Replying to an inquiry on the NeoGAF forums, Jaffe said that the game’s launch in Europe will be moved to the beginning of March because of localization efforts. He explained that some content of the game will be cut to make it eligible to some of the continent’s markets.

“Ninety nine percent of the cuts were in the movies and the movies are still intact and I sat with the editor — the same editor of the American movies — and we went through and addressed the notes from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and made sure the stories still worked,” Jaffe said. “And to be fair, there have not been that many cuts.”

One example is where Tooth gets stabbed in the eye by a girl. He said that the scene was cut right before the scissors make contact with the character’s face.

He revealed that small details of the gameplay have been slightly changed.

Sony has not announced the game’s official release date in Europe, but people from other regions will still enjoy the game come Valentine’s Day.

If you still want to enjoy the game, you can order it online on February 14, but you’ll have to shell out more for the shipping fees.

via: The Escapist Magazine

Twisted Metal European release delayed is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Last month, Ubergizmo reported that the iPhone 5 will sport the Liquipel waterproof coating, which covers both the outside and inside of mobile phones to make it water repellent and reduces moisture and liquid damage. Now, the guys over at Today’s iPhone said that one of their sources claimed that both smartphones from Apple and Samsung will get Liquipel coating.

“Both will have had Liquipel treatment as they’ll be altering the wording on insurance,” said the report.

Moisture and liquid damage are known as the top reasons for insurance claims on smartphones, so placing more liquid protection on high-end mobile phones such as the Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5 could definitely change that.

For those who don’t know, Liquipel is a new technology that uses a proprietary compound that is coated on a mobile device. “Liquipel penetrates the entire device as a whole, including all of the vital components inside and out to provide optimal protection against accidental contact with liquids,” according to Liquipel’s website.

This would also mean that it will be good selling points for these smartphones that are also capable of pretty much anything.

via: Ubergizmo

iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III to sport Liquipel? is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Photography is something which we are all familiar with, regardless of our personal abilities in the field. Taken from the Ancient Greek words ‘photos’ and ‘graphos’, meaning ‘light’ and ‘written’, a photographer is now a description which can be applied to any individual capable of operating a simple camera.

With so many cameras available, finding the one right for you is essential – but which are best?

1. The all-rounder

As a general rule, these cameras offer good levels of optical zoom (which is considered superior to digital zoom by almost all users) as well as a variety of functions and shooting modes. Variable flash settings and shutter speeds are a must and make these cameras just as effective in the hands of an amateur as in the hands of a professional.

The perfect example of this type of camera is the Panasonic FZ48. Boasting a 12.1 megapixel resolution alongside 24x optical zoom and Intelligent Resolution Technology, this camera can transform quick snaps into professional quality photographs and is even capable of full HD video recording.

2. The professional

Those with a more professional take on this popular hobby look for cameras like the Panasonic mentioned above, but with additional features. Usually the ability to change lenses is considered the best feature for those after a professional device and, once again, optical zoom is paramount.

A great example of this type of camera is the slightly larger Panasonic DMC-G3. Boasting an improved 16 megapixel resolution coupled with a 3 inch LED touch-screen display and full HD video recording, this Panasonic digital camera has a zoom range of 28-84mm through its 14-42 mm lens.

3. The amateur

For those after a simple camera capable of holiday snaps, the Samsung PL20 is ideal. Still featuring an impressive 14 megapixel resolution, this camera is easy to operate and has 5x optical zoom to help junior photographers focus their shots.

Fact detection and Perfect Portrait technologies are also incorporated and the memory is expandable via an SD card slot.

4. The vibrant

Nowadays, electronic devices such as digital cameras are just as much about style and fashion as they are about practicality. This means a wide variety of cameras are now available in bright and bold designs – offering customers a device which is both functional and vibrant.

Numerous manufacturers including Kodak, Panasonic, Samsung and Fujifilm offer bright versions of their popular compact cameras and the Fujifilm JX550 is even available in vibrant violet, whilst continuing to offer high specs.

5. The classic

Lastly, those after a classic camera can’t go wrong with the Sony Cybershot range. These cameras vary from the professional to the compact and offer great features and stylish designs.

The sleek and attractive shape makes these cameras the perfect possession for any individual and colour options are aplenty. Classic choices of black and silver are likely to remain popular with the majority of consumers, whilst bolder colours such as blue and pink feature alongside an elegant white colour that is embraced by the more daring buyer.

Top five digital cameras from Amateur to Pro is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

This contradicts reports that Microsoft will finally unveil the successor of Xbox 360 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012 (E3 2012), followed by its release in late 2013. Rumor has it that the new console will sport a Blu-ray drive and come with a AMD 40 nanometer Radeon 6000 GPU.

“We are in an industry where it talks a lot, it likes to tell stories,” Delmas said in the interview. “I’m not convinced that things are happening this year. The cycle of the Xbox 360 is far from over. The proof we are not at all parties on the logic of price drop this year. Then what will happen at E3, it is still premature. What is certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012.”

Nintendo, the company’s Japanese rival, meanwhile, is preparing to launch the Wii U, its latest gaming console offering that is set to be released in the second half of 2012.

The Microsoft France marketing director said that Nintendo is walking a different path from Microsoft and it is “going forward to its own rhythm, with success as we have seen with the Wii, and now it’s their turn to present their innovation.”

Should Microsoft focus on developing its next-generation console now or should they focus on Kinect more?

via: The Escapist Magazine

No Xbox 720 this year, says Microsoft France is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Engineers at California-based Sandia National Laboratories have invented a dart-like bullet that features a laser-guided system, enabling it to make quick turns to precisely find its target. According to Sandia researchers Brian Kast and Red Jones, they fitted the bullets with built-in optical sensors that can be guided via laser targeting system.

According to the Sandia website, the optical sensor sends data to the guidance and control electronics that “use an algorithm to command electromagnetic actuators.” These then steer the tiny fins in the bullet that guide it to the target.

“We have a very promising technology to guide small projectiles that could be fully developed inexpensively and rapidly,” Jones said.”Nobody had ever seen that, but we’ve got high-speed video photography that shows that it’s true. That means we can overcorrect, so we don’t have to be as precise each time.”

The dart-like laser-guided bullet is still a prototype, but if it passes a private firm-conducted testing, it may be accessible to the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters.

Kast and Jones have successfully tested the bullet’s design in field tests and computer simulations using prototypes built from parts that are available commercially.

Sandia National Laboratories is part of Lockheed Martin, who is working with the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a new scope for sniper rifles that will help snipers hit targets accurately in any weather condition.

This might be something you’d want to see in the next Call of Duty or Battlefield, right?

via: Digital Trends

Direction-changing smart bullets developed by researchers is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Apple enthusiast site 9 to 5 Mac reported that a source from Foxconn said that the next-generation iPhone is ready for production. The source also said that a number of sample units, each different from one another, have been made for testing.

“We received word from a reliable source at Foxconn in China that the iPhone 5, as it is currently being called, is now gearing for production,” 9 to 5 Mac’s report said.

The source said that the sample iPhones all have:

• 4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them).
• No teardrop-shaped devices, as rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been symmetrical in thickness (also longer/wider).
• Neither of the sample devices have the iPhone 4/4S form factor.
• Neither of the devices are the final versions.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball quickly debunked the rumors that the new iPhone will sport a wider and longer body, saying, “longer and wider? Sounds like bullsh*t. I can see Apple putting a bigger display on a device of the same size. I can’t see them making a bigger device.”

We can expect to hear more rumors in the upcoming months as the expected summer release date approaches.

via: Geeky Gadget

Is Apple going to release the iPhone 5 this summer? is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

According to mobile research firm Flurry, the Amazon Kindle Fire, which was launched on November 15, has already reached the level of Samsung Galaxy Tab in application usage by a Google tablet. The analytics firm also looked at data from five paid apps and found that the tablet has brought in more than 2.5 times more paid app downloads than the Galaxy Tab.

Analyst Jordan Rohan of Stifel Nocolas said that he believes that Amazon sold six million units of Kindle Fires in 4Q 2011.

“Kindle Fire has staked out an important market position due to its loyal Amazon customer base and attractive (low) device pricing,” the analyst said in his statement to clients. “We believe the lower hardware price will correlate with high e-book and video content attach rates.”

Reports claim that Amazon is actually selling the Kindle Fire at a loss. This seems to be part of their strategy as the tablet PC has been specially designed to make money on the sale of digital content and apps.

For its price ($199), users can enjoy impressive specs such as a dual-core processor, a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display with 16 million colors in high resolution, and in-plane switching technology that provides wide viewing angles.

via: Ubergizmo

Analyst: Kindle Fire sole 6 million units last quarter is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

At a meeting with the company’s investors, Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo announced that they will be working on a new online gaming network for their new systems.

Iwata announced that the company will be rebranding the “Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection” to the new “Nintendo Network,” which will sport a variety of new features for the Wii U and the 3DS, including support for multiple users and digital distribution of packaged software.

“This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure,” said Iwata. “We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it. The decision must be made by taking into consideration such factors as the relationship with the wholesalers and retailers, and the best way to be embraced by consumers, as well as the environment surrounding the market and consumers, such as the required memory capacity on consumers’ SD memory cards.”

Just recently, the company has made improvements to the 3DS’ online shop, offering game demos, enabling download of a number of games simultaneously while in sleep mode and giving users the ability to store a credit card number.

With this new online service, Nintendo is attempting to make an online service that will rival Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. This will be helpful because Nintendo will now be able to patch buggy games, which is a bit of a hassle.

via: Reg Hardware

Nintendo unveils its new Nintendo Network service is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Selling more than 66 million units of Xbox 360 consoles and around 18 million units of its Kinect peripheral since its launch, Microsoft is looking to generate more revenue when it releases Xbox Live to other platforms. Xbox Live are only available to Windows Phone at this time.

“While the Xbox Live experiences and games always work best on the Windows platform, we understand that some Xbox fans may be using other types of devices,” a spokesman from Microsoft said. “To satisfy that need, we are working to extend a few of our Xbox experiences and titles to other platforms.”

This is exciting news for those who want to use the service but opt to use Android and iOS platforms, which are the two leading mobile operating systems in the world. Microsoft has launched Xbox Live and Kinectimals on the iOS platform just recently.

Rumors began earlier this month when Microsoft posted a job listing for a Software Development Engineer, who will be working with the Xbox Live team “to bring the latest and greatest gaming and entertainment experience to mobile platforms including Windows Phone, iOS, and other mobile platforms.”

This would mean that Microsoft is willing to sacrifice its own mobile OS to get a greater share in the mobile gaming market.

Is this a right move for Microsoft?

via: Techradar

Microsoft to launch Xbox Live on Android and iOS is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

For the first time ever, Apple has surpassed Hewlett Packard (HP) in both revenue and computer unit sales. It has been revealed that Apple sold more iPad tablets than the worldwide PC sales of HP.

When asked by an analyst during the earnings call, Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook noted that they have sold a record-breaking 15.4 billion iPads and that the company does not consider tablets that have limited functions and e-readers to be in the same league as the iPad. Cook believes that the reason why the iPad is such a huge success is that its ecosystem is “in a class by itself.”

“We strongly believe in optimizing applications from day one to take advantage of the larger canvas,” said Cook. “There are only a few hundred apps designed for the competition, versus more than 170,000 apps designed specifically for iPad. People who want an iPad won’t settle for a limited function tablet.”

Cook added that Apple will “continue to innovate like crazy” and that it will continue to compete with existing and new players, who, in the future, may enter the market.

via: Slash Gear

Apple topples HP’s PC sales with its iPad sales is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos