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Sony 'Fortnite' leak all but confirms a flood theme for Chapter 2 Season 3
'Fortnite' Season 3 looks like it's gonna be wet and wild.
Motorola's tiny Hint headset gets a huge update
Most of Motorola's energy is likely going into the new smartphones it's expected to launch next week, but that isn't stopping it from upgrading other parts of its lineup. The company has quietly released a second-generation Moto Hint headset that retains the tiny in-ear design, but makes far fewer compromises. To begin with, you get a whopping 17 hours of talk time, or 70 percent more than before -- you shouldn't have any problems making it through the day with this earpiece. There's improved audio and voice control, too, so you'll have an easier time checking notifications and controlling apps. The new Hint is available for $130 ($20 less than its predecessor when new), so give it a spin if you want to take a lot of calls on the sly.
Alternate iOS 9 keyboard hints at larger iPad
Whenever someone talks about the 12.9-inch iPad, we pull the same nervous, hopeful gaze that we do when Half-life 2: Episode Three is mentioned. Deep down, we know in our hearts that neither are very likely to happen, but no matter what, they'll never be able to take the hope from us. Now, iOS expert and friend of the site Steve Troughton-Smith believes he's found a nugget of proof that the iPad "Pro" exists. Oh, put your tongues in your cheek and grab a handful of salt, because we're venturing into tangent territory, here.
Friday Favorite: How Keyboard Maestro saved my Mavericks macros
Bless Keyboard Maestro. It's not as if we haven't already given it coverage here at TUAW, but I fought to make it today's Friday Favorite because it pulled my grits out of the fire after I upgraded to Mavericks. Me? I've been a Quickeys user since the freaking 1980's. One gets used to an app. Used to it enough that the thought of having to transition away from my decades-old keyboard macros to a new app was giving me hives. So I resisted, resisted, and then I resisted some more. After Lion debuted, I made excuse after excuse -- dropped a few of my daily macros, adjusted some others, and kept pushing forward with my old system just so I wouldn't have to start again from scratch. Startly, the guys who now own the app, hemmed and hawed, made some noises about eventual upgrades, but I was basically running abandonware. Finally when Mavericks debuted, my decades old macro set gave up the ghost. Even doing some emergency tweaks like switching off App Nap couldn't save my workflow. TJ Luoma, who had had just about enough of my "but my system works...or at least it worked" nonsense finally hit me over the head with a very large clue mackerel1. (The size of the clue-fish indicates how much this matters.) "Just. Use. Keyboard. Maestro." (I paraphrase.) So I did. Several weeks later, I am a rabid Keyboard Maestro fan. From its easy to use editor (with folders!) to its nuanced rule system (I can disable my keyboard Emacs equivalents for Terminal, Xcode, and Text Edit because they're already built into those apps natively), Keyboard Maestro is doing everything that Quickeys ever did for me but is doing it more smoothly, faster (seriously, no playback lag), and reliably. I love this app. It handles app launching, menu selections, complex sequences, and offers a solid Recording option that lets me demonstrate tasks rather than programming them. I can easily enable and disable shortcuts, which allows me to switch instantly from standard development mode to testing out Xcode betas. That's a huge time-consuming task for me usually. (Hint: You can bet I immediately remapped the new documentation keys for Xcode 5.1.) It's not just useful for development. I'm using Keyboard Maestro to apply AppleScript to QuickTime Player, adding timed skip actions for moving forward and back through videos. I've got it set up to enter my family's library card in Safari for when we need to reserve books. It's working in mail, helping to sort mail as I work through my inbox. In other words, it's not only doing all the tasks I normally relied on for my macros, it's opening new opportunities for me as I continue to explore its amazingly wide range of hooks. Keyboard Maestro costs US$36. It's free to download and you have 30 days to try it out before buying. I think I made it to day 3 before whipping out my Visa card. 1 The mackerel was, of course, a holy mackerel.
This insane Slope iPad stand will win your heart
Techgasm. It happens when a product or products simply exceed your expectations. That's not a teeny iMac in the picture to the right. It's my iPad 2 resting on a new Slope iPad stand. The Slope, which comes in versions for both iPad and iPad mini, finished a successful Kickstarter campaign last year and is now getting ready to ship starting November 5. The stand consists of an aluminum base with a nanofoam front and bottom surface. It works using suction created by small air pockets within the nanofoam. You push your iPad onto the foam and... it stays there. The grip works far better than I initially expected, providing a surprisingly secure mount point. The bonding between the iPad and the stand feels amazingly "right." The bottom foam enables you to anchor your tablet to the table, so it doesn't wander off during use. (A reusable plastic shield included with the packaging lets you choose between anchored and free-floating use.) So what's the difference between the Slope and other nanofoam solutions? Design. The brushed aluminum looks gorgeous. It's basically the iPad accessory that Apple forgot to ship. I found it easy both to mount and dismount my iPad although I first feared I'd hurt the Slope's nanofoam. My worries were unfounded. I will warn you in advance, however, that the psychological need to precisely and perfectly center your iPad is a mental hazard that many users will not be able to avoid. (If I were to use this full-time, I'd probably add some tiny guide marks on the back of my iPad.) Curious about that foam? Slope creator Erik Kittlaus set up a "Show Me This Nano Foam Stuff" page to teach people how to understand, use and maintain their stand with its high-tech nanofoam. Hint: Keep your Slope out of hot cars and away from direct sunlight near windows in warmer climates. Once attached, your iPad rests at the perfect height and slant for watching videos, playing games or just hanging nearby for easy recharging at your desk. If you're near another computer, however, why not use this tiny iMac-looking combination as an extra monitor? I tested out my besloped iPad using Avatron's newly updated Air Display 2 (US$9.99), a utility that converts your iPad into an OS X display. (We first wrote about this app a few years ago.) You install a free Mac-based server utility and the iPad screen becomes a fully touch-input-ready extension of your desktop. The marriage between Slope and Air Display couldn't be more perfect. Instead of just sitting around and charging, my iPad was transformed into an active part of my workday. With the Slope, the iPad really looks and feels like it belongs on my desktop. With Air Display 2, it functioned that way as well. If you didn't pre-order a Slope during the Kickstarter campaign, you'll be able to order starting November 5 from the Dekke website. The price will be $69.99 $59.99 for the standard Slope stand (meant for 10-inch tablets) and $64.99 $54.99 for the Slope mini (engineered for 7-inch tablets).
Bungie's Destiny was teased way back in Halo 3: ODST
Bungie's Destiny has existed in one form or another since at least 2009, a new discovery in Halo 3: ODST indicates. The above image shows a poster found in ODST, which portrays a planet within close proximity to a large white sphere, with the message "DESTINY AWAITS" scrawled above. The similarities between this image and the recently leaked Destiny concept art is undeniable, especially the title screen-esque image obtained by IGN.Former Bungie employee and Halo series level designer Vic Deleon has confirmed the connection, exclaiming that the secret had "FINALLY BEEN FOUND!" on Twitter. In light of these events, we've decided to dig even further into the annals of Halo lore by running the entirety of Halo: The Fall of Reach through an anagram construction algorithm and seeing what we come up with. Should that prove fruitless, we'll start decompiling the code for Pathways into Darkness.
Nordic retailers list a Galaxy S III 'Mini,' insider info or wishful thinking?
While it's not as complex as one of the region's twisty crime dramas, the story surrounding the Galaxy S III Mini has taken another turn. Retailers in Europe's northernmost countries are now listing such a device with the codename GT-I8190 in blue and white, with or without an NFC chip, for $540 and $560, respectively. Given that the company is planning an announcement about a "little sensation" on Thursday, it's certainly less likely that we'll see the Galaxy Ace III turn up.
Reveal the Dock in Lion's fullscreen apps
MacWorld has published a nice little tip that allows Lion users to reveal the Dock while in fullscreen apps. To do so, while in any fullscreen app, simply move the pointer all the way to the edge where the Dock is pinned. Once your cursor is resting on that edge of the screen, swipe or move the mouse in that same direction again, as if you were trying to move beyond the edge. The Dock will then spring right up. Pretty cool, huh? MacWorld also points out that Apple didn't simply go with the "Hide Automatically" Dock feature in fullscreen app mode because many fullscreen apps may have buttons at the bottom or on the sides and automatically displaying the Dock when moving your cursor to the edge of the screen could cause the Dock to block the buttons you are trying to click. [via MacStories]
ASUS gets Computex 2011 started early with a tablet teaser, asks us 'pad or phone?'
Oh ASUS, what are you up to now? The company that brought us the wildly popular Eee Pad Transformer has another new tablet brewing in its design labs, which we're promised we'll get to witness for the first time at Computex 2011. Until then, we've been provided with a trio of images to pore over and get the guessing games going. The slate device, whose size and software remain unspecified, is said to feature a bump (above left) and a clip (above right), though there are no explanations given about the function of either. You may see both images in their full size after the break, along with a teaser image from ASUS' Facebook page with the slogan "break the rules: pad or phone?" stood in front of a tablet silhouette. That provides plenty of clues for aspiring Sherlocks out there, but little concrete knowledge. Ah well, Computex is just a week away.
Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison
Back in January, Wings Over Atreia brought you the first installment of a series highlighting the who, where, what, and even some how of Aion's world bosses. At that time, we took a tour around the land of Heiron and met up with those tough (and some not-so-tough) bosses who taunt players with their juicy, coveted loot. But Heiron is for youngins; this week, we will focus our tour on the playground of the highest levels, the lands of Balaurea -- specifically, Inggison. It never fails -- the best goodies are never the easy-to-get goodies. As much as Daevas may want to get their hot little hands on some of the weapons, armor, and crafting materials dropped by these world bosses, they have to first find these giants and second actually defeat them. So much easier said than done. On the bright side, some of the mobs are easier to kill and can even be soloed (although they are also well-camped). On the not-bright side, others don't seem to show their faces as often as hungry loot-hunters would like, or they take a friend or 20 to take down. So what's a Daeva to do? Soar past the cut for some tips, tricks, and a handy map for seeking out those Inggison bosses and convincing them to give up their loot.
Pentax K-5 DSLR leaks out, leaves us guessing at the specs
Quite appropriately for a camera, all we have in this here leak is the one image above. It shows a purported K-5 DSLR from Pentax, whose body looks almost a carbon copy of the well loved, but now aging, K-7. The biggest (only?) difference we've been able to spot between the two is in the jog dial on its top left shoulder, which now looks quite a bit taller. Also making the transition from the K-7 is the 18-55mm Weather Resistant lens, which should make the K-5 another well fortified shooter from Pentax. Now if we could only know what's inside the shell as well, we'd be as happy as our jaded souls can be.
Nikon wants to create a 'new market' with its new concept
We thought Nikon just wanted to join the burgeoning ranks of mirrorless interchangeable lens shooters that bridge the gap between full-fledged DSLR and pocket-friendly compact cameras. But oh no, as company president Makoto Kimura puts it, Nikon wants to create a whole "new market" with its next big idea. Noting that his lab lackeys have tested all sorts of eccentric possibilities, such as a head-mounted display, Kimura says it's time for digital cameras to move with the times and Nikon will be ready to take up its usual leadership position. When might that be, you ask? Well, in classic bigwig style, he keeps the roadmap tucked firmly inside the breast pocket of his smoking jacket, but at least we know that Nikon won't be sitting on the sidelines and letting whippersnappers like Sony's NEX-5 steal customers away.
Nokia 5250 gets official: €115 for a 2.8-inch touchscreen with 16:9 display ratio (updated)
Nokia is being coy this morning by revealing a trio of pictures of what it only describes as its "new device." Of course, being a devoted Engadget reader, you'll instantly recognize the visage above as that of the Nokia 5250 -- the already leaked successor to the 5230 ( aka the Nuron). Specs are promised for later today, so contain your excitement until a more civilized hour. For now, you'll find one more pic -- of the bodacious, camera-adorned back -- after the break. [Thanks, Adam B.] Update: That wasn't a long wait. Nokia Conversations has the scoop on the 5250, including confirmation of the name. The real headline here is the eminently frugal price of €115 ($146) before taxes and subsidies. For that handful of change, you'll get your old favorite S60 5th OS with a mobile version of Guitar Hero 5 pre-installed, along with an FM radio and a media player slap bang in the middle of your 2.8-inch homescreen, all to underline this new phone's musical inclinations. The touchscreen panel fits 640 x 360 pixels (16:9 display ratio), and battery life is rated for 18 days of standby, seven hours of talktime, or 24 hours of music playback. Not bad at all. Shipping in Q4 [Thanks, Keith!].
Wings Over Atreia: Living la vida Asmo
Now, it is oft heard that "Asmos don't get no lovin'!" Perusing threads, or even listening to faction-hoppers in game, you hear many complaints that Asmodians have it just that much harder than their fair-winged counterparts -- that Asmodae is harder to level in than Elysea, the Elyos have better mobs, easier quests, better loot, more press time, and so on. Basically, that the Elyos race is the "favorite child." In the interest of representing both factions in Aion, I gave readers the chance to choose my class as I ventured into Asmodae as a black-winged beauty (sorry folks, I just can't bring myself to create a male character). And the votes are in! Your choice for my new persona is --drum roll -- priest! While I was excited to delve into the class, a part of me wondered if there was an ulterior motive to this choice... a cry for more healers among the Asmodians, perhaps? Regardless of the reasoning behind it, yours truly slipped out of Elysea and into Asmodae. While it will take me a while (since I am not a power-grinder), I am going to take you along with me as we journey through life on the dark side, comparing the leveling on each side of the planet. In this installment, we are looking at Asmodian life from creation to ascension. Follow across the cut to join me in my very first clawed footsteps, as well as a hint to maximize your experience at beginning levels.
Lenovo to launch new ThinkPads, probably on April 22
Those wily social media hounds over at Lenovo are at it again, this time teasing us with a crossword puzzle relating to a new "ThinkPad Series" of machines. Referencing our handy, and so far wholly accurate, leaked slide from February shows that the only Think-branded laptops not yet revealed are the midrange L series. Positioned to replace the aging R models, the L400 and L500 are expected to slot in as bulkier alternatives to the premier T-label ThinkPads. This puzzle tells us that whatever the new computers, they'll be firmly focused on energy and resource efficiency, and for an extra bit of PR kick, they are likely to be announced on Earth Day 2010, which just happens to be this April 22nd. Let's wait and see what Lenovo does to justify the name change and grab for green attention, eh?
Buy Wii Fit Plus, get free water
Did you upgrade to Wii Fit Plus so you can stay in shape over the holidays? While some may question the validity of a Wii Fit "workout," premium water company Hint is trying to capitalize on the craze by offering all purchasers of Nintendo's latest fitness title a free case of water. A standalone copy of Wii Fit Plus costs $20, while a 12-pack of Hint water costs $22, making this quite the "deal."According to its official website, "Hint is a pure healthy water lightly infused with natural flavors. Unsweetened. Lightly flavored. No calories." If you're into that sort of thing, you can send in a digital scan of your Wii Fit Plus receipt to hintwater@5wpr.com. You'll be able to choose from one of the following flavors: Blackberry, Watermelon, Pomegranate Tangerine, Mango Grapefruit or Raspberry Lime.
Varimathras' replacement: "B"
Earlier this year, we wondered just what would happen now that my favorite dreadlord, Varimathras, was vanquished in the Battle for the Undercity, and now Kisirani has provided us with a hint: someone whose name includes a "B." When someone repeats the question on the forums, she posts a note delivered by a bronze whelp hinting that someone will be back in Varimathras' place as of patch 3.3. The note is signed only with a "B," and (as Kisirani probably intended), it's anyone's guess just who that is.And if by "anyone," you mean the denizens of the Blizzard forums, they all seem to think it's Nathanos Blightcaller, a Forsaken who has been sitting in the Eastern Plaguelands since the game began. He's recently been mentioned again in the game, as Varian Wrynn has sent Alliance players after him in Bolvar's place, and so it makes sense that he may rejoin the Banshee Queen and take his place at her side. Balnazzar, Varimathras' demon brother, is another guess, though he's currently serving secretly with the Scarlet Crusade, so who knows how he'd come to that position. And of course, besides Bornakk, anytime you hear B you have to think of our friend Bolvar, whose fate we'll probably learn in patch 3.3 no matter what. As for who it really is, we won't know for sure until we see them in the Undercity.
Cricket picks up the Motorola Hint, too
It's interesting how some handsets make the rounds among the regional carriers without so much as a passing mention from the nationals, and that's certainly shaping up to be the kind of life the Motorola Hint is leading. Piling on to launches on Alltel and MetroPCS, it turns out that the Hint is also now available from Cricket; like MetroPCS, Cricket likes to do the whole no-contract thing, which means you'll pay $229.99 upfront for the pleasure of putting a 2 megapixel, EV-DO equipped QWERTY slider in your pocket with these guys. Any takers? [Via Crave]
Motorola Hint QA30 texts its way onto MetroPCS
So this is shaping up to be a week of "me toos" for the regional carriers, it seems; we have the LG Banter migrating from Alltel to US Cellular, and we've got the Motorola Hint hitchhiking from Alltel over to MetroPCS. Like the Banter, the unusually-shaped Hint goes squarely for the texting crowd with a full QWERTY keyboard -- but unlike the Banter, the Hint goes for a portrait slider. Features include a 2 megapixel camera, 140MB of onboard storage with microSD expansion, a 2.5-inch QVGA landscape display, and of course, AWS support for MetroPCS' airwaves. It runs $249 contract-free. [Via MobileBurn]
Bell Mobility gearing up to launch Motorola Hint QA30
Wow, remember this thing? That somewhat promising QWERTY-based smartphone that was first introduced by Motorola last November? Anywho, said handset is finally getting set to partner with a carrier (at least that's the good word on the street), and it'll be Bell Mobility doing the honors in Canada. We're hearing that the Hint QA30 will be sold outright for $329.95 or as low as $129.95 on a 3-year contract, though we have to wonder what kind of demand will be out there given the phone's age.
