game center

Amazon targets Apple's Game Center with GameCircle

Amazon has announced GameCircle, a platform that comes with some of the features found in Apple's Game Center.

Designed for the Amazon Kindle Fire, GameCircle will attempt to engage players by tracking their achievements and delivering a leaderboard to see how they stack up against other folks. In addition, Amazon says GameCircle supports a syncing function that lets users save in-game progress to the cloud and pick up where they left off after restoring their tablet or switching to a different device.

Apple's Game Center, which is available on the company's mobile devices, takes the social element … Read more

Apple shows smarter Siri, new MacBooks

Today's show has Mountain Lions, MacBooks and Siri, oh my!

Apple news overload at Monday's WWDC keynote presentation. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know.

Apple's next mobile software, iOS 6, will bring a few changes this Fall, including:

Video chatting on Facetime will be available on a cellular network, so no more Wi-Fi restrictions. Apple is launching its own Maps app with a 3D mode, called Flyover. It'll also have turn-by-turn directions, alert users to traffic issues and re-route accordingly. You can also ask Siri for directions. Siri is getting several upgrades, … Read more

Game Center coming to Mountain Lion

iOS gamers are starting to feel the love after an announcement today at Apple's WWDC press conference. Game Center will be coming to Mountain Lion when it launches this July. If a title is available on both platforms (iOS and OS X), two friends will be able to play each other -- but that's not it. Game Center on Mountain Lion will also allow for Mac-to-Mac support in addition to support with AirPlay. … Read more

Mountain Lion shipping in July

Mountain Lion, originally seeded to developers in February, will be available from the Mac App Store in July for $19.99.

Apple's new operating system takes the Mac OS in a new direction, with Apple integrating a number of iOS-inspired features from its mobile devices. Apple SVP Craig Federighi says the new OS has over 200 new features, including notifications, Reminders, Game Center, Documents in the Cloud, and Messages. Many of these features are standalone programs, but some such as the Notification Center and sharing tools are systemwide services. Apple is also enhancing security options with its Gatekeeper technology, … Read more

Apple iOS 5 review: Modest, but definitely worthwhile

At long last, iOS 5 is finally here, two days before the launch of the iPhone 4S.

(Related: We've heard that a number of users have had problems installing the update. Get the latest news on install issues in this post from CNET's Josh Lowensohn.)

Though iOS 5 is not as drastic of an upgrade as we saw with iOS 4 in June 2010, it does offer some much-needed and exciting enhancements for iOS users. A few are quiet and long overdue and others will seriously change how you use your Apple handset.

On that note, perhaps the … Read more

Now playing in iOS Game Center: Your real name

If you're a gamer who revels in your status as a faceless player, you should pay attention to the change Apple rolled out with its Game Center app today.

Starting today, when you send a friend request or accept a friend request, your real name in addition to your gamer tag or nickname will be shown to that person. Apple added that new policy in a change to its terms of service agreement to Game Center.

Previously, when you added a friend it only displayed a username. Now, it shows both the person's username and real name. While … Read more

The 404 716: Where we're thankful for enhanced pat-down searches (podcast)

It's the last day of the week for us! Mark Licea joins us today to fill in for the day before Thanksgiving. We hope all of your enjoy your new TSA-approved enhanced pat-downs when you're flying to see your loved ones. Justin isn't even leaving the city, but he's making daily trips to the airport to meet his special security officer.

Speaking of the TSA screenings that have become all the rage on the news these days, Jeff thinks that it's the dearth of news in American media that is letting the issue blow up on cable news and across the Web. In part, Wilson agrees given that the new regulations, backscatter (cool name for a band) X-ray scanning machines and pat-down searches have been planned for months. While the general populace might be a bit surprised by the new TSA regulations, Wilson doesn't believe it makes it right to be photographed through our clothes just because we want to fly.

In happier ramblings, The 404 does give thanks for the privilege of essentially shooting the tech-and-culture crap with each other on a daily basis. It's something we're truly thankful for, and we'd love nothing but to share our love for our loyal and growing listener base.

Jeff, being Jeff, though, has to interrupt the flow of happiness to talk a bit about the blackout for the New York-New Jersey region when it comes to the NHL's new GameCenter service, which lets fans watch games and replays. The big exception that really irks Jeff is that the service won't let him watch his beloved New Jersey Devils! Wilson and Mark really couldn't care less.

Any way, we won't be having a show tomorrow or Friday, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but be sure to e-mail us or call in at the usual 1-866-404-CNET (2638), and let us know what you're thankful for. Maybe it's that new tech gadget or Wilson's laugh? Let us know.

Episode 716 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

NHL GameCenter Live arrives on PS3, Boxee, Roku

National Hockey League fans now have three more ways to watch their favorite teams play live.

The NHL announced today that its game-streaming service, GameCenter Live, has made its way to the PlayStation 3, Boxee, and Roku set-top boxes.

GameCenter Live allows customers to watch 40 out-of-market NHL games live in HD each week. The app offers the ability to watch entire games up to 48 hours after they were played. In addition, GameCenter Live provides access to over 500 classic games from the NHL Vault.

The PlayStation 3 version of GameCenter Live is available for download on the PlayStation … Read more

Samurai II: Decapitation and disembowelment

Complicated at first but easy to grasp, Samurai II: Vengeance offers a balanced mix of slashing, bloody violence, and a puzzle-solving storyline.

The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Samurai: Way of the Warrior brings a retooled gameplay method, ultrasmooth manga-inspired graphics running at 60 frames per second, and, of course new, bloodier fight techniques.

Daisuke seeks vengeance on his arch-rival, Orochi, and will stop at nothing to defeat him. The 3D levels are tracked by a dynamic camera that floats in and out of the action, revealing vicious adversaries and challenging obstacles in each level.

The battle sequences … Read more