Geek News

Microsoft first announced support for cross-platform play at E3 2016 , but Sony has resisted supporting PS4 vs. Xbox One gaming. In a surprise announcement yesterday , Epic Games revealed Fortnite will support cross-play and cross-progression between the PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and eventually the Android versions of the game. The Xbox One was suspiciously absent from the list, but Microsoft has confirmed to The Verge that it’s working with Epic Games to enable this in the future. “We have been working closely with the team at Epic Games for some time to bring this functionality to all current and future versions of Fortnite and expect it to be available on Xbox along with other platforms,” says a Microsoft spokesperson. “Microsoft has... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2GcCQBo"

Science They’re windows into the heart of the Earth. Diamonds have been in the news quite a lot this week, and not for any celebrity/engagement news. Instead, it’s what’s inside that counts. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2Fwcnh1"

Technology There are lots of new rides to see in Switzerland this week. Electric cars, super cars, and a self-driving living room. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2IedCDj"

Netflix is testing out a new feature for children that lets them earn “patches” for watching episodes of certain shows. The new feature gamifies the streaming experience for kids, incentivizing them to watch particular shows that Netflix has picked out, as reported by Variety . Shows that have been selected are marked with red locks (for some unclear reason) for users who have been included in the test. Netflix has chosen films and TV shows that are all Netflix Originals, including Troll h unters, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Home , and The Magic School Bus Rides Again. You can’t actually do anything with the patches once you’ve earned them. Some studies have pointed out that while gamification can lead to increased engagement with... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2IdR6Ky"

I’ve been bitten by the music production bug recently. The gear is so good these days, how could I fail to make something amazing? All I need is a $699 Roland TR-8S , a $1,349 Elektron Octatrack MKII, and maybe a $119 Arturia KeyStep, and then just a guitar and... Well, now I’m poor. For someone who has a setup they like but wants a novel way to tweak parameters with hand motions and maybe trigger a drum pad or two, the Wave wearable MIDI controller from Genki Instruments is an interesting option. Wave’s built-in motion sensing gives you a few different control axes, which can be mapped to any property in your software setup you wish to tweak. There are three main motions: pan, tilt, and roll. Additionally, there are buttons on the ring... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2HlAcZr"

Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam! Your favorite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot™, is back! He’s enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance with the N. Sane Trilogy. Relive all your favorite moments in Crash Bandicoot™, Crash Bandicoot™ 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot™ 3: Warped, now in fully-remastered graphical glory! via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2G8N4Cx"

Science A new study from MIT suggests "fake news" often trumps the truth. That’s not at all surprising, from a psychological standpoint. By their very design, these falsehoods prey upon one of humanity’s greatest cognitive weaknesses. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2oVYwdg"

Darwin Project is Now Available on Steam Early Access! Darwin Project takes the battle royale genre up north, where an impending ice age has given rise to a twisted new reality show in which ten participants must fight to the death under the Show Director's gaze. via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2oXllNT"

Facebook’s analytics company released a new app this week, which like many of their products, exists mainly to collect user data and package it up for Facebook. The app is called Bolt App Lock (currently available for free in the Google Play store) and it’s made by the same company behind the controversial VPN service Onavo Protect. The app was released on March 5th, as spotted by Tech Crunch today . The Bolt App Lock lets you add additional security measures like PIN codes, fingerprint recognition, or pattens, to apps you don’t want others to easily access. Some apps, like banking apps and menstrual trackers, already require you to input a passcode or your fingerprint before you can log in. Others, like Facebook, Gmail, and Twitter,... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2De0R7V"

Amazon has added a new feature for its Alexa voice assistant that you will let you make successive requests without needing to repeat your Echo speaker’s wake word, as noted today by CNET . Amazon is calling the new setting “follow-up mode,” and while it won’t let you nest one request into another, it will let you ask make multiple requests back to back. For instance, you won’t be able to ask Alexa to turn off the lights and change the temperature in the same breath, but you can make one request and follow it up with the other without needing to say “Hey, Alexa” again. Follow-up mode works by letting Alexa continue listening for up to five seconds after an initial command. This is signified by the blue ring on an Echo speaker or other... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2DcRTrB"

Gadgets The end-of-week dispatch from PopSci's commerce editor. Vol. 41. Throughout the week I spend hours scouring the web for things that are ingenious or clever or ridiculously cheap. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2FuP7zY"

Motorola has put together an eclectic selection of Moto Mod accessories for its smartphones, ranging from an Alexa speaker to an instant camera . So it was probably only a matter of time until we arrived at this: a virtual reality headset, custom-built for the Moto Z line and its big, circular camera bump . News of the upcoming headset was leaked today by VentureBeat reporter Evan Blass , who posted an image of the headset to Twitter. There are no further details yet, such as when it will be available. Motorola has announced accessories with really long lead times in the past, so don’t assume that this one’s ship date is imminent. This is a hell of a Mod... pic.twitter.com/Mah61AYIZr — Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 9, 2018 While the... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2tv3UZE"

Today's Deal: Save 50% on Rising Storm 2: Vietnam !* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends March 16th at 10AM Pacific Time via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2FvlONo"

Health An adolescent health specialist explains what it means to understand teens. Teenagers make up 13 percent of the U.S., and most see pediatricians for their health needs. But experts say teens need doctors trained to work with adolescents. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2Ifdfbj"

The Bonfire: Forsaken Lands is Now Available on Steam and is 20% off!* Build, discover, craft and survive. Build your settlement in a snowy encampment, survive monster attacks and manage resources to uncover the secrets of the ancients. *Offer ends March 16 at 10AM Pacific Time via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2G8dUL3"

My Lovely Daughter is Now Available on Steam and is 10% off!* My Lovely Daughter is an alchemist simulator that explores the depth of a father’s grief and how far he will go to resurrect his daughter. *Offer ends March 15 at 10AM Pacific Time via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2Ddx5QN"