Ubisoft security breach exposes user data, Uplay account holders urged to change passwordsUbisoft security breach exposes user data, Uplay account holders urged to change passwords

If you've ever signed up for a Uplay account, your information could now be in the hands of criminals. Ubisoft's confirmed that a security breach at one of its sites, now closed, has granted hackers access to sensitive user data (i.e., usernames, emails and passwords). Critically, no actual financial information was leaked, owing to the fact that Ubisoft doesn't retain personal credit or debit card account numbers on its servers. Regradless, the Montreal-based developer's taking proactive measures, contacting account holders directly and strongly advising them to update any related passwords. You can find the full email just after the break.

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Engadget Giveaway win an HTC One Google Play edition, courtesy of dbrand!

Ever since Google announced that it was joining forces with Samsung and HTC to push out a stock Android version of the two biggest flagships on the market, we knew that a giveaway of at least one of these devices would need to follow quickly. True to our intent, we've teamed up with dbrand, a company dedicated to making customized skins for the phone of your choice, to offer you the chance to win the Google Play edition of the HTC One! To enter, head to the widget below -- remember, leaving comments doesn't work anymore. While you're at it, feel free to enjoy dbrand's latest video showing off what it does best.

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Netflix lands multiyear streaming exclusive for New Girl

While Netflix has scored some coups in original content, it has arguably been slacking on deals for conventional TV shows -- Amazon has landed numerous exclusives on that front in recent months. Netflix may be making up for lost time, however, with a multi-year subscription exclusive in the US for Fox's New Girl. Effective immediately, customers can stream the Zooey Deschanel comedy's first season; further seasons will come online as they finish their initial TV runs. We doubt that New Girl by itself will lead to many converts from other services, but its presence on Netflix proves that Amazon can't let its guard down.

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Xbox One to let us scan download codes with Kinect, finally

Many console gamers know the drudgery of entering a download code with a gamepad or keyboard. Now that Kinect is part and parcel of the Xbox One experience, however, they'll always get to skip that step: Microsoft's Marc Whitten has revealed that system owners can scan the codes with the Kinect camera. While this is really an extension of what the original Kinect can do -- Kinectimals takes advantage of QR codes, for example -- it should be a big help for gamers who'd rather be playing than typing.

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Must See HDTV July 1st  7th

This week is all about July 4th, and as a result even some of our favorite TV shows are taking the week off. There are still a few things to get excited about with classic flicks like The Producers and The Kentucky Fried Movie arriving on Blu-ray, and the season finale of Christopher Guest's excellent Family Tree on HBO. Look below for the highlight this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

UFC 162
Anderson "The Spider" Silva is considered by some as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, and this weekend the UFC's middleweight title holder gets in the Octagon again versus Chris Weidman. This is Silva's first fight in eight months, and if he wins it could lead to a superfight against either Jon Jones or Georges St-Pierre.
(UFC 162, PPV, July 6th 10PM)

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Sony announced its FMP-X1 4K Ultra HD Media Player a few months ago, and today confirmed it's arriving in homes and on store shelves by July 15th. The $699 box only works with Sony's own 4K TVs, and early adopting owners of "qualifying" X900A sets can expect a $200 introductory discount. Also available is in-home setup and activations free of charge, set up through the 4KActivation.com site once it's available July 8th. Sony's also named the online 4K movie distribution network it's launching this fall -- Video Unlimited 4K -- which will offer films, TV episodes and short-form content for download. For feature films, it will cost $7.99 for a 24-hour rental or $29.99 to purchase. The 4K Player (and its 10 pack-in movies) is available for pre-order now on the US Sony store, expect it to hit other retailers soon.

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We just got the news that ex-head of Xbox, Don Mattrick, was out at Microsoft, and now we know where he's going: Zynga. AllThingsD reports that Mattrick is officially the new CEO of the casual social gaming firm, and Mark Pincus, the current CEO, is stepping down from that position to make room for Mattrick's arrival. Fear not for Pincus, however, as the founder of Zynga will maintain a role at the company as chairman and chief product officer. Naturally, Zynga's thrilled with the hire, though we're still awaiting word from Redmond on the matter. You can get Pincus' take on Mattrick at the source below.

Update: Steve Ballmer has posted a memo about Mattrick's departure, calling it "a great opportunity for Don" and thanking him for his hard work at Microsoft.

Update 2: AllThingsD has Mattrick's first letter to Zynga's employees, in which he states the "mission to connect the world through games is just getting started."

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The president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, Don Mattrick, is leaving the company according to a report at AllThingsD. His division oversees the Xbox gaming properties as well as the company's peripheral gaming initiatives. He's most recently known as the man who introduced the world to the Xbox One, as he took the stage on Microsoft's campus this past May to introduce the controller, next-gen Kinect sensor, and new console. He's been with the IEB department since 2010. He's gotten in trouble with consumers lately, after he gave dismissive answers about the Xbox One's always online policy and $499 price point. He's also the man who wrote Microsoft's public DRM reversal letter.

Furthermore, ATD says Mattrick could be headed to social gaming giant Zynga; the Bay Area-based company declined a comment to our sister site Joystiq. It's unclear who would step in to Mattrick's spot if he is indeed leaving. We've yet to hear back from Microsoft, though we'll update this post when we hear more.

Update: It's offical. He's the new CEO of Zynga, and you can read all about it right here.

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Smart TV makers subjected to 'coervive sales tactics' by Google, says ETNews

Smart TV providers who wish to use HTML5 for their streaming ecosystems have been running into a wall with YouTube, according to Korea's ETNews. It said Google has insisted TV makers place the app on their systems' main page and pass a Smart TV "browser conformity test" at its US headquarters, too. As a result, companies like Samsung have had to wait up to three months for YouTube certification. A key part of this allegation is that that TV makers who opted for Mountain View's Android-based Google TV instead of HTML5 wouldn't face such problems, but meanwhile, we've contacted Google for its take on the matter.

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BSkyB wins European trademark case against Microsoft over SkyDrive name

While many can tell the difference between Sky TV services and Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage, that's not necessarily true for everyone. A British court certainly thinks there's room for confusion: it has ruled that SkyDrive infringes BSkyB's trademarks on the Sky name in both the UK and the European Union. The presiding judge didn't believe that Microsoft's use of the "sky" prefix was absolutely necessary, and she showed evidence that at least some of the general public didn't understand which company made what. Microsoft says it plans to appeal the verdict, although there's no guarantee that it will have to relabel SkyDrive if the appeal falls through. Some past trademark lawsuits have led to fines instead of name changes, and we suspect Microsoft would rather pay out than lose brand recognition across a whole continent.

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Cox flareWatch TV beta brings IPTV with 60 HD channels, cloud DVR for $35 monthly

While everyone tries to figure out what the future of TV looks like, Variety reports Cox Cable has crossed over to offering internet TV service to customers in Orange County. flareWatch beta testers can buy a Fanhattan Fan TV set-top box for $99 (up to three per household) and sign up for a TV package that features 90 live TV channels (60 in HD) and includes the usual favorites like ESPN / ESPN2, AMC, CNN, Nickelodeon and TNT, with video on-demand coming soon. DVR recordings take place in the cloud, with 30 hours of storage available for each subscriber.

There is one notable limitation however, as with cable company provided TiVo DVRs, streaming services like Hulu and Netflix are not available. Cox already offers cloud-based storage under the MyFlare brand name, and Variety also mentions the company plans to expand it with music and game services. Other providers have hinted at offering IPTV options and Comcast launched an IPTV test at MIT, but this is the first one publicly available from a major company. If you live in the area, demonstrations are available at several locations, check out the site at the link below and a preview video after the break.

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Bell cleared to buy Astral Media, creates a Canadian TV powerhouse

Bell tried to shake up the Canadian media landscape last year by acquiring Astral Media, but it ran into a CRTC-sized roadblock -- regulators didn't want 25 TV stations moving to one provider. After some big concessions, however, Bell has received approval to buy Astral for $3.2 billion. The revised deal gives Bell control of 12 channels that include The Movie Network, HBO Canada's owner. Bell is offloading some important TV content to move forward, though. Corus gets several recognizable channels that include the Cartoon Network and Teletoon, while big stations like Disney XD and MusiquePlus are on the auction block. Not that Bell will complain too loudly when the buyout closes on July 5th, mind you. The merger still gives it 35.8 percent of the English Canadian TV market and 22.6 percent of its French Canadian equivalent, or enough to immediately eclipse rivals like Rogers and Quebecor.

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Intel shows Merrifield reference phone

Intel has a real presence in the smartphone world, but its tendency toward just one or two mobile chip releases per year makes it a slowpoke next to its ARM-based rivals. New CEO Brian Krzanich clearly isn't happy with this gap -- he tells Reuters that mobile Atom development could speed up under his watch. Although the executive is short on specifics, he notes that Intel is "evaluating" the schedule for future chips with hopes of improving their timing where possible. The proof will be in the pudding, of course -- the company needs to give opponents like Qualcomm a real run for their money. Just don't expect a similarly breakneck pace with Intel's TV service plans. Krzanich says Intel is being "cautious" about entering an industry that depends more on content than pure technology.

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GameStop Expo puts the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in your hands this August

Whether or not you pay for GameStop's annual membership plan, the planet's largest video game retailer is opening the doors of the Las Vegas Sands Expo and Convention Center to the public for its annual GameStop Expo this August, which this year features hands-on opportunities with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. For a $35 general admission ticket, you'll get access to both consoles on August 28th -- long before their respective holiday launches -- as well as a chance to play a variety of upcoming games. Should you shell out a stone cold $90, you'll snag a copy of Madden NFL 25 for Xbox 360, gain early entry to the show (one hour) and "access to panel discussions with some of the biggest names in the industry." Per usual, attendees must be older than 17, and the event's a one-day affair. But then you'll be in Vegas, so... maybe stay for a few days.

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