Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro drops in January for $899

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,

If the Surface with Windows RT isnt sporting the power and flexibility you need (check our Microsoft Surface review,) then the Surface with Windows 8 Pro would be more your jam, and Microsoft has finally announced pricing for the beefed up slate. Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available in early 2013 (read: at least 3 months later than it should have been release) in two configurations: a 64GB standalone version priced at $899 and a 128 GB standalone version priced at $999. Both models will include a Surface pen with Palm Block technology.

What do you think? Have you been holding out for the Surface Pro? How does that price range hit you?

Read More | Microsoft Blog

Apple releases Remote 3.0 with iTunes 11 support

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Entertainment, App Updates, Apple, Free Apps,

Along with arrival of iTunes 11, Apple has released version 3.0 of its popular univeral Remote app for iOS. The updates has iTunes 11 support and is said to be simpler and easier to use. Plus, Apple included a redesigned experience for the iPad version which has better search and album expanded views.  More after the break.

Click to continue reading Apple releases Remote 3.0 with iTunes 11 support

New Tiers added to Xbox Community Ambassador program

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Xbox Live,

The Xbox Community Ambassador campaign now has five more tier levels added to it, which include awards ranging from free Avatar swag to the Xbox Live gamer spotlight. The Xbox Community Ambassador program rewards Xbox Live members who assist other members through chat or the forum, acting as a reputation system that awards XP that can be redeemed.

The new tiers are listed below:

• Level 11, gold star avatar t-shirt.
• Level 12, gold star avatar hat and 10 tickets for periodic ambassador sweepstakes.
• Level 13, gamer spotlight, ilomilo on Xbox Live Arcade.
• Level 14, one month Xbox Live subscription and 10 ambassador sweepstakes tickets.
• Level 15, avatar spacesuit, 800 Microsoft Points.

If you're interested in becoming an ambassaor, you can apply here.

Read More | Xbox Community Ambassadors

WIth the release of iTunes 11, Apple’s music player enters 64-bit era on OS X

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,

iTunes has been one of the last first-party Apple software holdouts stuck at 32-bit over the past few years. Many wondered when Apple would rewrite iTunes to the point where it would be 64-bit like just about all of Apple's other OS X apps, and that day has arrived with the release of iTunes 11. A quick check of Activity Monitor confirms it--iTunes is now a 64-bit Mac app.

Completely redesigned iTunes 11 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Music, Software,

Apple's newly redesigned iTunes has finally been released after a one-month delay, for both Mac and PC. iTunes 11 sports a bevy of new music features, including a streamlined look and feel that focuses on album art when listening to music, a new bite-sized MiniPlayer, a new feature called "Up Next" that lets you manage a play queue. Outside of music, iTunes 11 brings tighter integration with iCloud, allowing you to stream your content library on your Mac or PC from iTunes in the Cloud. The iTunes Store has also been completely revamped, bringing the same look and feel that you'll find in iOS 6.

You can grab iTunes 11 now by running Software Update on your Mac or PC, or by checking the Mac App Store.

RIP Spain Rodriguez

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent,

Spain Rodriguez passed away following a lengthy illness. Spain was one of the great cartoonists to emerge from the underground comix movement of the 1960s.

He didn’t draw or write like any one else, either in underground comix or corporate mainstream comics and his work was always top-notch. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but by all accounts, he was a good guy.

Here’s an article from The Comics Journal about his most recent work.

Art Spiegelman talks about his friendship with Spain.

And here’s his obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle.

[Artwork: Trashman by Spain Rodriguez]

Read More | Spain Rodriguez

Quote Of The Day: Paul O’Connor on ‘Dr. Strange’

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Marvel Comics,

"My pitch: It’s the energy of Guy Ritchie‘s Sherlock Holmes crossed with the bump-in-the-night thrills of Paranomal Activity; in TV terms, it would be like turning House MD loose on Supernatural."

- Paul O'Connor talking about what a Dr. Strange movie could be like. Joining him in the discussion, Chris Ulm, and yours truly.

Be sure to check out our other notable quotes.

[Artwork: Dr. Strange © Marvel Comics]

Read More | Longbox Graveyard

Petition for Grand Theft Auto 5 PC nears 50,000 signatures

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Action, Culture, PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360,

Mike Juliard's petition to get Rockstar to confirm the PC port of Grand Theft Auto 5 has surpassed 47,500 signatures, just 52,500 shy of his 100,000 goal.

From the petition: "GTA games have been a large part of so many peoples lives, and it’s a big shame not seeing the newest iteration of the game being released on the most powerful platform.”

One of the more pronounced reasons for a PC port is the mod community, as we've been privy to some amazing mods from GTA4 before it: “things like modifications have always been a HUGE part of PC gaming and modded GTA is some of the most insanely fun times you can have.”

According to Dan Houser of Rockstar, a PC port is "up for consideration," and this petition should do a lot to make Rockstar realize the PC audience's dedication to the franchise. Grand Theft Auto V is set for a Spring 2013 release.

Read More | PC Gamer

Xbox 360 Sells 750,000 Last Week, more than Wii U and Wii combined

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Hardware, Microsoft, Nintendo, Wii U, Xbox 360,

If Major Nelson's calculations are correct, the Xbox 360, a seven year-old console, has outsold the Wii U and Wii combined during the week of November 18th. The Wii U sold 400,000 units during its launch week, and the old Wii managed to still sell 300,000. The Xbox 360 sold 750,000. This is a remarkably high number for a console so late in it's life cycle, and it begs the question, do we need new hardware anytime soon?

The number of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions also increased more than 50 percent compared to last year's Black Friday week, with over 14 million people logged into Xbox Live on Sunday alone.

Sony hasn't revealed its numbers yet, but it looks like the Xbox 360 will end up being the best selling console in the US for November. You can pick one up on Amazon.

Read More | Major Nelson via Neowin

Pearson Aspires to be the Electronic Arts of Education

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Video Games,

When you think of education, Electronic Arts probably isn't the first company to come to mind. But for the publisher Pearson, EA is exactly the kind of role model it's looking for in remodeling Pearson for a digitized age.

Speaking to GigaOm, chief product officer Luyen Chou revealed his intent for his company to become an "Electronic Arts for education." Chou enumerated, detailing the struggle to keep up with the times, and getting "high-quality, interactive digital learning experiences" into classrooms.

"Digital studios, animators, illustrators, producers, 3D artists – we need to build that capacity within instructional companies like Pearson and we need the whole end-to-end supply chain to the take that from the studio to the actual users,” Chou said. “The folks that have done that well are the EAs of the world, digital studios. That’s not a core competency for companies like Pearson.”

Pearson's lately been busy acquiring a massive amount in the way of pushing toward an interactive education company, spending $1.6 billion on acquisitions alone.

Read More | GigaOm