much weaker for ad sales than the holiday packed fourth quarter.

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Google’s Q1 2013 earnings beat expectations on profits, miss on revenue

Microsoft is gradually pushing out Windows Phone 8 updates, but the company says the “next release” won’t be available until the holidays. In a Windows Phone job posting , Microsoft reveals that it’s completing its current release, with the “next release targeting the holiday of this year.” Microsoft has remained quiet about its plans for any future Windows Phone releases, opting this year not to hold its usual press conference at Mobile World Congress. Another recent job posting revealed that the company is working on Windows Phone Blue, a release that will likely become Windows Phone 8.5. Codename Blue is an internal effort at Microsoft across a number of products and services to push for further integration. Windows Phone 8 is..

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Microsoft says ‘next release’ of Windows Phone is on target for the holidays

Opera revealed earlier this year that it plans to ditch its long-running Presto rendering engine in its mobile browsers and move over to the much more common WebKit engine (the same browser engine used by iOS and Android). We were able to get a quick look at a very early preview version of the new browser running on a Nexus 4 smartphone here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Continue reading…

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Opera with WebKit for Android hands-on preview

Global tablet shipments soared during Q4 last year, bolstered by a stronger-than-expected holiday retail season. That’s according to the latest report from research firm IDC , which found that worldwide shipments reached a record 52.5 million units last quarter — a 74 percent increase over the previous quarter, and 75 percent jump over Q4 2011. The iPad, not surprisingly, led the way last quarter, with 22.9 million units shipped and a 43 percent market share. iPad shipments increased by 48 percent over Q4 2011, though Apple’s market share declined for the second consecutive quarter, due in large part to a surge in competition. Yet the company still enjoys a healthy lead over second-place Samsung, which saw shipments increase by 263…

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IDC: iPad competitors see strong growth, but Apple leads the way

Recently we’ve seen faltering notebook sales courtesy of NPD Group, and now the latest numbers from IDC show that worldwide PC shipments continue to fall. A grand total of 89.8 million PCs were shipped during the fourth quarter of 2012, down 6.4 percent compared to the same period in 2011. The numbers for the whole of 2012 were also down 3.2 percent, with PC manufacturers shifting 352.4 million units overall. The falling numbers mark a grim milestone as well, with IDC saying that this is the first time in over five years that sales declined year-on-year during the holiday season

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IDC: Worldwide PC shipments declining faster than projected

When was the last time you saw an adaptation that was better than its source material? Many would have you believe that Telltale Games’ interpretation of The Walking Dead is exactly that, with its stylized visuals, dramatic action, and choose-your-own-adventure storytelling that held some Verge staffers’ attention for far longer than the TV show or comic. We decided that the full season deserved a spot in our Holiday Gift Guide , and Polygon went so far as to say that “Everyone should play The Walking Dead . Everyone.” The good news is that you don’t have to take our word for it, at least if you own an iPhone or iPad — the first episode has gone free on iOS for an unspecified time

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Good deal: ‘Walking Dead: The Game’ episode 1 is free on iOS

An enormous abstract Christmas tree has been unveiled at the center of Brussels , though some are displeased with the city’s modern take on holiday tradition. Created by French collective 1024 Architecture , the “Abies Electronicus” is an 82-foot steel-ribbed installation that replaces the real pine tree typically on display at the city’s central square. Every night, the structure comes to life with a light and sound show, replete with shimmering lights, glowing cubes, and a mix of both holiday and industrial music.

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Abstract Christmas tree electrifies Brussels with spellbinding light show

Did you hear that? That low hum rising off in the distance? What could it be? Oh, of course, it’s The Verge Holiday Gift Guide! The holiday shopping season — and deep dread of finding that perfect gift for everyone on your list — kicks off now, and we’re here to help.

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The Verge Holiday Gift Guide 2012

Finding the right gift for someone is hard. Sometimes it’s not just about knowing what they want or what they like, but about knowing what kind of person they are, then trying to find something unexpected for them. Something they never see coming. Something completely unique. Gifts from the world of art, home goods, design, and personal items are the kinds of things that can often require a rather deep knowledge of the giftee, but can also have an impact that far exceeds gifts from other categories

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Holiday Gift Guide: art, home, and design

It’s that time of year again — when you get to give gifts to people you love, and are obligated to give gifts to people at work you barely know. No matter who you’re shopping for, we’ve got something perfect to get them — check out our Holiday Gift Guide, and start checking people off your list. Buying a decent set of headphones is tough.

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Holiday Gift Guide: headphones

It’s that time of year again — when you get to give gifts to people you love, and are obligated to give gifts to people at work you barely know. No matter who you’re shopping for, we’ve got something perfect to get them — check out our Holiday Gift Guide, and start checking people off your list. Seeing as it’s the essential piece of your home theater setup, you’ll face few household decisions as stressful as deciding on the HDTV you’ll be staring at for the next several years. Big or small? Plasma or LCD?

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Holiday Gift Guide: TVs

MakerBot and its CEO Bre Pettis have done a lot to evangelize 3D printing, and its recently opened New York retail store is taking things a step further. At the official launch yesterday, MakerBot announced a 3D photo booth, which turns a trio of photographs into a model of the subject’s head. Sitting for a model costs $5 and takes about five minutes, and the resulting file is uploaded to MakerBot’s online Thingiverse. From there, you can print it yourself or (in a relatively more likely scenario) order a print in one of three smallish sizes that range from $20 to $60.

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MakerBot opens a 3D printing photo booth in Manhattan store

Kmart’s Black Friday ad is roughly as long as War & Peace but thankfully, we’ve read both so that you don’t have to. Kmart, like Walmart, begins its Black Friday sales on Thursday (yes, that’s Thanksgiving) so good luck enjoying your holiday. We’ll keep updating this post as we find more sales.

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Kmart Black Friday 2012 deals

The day after Thanksgiving is on its way, and you know what that means: Black Friday. Black Friday is an overwhelming shopping day for many people, and there are many, many sales to keep organized. That’s where we come in, with our super Black Friday deals guide. Keep checking back often because this guide will be updated constantly through the holiday shopping season.

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Black Friday 2012 deals: all the sales for your holiday shopping

PlayStation has announced its 2012 Black Friday deals, so if you’re already preparing for your holiday shopping, you’re in luck. Most of the sales announced thus far are specific to certain retailers so pay close attention. We’ll be updating these posts for the rest of the month, but for now, here is a preview of what Sony has in store for your holiday season. The Ultimate PS3 Value Bundle is being sold nationwide for $199.99

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Playstation Black Friday 2012 deals

Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest shopping day of the year for most US retailers, but it’s shaping up to be an uphill battle for Walmart, thanks to a surge in employee discontent. Workers at the retail giant began going on strike this week, as part of a nationwide protest against low wages, high healthcare premiums , and poor working conditions. Demonstrations are being coordinated by a coalition called Making Change at Walmart , and are scheduled to culminate on November 23rd, potentially dealing a major blow to Walmart’s Black Friday sales — and perhaps giving a boost to online competitors like Amazon.

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Walmart’s Black Friday strike could be Amazon’s gain

Microsoft revealed a new Samsung ATIV Odyssey Windows Phone 8 handset at its launch event last month, but the company kept images of it under wraps. Twitter account Evleaks has posted what appears to be the very first photo of the new device. Arriving in December on Verizon, it’s clear the Odyssey will include support for the carrier’s 4G network. Little else is revealed in the leaked shot, but it does have a similar appearance to Samsung’s ATIV S handset. Samsung has not yet revealed which US carriers will stock its ATIV S Windows Phone 8 device, with the only commitment for the ATIV Odyssey handset on Verizon.

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Samsung ATIV Odyssey WP8 device revealed in leaked photo

As Nokia plans to unveil two additions to Lumia Windows Phone line on Wednesday, we have learned of another device that the company is currently testing. According to sources familiar with Nokia’s Windows Phones, the Finnish manufacturer is preparing a handset codenamed “Glory” that will include a 4-inch display. The handset is designed as a successor to the low-end Lumia 610 “Tango” Windows Phone and will include Windows Phone 7.8 and low specifications such as a 800mhz processor and the typical 256MB of RAM found in super low-end Windows Phones. We understand that the handset could launch as early as the holiday season — but that the availability date has not been fully determined

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Exclusive: Nokia planning 4-inch ‘Glory’ Lumia 610 successor with Windows Phone 7.8

Microsoft has posted job listings for what appear to be pop-up stores in 12 areas. The company is looking for “retail product advisers” who will work with customers at stores in Manhattan, Chicago, San Francisco, and other places. Besides the description of the stores as “holiday” ones, meaning they’ll probably be open around November and December, there’s no word on how long they might last or how large they could be.

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Microsoft plans holiday pop-up stores in New York, Chicago, and ten other areas

In a wide-ranging interview with CIO , RIM CEO Thorsten Heins opted to use the word “January” to discuss BlackBerry 10′s launch instead of the traditional “Q1 2013″ that we’ve heard to-date . It’s possible that it was a slip of the tongue, but if not that’s a more optimistic window for BlackBerry fans. As we’ve heard before, the plan appears to be to launch the full touchscreen device first with a physical keyboard device coming “very shortly after” as a kind of “one-two punch.” The BB10 launch was originally slated for Q4 of 2012, but Heins has his reasons for deciding to delay the release. Going into more detail than before , he alluded to something he’s said earlier about “innovating too much,” noting that the company had created a big… Continue reading…

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CEO Thorsten Heins: ‘we will reinstall faith in RIM,’ suggests January launch for BlackBerry 10

What’s in your bag? is a recurring feature where we ask people to tell us a bit more about their everyday gadgets by opening their bags and hearts to us. Show us your bag in this forum post.

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What’s in your bag, Chris Welch?

Yes, there’s been a version of Minecraft available for Android devices since last year, but building towers in Creative mode can only go so far. Minecraft Pocket Edition 0.2.0 aims to fix that, enabling Survival mode on mobile devices for the first time. Along with the new game type — where you’ll be able to build by day and cower from monsters by night — the update adds doors, fences, and gates to the available blocks, and includes an assortment of different tools. For those who do prefer Creative mode, you’re not left out: flying has now been added. To top it all off, mobs are now a part of mobile Minecraft , with sheep and zombies the first creatures to be introduced

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‘Minecraft Pocket Edition’ for Android updated with Survival mode, zombies, and more

Perhaps you’ve got holiday cash burning a hole in your pocket. Perhaps you just love gaming. Either way, you’re wondering whether you should import a hot new PlayStation Vita handheld gaming system from Japan, and you’ve probably got some questions about how to do it. Trust us, we’ve had those same thoughts.

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PlayStation Vita import FAQ: what you’ll want to know before buying a Japanese handheld

Engineers at BBC Radio 3 have been busily working on a rediscovered 1958 recording of Nine Lessons and Carols  from King’s College Cambridge, but rather than the relatively simple audio restoration that normally goes into these projects, the team decided to try something a little more ambitious. Although the original recording was only stereo, the team has been able to use computer processing techniques to create a quadrophonic (or four channel) surround mix, putting it alongside a true 4.0 recording from 2007 for comparison. To enjoy it, you’ll need a surround sound setup mapped to the four channels, and some free software (available for Windows only) that’s capable of playing back the recording. However, there’s also a binaural mix…

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BBC transforms 1958 carol service into surround sound for Christmas