Wednesday, January 23, 2013

GameStick Kickstarter adds new indie dev-targeted tier, trades $250 for six months of 100% revenue

GameStick Kickstarter adds new indie devtargeted tier, trades $ 250 for six months of 100% revenue

The PlayJam folks are taking another cue from the Android-powered Ouya with their own GameStick, today adding a dev-focused $ 250 tier to the already successful Kickstarter campaign. The twist with GameStick’s dev tier is its aimed at indies, and it offers a six month window of 100 percent revenue on any games released before July 2013 (in addition to a GameStick bundle, of course). The dev version costs quite a bit more than the usual $ 79 asking price, but guaranteeing full revenue near launch may be a worthy tradeoff for developers looking to cash-in on early adopters (the industry standard is a 70 / 30 split, with game devs taking the larger share). Sadly, you won’t get the unit any earlier than the general public; PlayJam’s putting an April window on launch. The deal’s only available to 250 developers — or at least the first 250 people to buy in — so interested parties may want to act quickly.

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GAMESTICK KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES A NEW INDIE DEVELOPER
PLEDGE TIER AS IT RACES TOWARDS THE 500% FUNDING MARK

London & San Francisco; January 23rd, 2013; The team behind GameStick today announced a new
pledge tier specifically to support the Indie developer community in making the leap to the big
screen as it’s Kickstarter campaign rapidly approaches the 500% mark with over a week still to go.

The new tier, which sits at just $ 249 has been limited to just 250 backers, and gives indie developers
aone-time offer to gain an unprecedented 100% revenue share for their game for a fullsix months as
well as a GameStick bundle at launch in April.

“In the few short weeks following the campaign launch, we have had hundreds of developers sign
up for access to our SDK, from established games studios to smaller Indie developers”, says Baroova,
Head of Games at GameStick, “what better way to repay this incredible support and to accelerate
the big screen gaming revolution than with an offer that directly rewards those who were first to
support us?”

The team behind GameStick have made a number of popular announcements this week in response
to direct requests from the Kickstarter community such as the inclusion of an SDMicro memory
expansion slot on the device itself and a dock providing support for peripheral hardware such as
keyboard, mice, microphones and cameras.

Baroovahas been coordinating with many top named studios as well as indies developers happy to
publically support GameStick in its quest to bring affordable gaming to the big screen:

Roman Tisserand, CTO and Co-Founder of DotEmusaid, “We are very excited to bring our portfolio
on games (including Another World, R-TYPE and Raiden Legacy) to GameStick”

Says Jason Kingsley OBE, Founder of Rebellion and owner of AD2000, “The video games industry
has benefitted time and time again from ideas that disrupt the status quo. A new wave of devices
such as GameStick – built on truly open platforms that bring affordable gaming to the big screen
could prove the start of an interesting revolution – one which I thoroughly support and watch with
interest.”

Hendrik Lesser, Board Member of the German Association of Game Developers added, ” I think
the opportunity for micro consoles such as GameStick has never been bigger than now.They are
perfectly suited to disrupt the console space.”

Says Paulina Bozek, creator of SingStar and founder of Inensu added; “GameStick’s ability to
support peripheral hardware such as microphones and dance mats is a great opportunity for indie
developers looking to create a truly social experience around the big-screen”.

Concluded Chris Bergstresser, EVP Miniclip, “What GameStick offers is a direct and easy route to the
big screen. We look forward to working with them to bring some of our classic titles to TV”

The team have also released details of the core feature set behind theSDK that powers Gamestick
on the Kickstarter update page for all developers supporting the project or visiting the page to see.
Details of which can be found here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/872297630/gamestick-
the-most-portable-tv-games-console-ever/posts

To register for the SDK visit the GameStick website: www.gamestick.tv

To visit the Kickstarter page, pledge and get access to one of the limited Indie Developer tiers,
please visit: http://kck.st/VrByGf

Tier details:
Price: $ 249
Delivery: April
Limit 250
INDIE LOVE – GameStick Bundle, (console + controller) at launch, free SDK and a limited, one-time
offer to gain 100% rev share, (minus transaction costs), for 6 months on a single title launched by
July 2013.

Technical Specifications:

Processor – Amlogic 8726-MXS, Dual Core Cortex A9 CPU, Dual Core Mali 400 GPU
Memory – 1GB DDR3/ 4GB NAND FLASH / 8GB Micro-SD / 32GB MicroSD Expansion Slot
WiFi – 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth – LE 4.0
O/S – Android Jelly Bean

To follow GameStick news, join the conversation and give your opinion on Facebook or Twitter
please go: www.facebook.com/GameStickNews and
www.twitter.com/Game_Stick / @Game_Stick
To see new videos published throughout the campaign on YouTube please subscribe to:
www.youtube.com/GameStickVideos

About PlayJam:
PlayJam is the premier global platform for casual and social games on TV. By partnering with
all major Smart TV brands, we’ve created the largest and most vibrant games network of currently
free to play games for millions ofplayers around the world.

12 months ago, PlayJam embarked on Project GameStick, a dedicated TV games console running the
Android operating platform and small enough to fit in the pocket. GameStick launched on Kickstarter
to much acclaim on the 2nd of January 2013 to secure the funding required to bring it to production.

The campaign reached 100% of its funding target in just 30 hours and is set to close at over 500% of
that target.

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GameStick Kickstarter adds new indie dev-targeted tier, trades $250 for six months of 100% revenue

Windows Phone 7.8 SDK released, includes emulator images, no new APIs

Windows Phone 78 SDK released, includes emulator images, no new APIs

Microsoft just announced today’s release of the Windows Phone 7.8 SDK, which should be a wee bit helpful for developers wanting to test their apps and Live Tiles with the revised OS. The new SDK includes two software images (build 8858), one that simulates devices with 512MB of RAM and another for 256MB handsets. The primary purpose of this release is to let developers test their Live Tiles with Windows Phone 7.8, which supports resizable Live Tiles. While it’s not much of a surprise, the new SDK includes no new APIs over the Windows Phone 7.5 SDK, which further reinforces the impression of Windows Phone 7.8 as a largely cosmetic update. On the plus side, legacy support is alive and kicking, as Microsoft promises the SDK update won’t alter existing Windows Phone 7.1 emulator images. For more details of this release, be sure to hit up the source link.

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Source: Windows Phone Developer Blog

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Windows Phone 7.8 SDK released, includes emulator images, no new APIs

ESPN signs with Ooyala's video embedding service to bake touchdown videos into tweets

ESPN signs with Ooyalas video embedding service to bake touchdown videos into tweets

You may not be able to share those retrograde pictures of your dinner direct to your Twitter worshippers any more, but at least you can commemorate Kobe’s latest slammed-dunkings. ESPN has signed a deal with video sharing service Ooyala that’ll see highlight videos embedded inside tweets so you never have to leave the warm embrace of your live feed. Ooyala’s also offering its SDK for others to follow suit, and while the press release below talks of “monetization” and “optimized engagement,” we prefer to think the pair are doing it to fill that Instagram-shaped hole in our tweets.

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Ooyala Delivers In-Stream Video Viewing on Twitter

Twitter Video Card solution creates new ways to discover, share and monetize video; ESPN first to adopt

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ooyala, the leading video streaming and monetization platform provider, today announced that it has developed a Twitter Video Card solution, in close collaboration with Twitter, that enables Ooyala customers a turnkey solution to embed videos directly into their Twitter streams for instant playback. Previously, users were only able to include a link to a video in Twitter. This solution inserts a thumbnail of the video directly into the stream so followers can click and play directly without leaving Twitter.

“Consumers today are at the intersection of social and mobile, and demanding easy and fast access to video content. Our ability to deliver video directly into the Twitter stream is a major step forward for publishers who want to drive viewer engagement in real-time.”

First deployed by sports broadcaster ESPN to better serve its 24 million online video viewers, Ooyala’s Twitter Card solution provides media companies, broadcasters and brands a new way to distribute and monetize video content delivered via Twitter across desktops and mobile devices. In addition, the solution can increase the discovery and sharing of video content and optimize engagement through social and mobile by eliminating the barriers to view content directly on Twitter.

“Twitter is a growing source of inbound referral traffic and outbound content distribution for online media publishers and broadcasters,” said Jonathan Wilner, senior director, business product management at Ooyala. “Consumers today are at the intersection of social and mobile, and demanding easy and fast access to video content. Our ability to deliver video directly into the Twitter stream is a major step forward for publishers who want to drive viewer engagement in real-time.”

As a result of the close collaboration with Twitter, the Ooyala solution has been certified by Twitter, meaning customers can quickly and easily integrate and distribute video content directly into their streams across all platforms — including desktop, mobile web and native smartphone and tablet apps for both iOS and Android — and trust that the player will work seamlessly within Twitter. The solution works via an Ooyala Twitter SDK and automatic hosting for Twitter Cards. The turnkey API from Ooyala automatically generates the necessary Twitter tags so that a video can be inserted onto a video landing page to enable Twitter Cards.

Powerful Solution when paired with Discovery

The technology works seamlessly with Ooyala Discovery, which enables video content providers to increase view-related revenue by algorithmically recommending highly relevant content within the Ooyala Player. For example, if a user watches a highlight from a football game within the ESPN Twitter stream, they could receive a recommendation to also watch highlights from the post-game press conference. Personalized content recommendations can further drive user engagement and monetization for each video share in Twitter.

Opening Revenue Streams

In addition to benefiting consumers, this technology opens up new revenue streams for Ooyala customers. It enables the distribution of ad-supported video content across client-owned and consumer Twitter properties, magnified by sharing tendencies of Twitter users. It also opens the door for video integration into Promoted Tweet advertising campaigns across Twitter.

Customers that take advantage of Ooyala analytics will also have extensive data on the performance of their videos through Twitter Video Cards, in addition to the data they already receive on their websites and/or apps, allowing them to further optimize their video content.

About Ooyala

Ooyala delivers personalized video experiences across all screens and is the leader in online video management, publishing, analytics and monetization. Our integrated suite of technologies and services give content owners the power to expand audiences through deep insights that drive increased viewer engagement and revenue from video.

Companies using Ooyala technology include Telstra, ESPN, Pac-12 Enterprises, Miramax, Bloomberg, Telegraph Media Group, Telefonica, The North Face, Rolling Stone, Dell, Sephora and Yahoo! Japan. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Ooyala has offices in New York City, London, Sydney, Tokyo and Guadalajara, Mexico. The company works with premier reseller and technology partners throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information visit www.ooyala.com.

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Via: TechCrunch

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ESPN signs with Ooyala's video embedding service to bake touchdown videos into tweets

Nintendo Wii U to get Virtual Console service this spring

Nintendo Wii U to get Virtual Console service this spring

Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata just announced via Nintendo Direct that Virtual Console will be available on the Wii U this spring. Previously, the service was only accessible via the Wii emulator on Nintendo’s new console, but will now arrive on the eShop at some unspecified time in Q2 and feature GameBoy Advance titles for the first time. Before that can happen, however, the company wants to implement two key software updates designed to address system performance issues. Nintendo’s also devised a pricing scheme to offer users who’ve amassed a retro gaming library a more affordable way to re-download past VC purchases (as opposed to that clunky transfer system). For any previously downloaded NES ($ 4.99 – $ 5.99) and SNES ($ 7.99 – $ 8.99) titles, users will have to fork over $ 1.00 and $ 1.50, respectively.

And, as part of a celebration of the Famicom’s 30th anniversary, Nintendo’s offering up a trial campaign that’ll make certain titles available to download for 30 cents over a 30 day period. Starting in January and running through July, users will be able to demo one select title per month from the eShop: Balloon Fight, F-Zero, Punch-Out featuring Mr. Dream, Kirby’s Adventure, Super Metroid, Yoshi and Donkey Kong. But, take heed, these teases will only last for the month they’re offered and, hopefully, entice you to pay full price when the service officially launches on Wii U.

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Jan. 23, 2013 14:41 UTC
Two Zelda Games, Mario, Mario Kart and Other Fan-Favorite Franchises Planned for Wii U

Nintendo Outlines Its Vision for Wii U, Including Launching Virtual Console and How Miiverse and Second-Screen Gaming Features Will Continue to Evolve

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unleashed Wii U news in an installment of Nintendo Direct today as he outlined Nintendo’s future plans for the console. Iwata revealed how the Wii U launch lineup will be bolstered by a long list of top game franchises headed for the new console. These are games that longtime players and newcomers alike will love to play, and everyone will be experiencing them in new ways, thanks to the integrated second-screen experiences enabled by the Wii U GamePad controller. Iwata also detailed a number of enhancements designed to make the Wii U game experience more social, even if people are not playing in the same room.

“The fun of video games is not only just playing games, but also sharing experiences together with people – even though they live far away, their skill levels are different or their experience does not happen at the same time,” Iwata said. “We want Wii U to be the system that brings everyone together.”

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. The many announcements included:

Game News

Two Zelda Games: Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, revealed two entries in the series for Wii U.
Super Mario is on His Way: The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team that created the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii and Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS is working on a new 3D Mario action game for Wii U. The game is scheduled to be playable at this year’s E3.
Buckle Up!: Nintendo is also working on a new installment of the hit Mario Kart franchise. This game is also planned to be playable at E3.
Yarn Yoshi: The team that created Kirby’s Epic Yarn is hard at work on the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since 1998′s Yoshi’s Story for Nintendo 64. Takashi Tezuka, director of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story, is supervising the development of the new game, which is set in a fanciful world of yarn and textiles.
Wii Fit U Communities: New features coming to Wii Fit U include letting players create user communities on Miiverse from within the game. Community members can discuss exercises, BMI or weight changes and other health topics with other players as a way to encourage one another to reach their fitness goals. Similar functionality for other games is also planned.
Pikmin 3 Photos: The upcoming Pikmin 3 game includes a feature that lets players use the Wii U GamePad as a camera to share the same perspective as Pikmin and take close-up pictures of landscapes and creatures in the game and share them in Miiverse.
The Party Continues: A new installment in the Wii Party franchise is planned to launch this summer. The game features various play styles, including one that lets both players compete head-to-head using just the GamePad.
RPG Mashup: Nintendo has begun many collaborations with outside development partners to bring the best franchises and experiences to Wii U. In one such partnership, Nintendo and Atlus are working on a collaboration that features the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
A New Game from Monolith Soft: Tetsuya Takahashi and the team at Monolith Soft that worked on Xenoblade for Wii are working on a new game. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
More on the Way: Iwata shared a new trailer for The Wonderful 101. That game and GAME & WARIO are scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Iwata also showed a new video for Bayonetta 2. That game and the new Super Smash Bros. installment are still on the way, but will need more development time before details can be revealed.

Virtual Console

Virtual Console for Wii U: A spring system update will add Virtual Console software to the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The service will launch right after the spring update and will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $ 1 for NES games and $ 1.50 for Super NES games.
Classic Games for 30 Cents! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in the United States), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through July at the anniversary price of just 30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

Social and System Enhancements

Miiverse Expands to Smartphones: Starting this spring, people will be able to browse Miiverse from their smartphones. Initially the experience will be browser-based, but Nintendo plans to create a dedicated Miiverse app in the future.
System Updates: Two major updates are on the way, one in the spring and one in the summer. The updates will introduce a wide range of functionality, such as Virtual Console capabilities and shortening the time it takes users to launch software or return to the menu screen.

Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu. Standalone versions of the trailers for The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, the new game from Monolith Soft and the collaboration featuring the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises can be found at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo.

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Source: Nintendo Direct

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Nintendo Wii U to get Virtual Console service this spring

Nintendo Wii U getting two system updates in spring and summer to optimize UI speed

Nintendo Wii U getting two title updates in spring and summer, to optimize UI speed

Nintendo’s Wii U is getting two title updates in the coming months, both aimed at optimizing the sluggish speed of the console. The first of the two, launching in spring, will make software load more quickly, as well as adding Virtual Console directly to the Wii U (rather than accessed through the virtual Wii). The second, launching in summer, will get users back to the Wii U main menu more quickly. Both additions are more than welcome — the Wii U’s greatest flaw is its unbelievably slow user interface. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed the news this morning during a Nintendo Direct broadcast, where he also unveiled news about Virtual Console heading to the Wii U, and an upcoming Miiverse update giving users access via smart devices.

Show full PR text

Two Zelda Games, Mario, Mario Kart and Other Fan-Favorite Franchises Planned for Wii U

Nintendo Outlines Its Vision for Wii U, Including Launching Virtual Console and How Miiverse and Second-Screen Gaming Features Will Continue to Evolve

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unleashed Wii U news in an installment of Nintendo Direct today as he outlined Nintendo’s future plans for the console. Iwata revealed how the Wii U launch lineup will be bolstered by a long list of top game franchises headed for the new console. These are games that longtime players and newcomers alike will love to play, and everyone will be experiencing them in new ways, thanks to the integrated second-screen experiences enabled by the Wii U GamePad controller. Iwata also detailed a number of enhancements designed to make the Wii U game experience more social, even if people are not playing in the same room.

“The fun of video games is not only just playing games, but also sharing experiences together with people – even though they live far away, their skill levels are different or their experience does not happen at the same time,” Iwata said. “We want Wii U to be the system that brings everyone together.”

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. The many announcements included:

Game News

Two Zelda Games: Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, revealed two entries in the series for Wii U.
Super Mario is on His Way: The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team that created the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii and Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS is working on a new 3D Mario action game for Wii U. The game is scheduled to be playable at this year’s E3.
Buckle Up!: Nintendo is also working on a new installment of the hit Mario Kart franchise. This game is also planned to be playable at E3.
Yarn Yoshi: The team that created Kirby’s Epic Yarn is hard at work on the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since 1998′s Yoshi’s Story for Nintendo 64. Takashi Tezuka, director of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story, is supervising the development of the new game, which is set in a fanciful world of yarn and textiles.
Wii Fit U Communities: New features coming to Wii Fit U include letting players create user communities on Miiverse from within the game. Community members can discuss exercises, BMI or weight changes and other health topics with other players as a way to encourage one another to reach their fitness goals. Similar functionality for other games is also planned.
Pikmin 3 Photos: The upcoming Pikmin 3 game includes a feature that lets players use the Wii U GamePad as a camera to share the same perspective as Pikmin and take close-up pictures of landscapes and creatures in the game and share them in Miiverse.
The Party Continues: A new installment in the Wii Party franchise is planned to launch this summer. The game features various play styles, including one that lets both players compete head-to-head using just the GamePad.
RPG Mashup: Nintendo has begun many collaborations with outside development partners to bring the best franchises and experiences to Wii U. In one such partnership, Nintendo and Atlus are working on a collaboration that features the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
A New Game from Monolith Soft: Tetsuya Takahashi and the team at Monolith Soft that worked on Xenoblade for Wii are working on a new game. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
More on the Way: Iwata shared a new trailer for The Wonderful 101. That game and GAME & WARIO are scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Iwata also showed a new video for Bayonetta 2. That game and the new Super Smash Bros. installment are still on the way, but will need more development time before details can be revealed.
Virtual Console

Virtual Console for Wii U: A spring system update will add Virtual Console software to the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The service will launch right after the spring update and will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $ 1 for NES games and $ 1.50 for Super NES games.
Classic Games for 30 Cents! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in the United States), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through July at the anniversary price of just 30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.
Social and System Enhancements

Miiverse Expands to Smartphones: Starting this spring, people will be able to browse Miiverse from their smartphones. Initially the experience will be browser-based, but Nintendo plans to create a dedicated Miiverse app in the future.
System Updates: Two major updates are on the way, one in the spring and one in the summer. The updates will introduce a wide range of functionality, such as Virtual Console capabilities and shortening the time it takes users to launch software or return to the menu screen.
Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu. Standalone versions of the trailers for The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, the new game from Monolith Soft and the collaboration featuring the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises can be found at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U[TM] and Wii[TM] home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS[TM] and Nintendo DS[TM] families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System[TM], Nintendo has sold more than 4 billion video games and more than 637 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy[TM], Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi[TM] and Nintendo DSi XL[TM], Super NES[TM], Nintendo 64[TM], Nintendo GameCube[TM] and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario[TM], Donkey Kong[TM], Metroid[TM], Zelda[TM] and Pokémon[TM]. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

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Nintendo Wii U getting two system updates in spring and summer to optimize UI speed

Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos landing in India the first week of February

DNP Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos shipping in India first week of February

Earlier today, Samsung announced the availability of its dual-sim Galaxy Grand Duos for markets in India. Shipping with an included flip cover, the budget-friendly phablet will sell for Rs 21,500 ($ 400). Loaded with mid-range specs, the device’s highlights include a 5-inch WVGA display, a 1.5GHz 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with Android 4.1 running the show. We recently managed to get some hands-on time with a pre-production build of this handset, which felt like a hefty GSIII, but performed more like an overgrown Galaxy S III mini. However, if you’ve got phablets on the brain and you’re balling on a budget, this thrifty hybrid device begins shipping the first week of February.

Update: This post originally (and incorrectly) indicated a 1.5GHz processor. The correct number is 1.2GHz.

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Via: Android Community

Source: The Times of India, Samsung India Store

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Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos landing in India the first week of February

Insert Coin: Securifi Almond+ takes the touchscreen router to the next level

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

We’ve been talking about Securifi’s Almond router a fair amount, since the new year rolled around. Darren put the thing through its paces, just after the company announced plans to release its successor — or, rather, plans to Kickstart the followup. As of this morning, the crowdfunding push has landed. The Taipei-based company launched the Kickstarter page for the next generation of its beloved touchscreen router.

The latest version, which we had the opportunity to play around with at CES, features a 2.8-inch display, as before, but adds some much welcomed additions, including support for 802.11ac, Zigbee and Z-Wave. The former promises a WiFi speed bump, the latter two bring the promise of extended home automation. Speaking of home automation, the Almond+ lets you control things like security alerts, heating and light control on the go with your iOS or Android device.

Securifi’s currently working toward a $ 250,000 goal, and has some solid prizes to offer up. Those who pledge $ 95 or more will get the $ 99 router, along with free shipping. Pledging at $ 129 will get you one of a number of Kickstarter exclusive colors. Those winning routers are set to ship around September.

Previous project update: At last look, the Pinoccio microprocessor is well on its way to becoming a real device, with around $ 44,000 pledged of its $ 63,000 goal, with a full 22 days left to get in on the action.

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Source: Kickstarter

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Insert Coin: Securifi Almond+ takes the touchscreen router to the next level