Tom Regan
Articles by Tom Regan
Microsoft will give Skype chatbots a voice next year
Not content with just stuffing Cortana into your home appliances, Microsoft now wants you to have real conversations with needy Skype bots. In a bid to make those awkward chatbot encounters feel more natural, next year will see the company granting third parties access to its Skype calling API. With this, Microsoft partners like StubHub and Expedia will be able to give their bots a voice, offering users an alternative to text chat.
Apple's iOS support app is now live in the US
After quietly launching in the Netherlands last month, Apple's standalone support app is now finally available in the US. Serving as iOS users' one-stop-shop for Apple product problem solving, the app offers a wealth of product information and advice on how to resolve common issues. If you find yourself with a more serious problem, the app can also be used to contact support technicians and even to schedule repair appointments with the Apple Store or an approved third party.
'Yooka-Laylee' won't come to the Wii U
Playtonic has announced today that its debut game Yooka-Laylee will no longer be coming to Wii U. Citing "technical difficulties" the studio says it will now release the anticipated platformer on the Nintendo Switch. Playtonic also announced a release date for the other platforms, with the game launching on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 11th 2017.
Someone Google Translated 'Final Fantasy'
As much as we love them, Japanese role-playing games can be baffling at the best of times. Yet thanks to some clever localization, teams of writers and translators around the globe have managed to make sense of these intriguing adventures. But what if these localization teams didn't exist? That's the question translation enthusiast Clyde Mandelin asked, resulting in him rigging up a program to Google Translate Final Fantasy IV.
Go full 'Westworld' with HBO Now in Google's VR headset
Just bought a Daydream View? Well you're in luck, because Google has released a flurry of new apps for its Daydream VR headset. The headline addition is arguably Gunjack 2: End of Shift. Previously announced with the working title Gunjack Next, Gunjack 2 is the spaceship battling sequel to Gunjack, one of the best-selling VR games to date. Developed by EVE Online creators CCP, the game lets players use the Daydream motion controller to shoot down aerial adversaries, promising daily procedural missions and a cinematic, cut-scene led story.
Nintendo's Switch might play GameCube games
Following years of pining after GameCube games on the Virtual Console, it looks like Nintendo fans will soon be getting their wish. According to a recent report by Eurogamer, the Nintendo Switch is rumored to be the first Nintendo console to offer GameCube games on its Virtual Console. Citing several sources within the company, the article states that Nintendo already has classic titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee running on the Switch.
'Skyrim' and 'Fallout' immortalized as virtual pinball machines
Xbox One and PC owners can now get their hands on Bethesda's all-new Skyrim, Fallout and Doom... themed pinball machines. Available today as DLC for the free game Pinball FX 2, Microsoft gamers can trial these new tables for a limited time at no extra cost. If, however, you find yourself wanting to return to Bethesda's machines, the pack of three will set you back $11 (£8).
An app update turns this smart pen into a 3D scanner
A smartpen that could already digitally measure pretty much anything will soon also be able to scan objects in 3D. Developed by Instrumments, a company made up of former Misfit creators, the impressive 01 pen will be getting a new app, adding the 3D functionality next Spring. This Pro App will enable users to roll the 01 pen over 3D objects, capturing contours and wirelessly logging and sharing the 3D data.
Nintendo classic 'Excitebike 64' skids its way onto Wii U
Wii U owners, it's time to charge your GamePad -- Excitebike 64 is zooming its way onto the Virtual Console this week. Costing $10 (£9), the game arrives on Wii U this Thursday alongside Wario's stylish Wii adventure, Wario Land: Shake It.
Movie studio Annapurna Pictures now makes games
Annapurna Pictures, the production company behind blockbuster films like Her and Zero Dark Thirty, announced today that it will publish and produce games as Annapurna Interactive. It's no secret that video games are big money and now it seems that, once again, the movie industry wants a piece of gaming's lucrative pie.
'Ark: Survival Evolved' stomps its way onto PS4 next week
After a lengthy wait, PS4 owners will finally be able to play Ark: Survival Evolved this week, with the game launching on December 6th. Since the game became a runaway success on Steam in 2015, PS4 owners have been waiting patiently to play the Early Access survival hit and now they will be able to purchase not only the latest build of Ark but also the recently released Scorched Earth expansion. To make up for the delay, buying Ark: Survival Evolved on PS4 will also net you two PlayStation exclusive items: the Bionic Giganotosaurus skin and a Manticore armor set. Developer Wildcard has also promised that PS4 players will receive the same updates as the Steam Early Access and Xbox One versions and at " a similar tempo".
'Gears of War 4' gets cross-platform multiplayer this weekend
Since the dawn of time, comment sections have had vicious debates on which gamers own the superior platform. This weekend, Microsoft are giving them the opportunity to put their K/D where their mouths are. Between December 2nd and December 5th, Microsoft will be trialing cross-platform competitive play on Gears of War 4 allowing PC and Xbox One players to duke it out.
YouTube adds 4K support for livestreams
After countless Black Friday 4K TV deals, it seems YouTube is looking to christen a lot of shiny new 4K displays. From today YouTube users will be able to stream standard and 360-degree video content in 4K. This could have huge significance for YouTube's position in the live stream space. While popular, the video behemoth's main streaming competitor, Twitch, currently lacks the bandwidth to support 4K streaming.
Yelp wants you to add a 'Yelfie' to your restaurant reviews
After letting its users virtually queue up for restaurants with a previous update, now Yelp wants them to put a face to the person behind each star-rating. With the service's amateur reviews shaping restaurant scenes around the globe, the influential platform's latest update allows its users to attach a selfie, or "Yelfie," as the site is unfortunately calling them, to their reviews.
Digitize your doodles with an e-reader you can draw on
No matter how useful a tablet can be, for many, nothing can beat the versatility of paper. Well, paper-loving reader, it might be time to re-think those analog allegiances as reMarkable has just unveiled an impressive new e-paper tablet.
Farming sim 'Stardew Valley' is coming to Nintendo Switch
Ever looked out of your window, longing for the chance to yield the greatest crops known to man? Well, Stardew Valley might just be the game for you. After becoming a runaway success on Steam earlier this year, the indie farm-em-up is coming to PS4 and Xbox One, launching on December 13th and 14th respectively.
Pixel-rich VR display eliminates the 'screen door' effect
The problem with using smartphones to power VR headsets is simply that their screens weren't made for displaying virtual reality. Smartphone displays, although often high-resolution, just don't have the refresh rate that VR demands, leading to "screen-door effect," where you can make out the lines between pixels.
The Navy's $4 billion stealth destroyer has malfunctioned again
The US Navy hasn't exactly been having the best of luck with its pricey new ship. Only weeks after it was officially commissioned the USS Zumwalt, the Navy's new $4.4 billion destroyer has already been put out of action.
Digital cameras can basically see in the dark now
We all love a good camera. But for many, photography isn't a just a hobby, it's a way of life. While you could put faster film in an analog camera to boost low-light performance, digital cameras offer flexibility at a level we couldn't have dreamed of 20 years ago. They've now progressed to a point where top-of-the-range devices have ISO performance so impressive that they can capture video in almost pitch-black conditions.
Ocean adventure 'Abzû' gets a glow-in-the-dark vinyl soundtrack
After the recent announcement that soothing underwater adventure Abzû will be heading to Xbox One, fans will soon be able to own its soundtrack too. Composed by Austin Wintory, the man who wrote the music for Journey and The Banner Saga, Abzû's entrancing score will be available to order as a double LP, exclusively through iam8bit.