Katrina Filippidis

Contributing Writer

Katrina majored in Japanese and Neuroscience at Melbourne University, but fate (and a love for writing) drew her towards video game journalism. When not obsessively cataloging 3D platformers, she enjoys rocking out to power metal, drawing, and reminiscing about flip phones.

Articles by Katrina Filippidis

Researchers build a self-healing 'robot skin'
Most conventional androids are fairly rigid, susceptible to damage and difficult to repair. However, scientists are determined to (literally) give them thicker skins. They've experimented with soft, deformable circuits that are flexible, and could reduce business expenses in the long term -- but are still prone to tearing and puncturing. The solution to these issues may lie in one recent advancement.
Apple blocks Steam Link on iOS for 'business conflicts'
Valve's Steam Link was on course to come to mobile this week. While the beta version arrived on Google Play just fine, the iOS app appears to have hit an unexpected roadblock. Valve said in a statement that Apple approved then withdrew it from the App Store:
Google and LG Display have made the highest resolution VR screen yet
Google and LG Display have joined forces to design the clearest OLED display to date. The 4.3-inch screen, which Google recently revealed at Display Week, is designed to push the boundaries of VR image quality with an incredible 1,443 ppi resolution. For comparison, Japan Display Inc unveiled its slightly smaller 1,001 ppi LCD screen earlier this month, which outclassed both the Oculus Go (538 ppi) and HTC's Vive Pro (615 ppi).
'Runescape Classic' will shut down after almost two decades
One year after revealing plans to port both RuneScape and Old School Runescape to mobile and tablet, developer Jagex has announced that the original RuneScape's PC servers will be going offline permanently. To be clear, that's Runescape Classic -- the 2001 game -- so Old School Runescape servers remain unaffected.
Researchers develop self-driving boats that can double as bridges
Thanks to 3D printing, the fabrication of prosthetic arms, lightweight EV parts and even space travel have benefited from lower costs of production. Eager to build on that is a team of researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). They've built a fleet of self-driving boats that could provide a tantalizing glimpse into the future of autonomous transportation.
iPhone owners can now use Yubikey NFC tags to unlock apps
Digital security has always been paramount, but the advent of tablets and smartphones has allowed us take much more data with us on the go. A combination of two-factor authentication and effective password management is usually enough to keep nefarious types away from your accounts, but Yubico has introduced an extra layer of safety for iOS that lets you seamlessly log into apps by hovering a YubiKey behind your phone.
'H1Z1' battle royale arrives fashionably late on PS4
The battle royale genre is certainly all the rage right now, but before Fortnite: Battle Royale and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Daybreak's H1Z1 was challenging players with its zombie survival sandbox. It's been a bumpy ride, however, after three years of early access H1Z1 has not only launched as a full-fledged game, it's also kicking off its PlayStation 4 open beta today.
HTC leaks the flagship U12+ on its own website
Although HTC's U12+ will be officially unveiled tomorrow, the company has accidentally jumped the gun by revealing a bunch of expected features on one of its own websites. On a test domain visible to the public -- which has since been killed -- WinFuture.de writer Roland Quandt noticed previously rumored specs detailing the device's processor, display, RAM size and some undisclosed extras.
Mark Zuckerberg's EU testimony will be streamed live
After refusing to speak with UK parliament twice, there was doubt over whether Mark Zuckerberg could be coaxed into discussing the Cambridge Analytica fiasco again. But recent efforts from Antonio Tajani, the president of the European Parliament, indicate the Facebook CEO won't only be attending a scheduled meeting -- it'll also be livestreamed.
Graphene 'stimulation' could selectively kill off cancer cells
A chance lab discovery is opening up the possibility for wide-scale improvements in drug screening, application of selective painkillers, and selectively nuking cancer cells. The mystery material? Graphene, a semi-metal that's composed of a single layer of carbon atoms. It's already being used to make flexible OLED displays and reduce the energy costs of desalination, but its potential benefits for the medical field look promising too.
Netflix picks up ‘The Big Short’ author’s Wall Street exposé
Michael Lewis might not be a household name, but he probably should be. Lewis is the best-selling author behind the Oscar-nominated film adaptation Moneyball and prize-winning drama The Big Short. Keen to tap into that success is Netflix, which has just picked up the rights to his controversial exposé Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt.
The first major 'Sea of Thieves' DLC lands on May 29th
Swashbuckling pirate MMO Sea of Thieves will receive its first major update on May 29th. Microsoft's Xbox team made the announcement on Twitter with a short CGI trailer for 'The Hungering Deep' -- the first of six free expected DLC packs. Of all the criticisms leveled at Sea of Thieves, the most common (apart from bottlenecked servers) seem to be over its lack of content. But that's precisely what developer Rare has pledged to address in continued updates.
Nissan follows Tesla with an all-in-one solar storage package
After making strides in the electric car market, Nissan has set its sights on the home. The company recently debuted its redesigned Leaf electric car and continues to push its xStorage battery, but now it wants to combine its two great loves under one roof. That's what the Nissan Energy Solar scheme -- the company's complete home energy solution -- is all about.
The quirky Pomera E Ink typewriter is coming to the US
A very niche, very Japanese word processor is heading to US shores in the form of Pomera, a pocket-sized, E Ink typewriter. The device, made by Japanese company King Jim, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. It's basically a convenient new way to take notes. King Jim prefers the term 'digital memos', but you get the point.
Apocalyptic shooter 'Stalker 2' is back in development
GSC Game World, the Ukrainian Development Studio behind the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series today took to Facebook to reveal that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development is back underway. Following rumors that the studio was shutting down and the game's eventual cancelation in 2012 -- the same year it was expected to release -- the future of the series was up in the air.
YouTube is working on an incognito mode for its Android app
YouTube is in the process of testing an Incognito mode that's destined for its Android app. It wouldn't be the first service to acknowledge that sometimes, you just want to keep your browsing history under lock and key. Indeed, Google Chrome, Chromecast, SwiftKey and the Gboard keyboard app are already armed with the protection of an Incognito Mode, so it should come as no surprise that YouTube may soon get its own stealth feature.
Apple now has more than 50 autonomous cars on the road
Apple has more than doubled the number of its self-driving cars, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has confirmed. Since obtaining a permit to test autonomous vehicles, Apple's fleet size has steadily risen -- from a scant three test cars, to 27 in January, and now, 55 intelligent machines. Should the program remain on course, consumers could be chilling out in the driver's seat by 2019.
‘Efail’ exploit exposes popular email encryption schemes
Encrypted emails guarded by common encryption tools are allegedly "susceptible to critical vulnerabilities" that would expose their content to potential hackers. Sebastian Schnizel, a computer science professor from the University of Münster called attention to the 'Efail' issue on Sunday via Twitter. He subsequently urged users of PGP/GPG and S/Mime software to disable it in their email clients.
‘Brain pacemaker’ could help stroke patients recover quicker
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may play a beneficial role in the motor recovery of stroke patients, new clinical trials at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have revealed. As part of the therapy, stroke rehab specialists surgically implant the MicroTransponder Vivistim -- an electrical device that stimulates the vagus nerve -- into the patient's chest wall. It works via a wireless transmitter, which picks up signals, redirects them to the vagus nerve (located in the neck) and stimulates the brain whenever a therapist pushes a button.
'Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon' summons 8-bit 'Castlevania' charm
Japanese developer Inti Creates has lifted the lid on Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon at this year's BitSummit -- an annual, Kyoto-based celebration of the finest indie games. Curse of the Moon is a classic 8-bit follow-up to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, originally promised as a Kickstarter reward if certain stretch goals were met.

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