Serif have just released version 1.7 of both of their flagship applications, Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer. These tools provide excellent alternatives to Adobe products such as Photoshop and Illustrator with a much lower, pay once price tag. The 1.7 update applies to all platforms, Windows, Mac and iOS.
The Grandia HD Collection Is “Coming Soon” To Nintendo Switch
The Switch is quickly becoming the platform of choice for JRPG fans. Square Enix has shown ongoing support by releasing multiple Final Fantasy games on the system and more recently it announced Star Ocean: First Departure R would arrive in the near future.
GungHo Online Entertainment has now revealed the Grandia HD Collection – previously known as Grandia + Grandia II HD Remaster – will be “coming soon” to the Nintendo Switch. The collection was originally revealed for Nintendo’s platform in August last year.
In an official news release, GungHo said more information about this upcoming title would be revealed at E3 2019. If you haven’t had the chance to experience this series before, it’s known for its great characters, mature storytelling, memorable music and fun battle system. Below are some additional details.
Key Features:
● Real-time, turn-based action – Experience and employ a unique action bar system for real-time fighting with distinct characters ● Magic-based combat – Gather Mana Eggs to learn and use magic-based skills, ranging from elemental attacks to character-enhancing magic for defense and offense statistical boosts ● Illustrious worlds to explore – The vibrant worlds in GRANDIA HD Collection include nostalgic starter cities such as Parm (GRANDIA) and Carbo Village (GRANDIA II) to iconic fields and areas such as The End of the World (GRANDIA) and Valmar’s Moon (GRANDIA II) ● Gather Skill Points and ATTACK! – Skill Points or Skill Coins can be used to earn incredibly intense moves that make for an extraordinary fighting experience ● Eclectic Enemy Encounters – The worlds of GRANDIA and GRANDIA II bring forth a plethora of challenging and epic enemies in the wild, as well as main storyline bosses ● Ear-Indulging, Melodious Compositions – Experience world exploration, momentous battles, and legendary in-game experiences in beautiful harmony with musical compositions from acclaimed Japanese composer Noriyuki Iwadare
Both games will also include the following:
● Enhanced details to UI, sprites, and texture art ● Original cinematic videos receiving visual enhancements ● Audio: Japanese and English ● Language Support: Original English and Japanese plus French and German translation
Have you played any entries in this series previously? Are you looking forward to the HD collection on Switch? Tell us below.
Merge Games Releasing Dead Cells – Action Game Of The Year Edition
If you haven’t picked up a physical copy of the wonderful roguelike / Metroidvania hit Dead Cells yet, you might want to hold off just a little longer. Motion Twin has revealed publisher Merge Games will be releasing a Dead Cells – Action Game of the Year physical edition for the Switch and PlayStation 4 this August.
This updated hard copy of Dead Cells will include a key ring, art book and reversible cover. Most importantly, you’ll also get the recently released “Rise of the Giants” DLC on the game card.
This physical release is to celebrate a momentous first year, with sales of Dead Cells surpassing two million units. It will arrive in North America on 20th August and shortly after in Europe on 23rd August.
Will you be buying this Game of the Year edition? Tell us down in the comments.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-07-2019, 01:31 AM - Forum: Windows
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Partner awards announced ahead of July 14-18 Microsoft Inspire
Inspire 2019, taking place in Las Vegas July 14–18, is Microsoft’s premier event for partners and an experience for anyone interested in growing their business and strengthening their Microsoft partnership. The event brings together thousands of attendees from 130 countries around the globe for a week of networking and learning — all with the goal of increasing partner profitability and accelerating business growth. This year the keynote speaker lineup will include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, President Brad Smith, Executive Vice President Judson Althoff, who leads Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business organization, and Corporate Vice President Gavriella Schuster, who leads Microsoft’s One Commercial Partner organization. You can find other featured speakers listed online.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-07-2019, 01:31 AM - Forum: Windows
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How AI and satellites are used to combat illegal fishing
Fishing is a way of life for coastal communities around the world. An estimated four million fishing vessels sail the world’s oceans, providing fish for a global seafood market valued at over $120 billion.
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of fish,” says Nick Wise, CEO of the nonprofit organization OceanMind. “There are three billion people in the world who rely on seafood as their primary source of protein, mostly in developing nations. Twelve percent of the world’s population relies on the wild-capture seafood industry directly or indirectly for their livelihoods.”
Overfishing — when fish is caught faster than stocks can replenish — is a significant factor in the decline of ocean wildlife populations, not least because of the bycatch of other marine life such as turtles and cetaceans. Each of these creatures is an important part of ecosystems and the biodiversity of the ocean.
“A collapse in fish stocks and a failure to manage fishing sustainably,” says Wise, “would lead to a food security crisis and result in significant poverty around the world.”
To fight back against this overfishing, OceanMind is using the power of AI to map data and then feeding that information to government authorities to help catch perpetrators.
Regional, national and international regulations are used to manage fishing efforts and can include restrictions on fishing out of season, using banned gear or techniques, or catching more than a set quota.
There are many ways of trying to catch those flouting the law, such as patrol boats, on-board cameras, and the remote electronic monitoring of discards.
However, the vastness of the ocean makes the job difficult.
OceanMind’s system currently tracks thousands of boats, with the capability of tracking millions, across the globe by gathering data from a wide range of sources, including collision-avoidance transponders aboard boats; radar images; satellite imagery; and cellphone signals. Analyzing these enormous datasets is beyond the capability of any one person. OceanMind has developed machine-learning algorithms that predict the type of fishing behavior based on vessel location, and flags suspicious and potentially illegal activity such as fishing too close to the shore.
But the system can’t tell on its own whether anyone is breaking the law.
“The difference between legal and illegal fishing is simply whether or not the vessel had a license to do what it did in that place, at that time, and in that way,” says Wise. “That’s what makes combating illegal fishing challenging: One vessel making a particular maneuver might be legal, another vessel doing the same thing next to it might be illegal.”
OceanMind’s fisheries experts verify the alerts flagged by AI and coordinate closely with the relevant authorities, who can then decide whether to investigate further. The organization already has partnerships with governments, including Thailand’s, which can then target resources to catch offenders.
Real-time advances
Until now, OceanMind has used onsite servers to process the data that comes in every day. “We were basically running a day behind,” explains Wise. “We reviewed things that were happening yesterday.”
Through a Microsoft AI for Earth grant, OceanMind is moving its data analytics to the Microsoft Azure cloud. “The collaboration with Microsoft is going to bring all of that data through our system much more quickly and apply the AI in near real time.”
That transformation will make a big difference to enforcement. Real-time monitoring will help authorities plan patrols that can catch illegal fishing as it happens.
Following a start to preorders in France, Germany and the UK last week, Apple on Friday quietly initiated sales of Beats’ Powerbeats Pro headphones in Australia and China.
With the new preorder availability, Beats’ first totally wireless headphone model is now up for sale in seven regions.
Australia was added to the list of regions accepting orders for the headset on Friday local time, reports mac prices. China, which was not included among an initial set launch countries, also started the preorder process on Friday.
Powerbeats Pro is slated to roll out in 20 countries this summer, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Prior to Australia and China, Apple began sales in France, Germany and the UK on May 31.
Apple’s regional websites for all other countries show the device as “coming soon.”
Beats’ first completely wireless product, Powerbeats Pro incorporates Apple smarts like the H1 chip to enable enhanced connectivity, better run time and “Hey Siri” support. Unlike the tech giant’s own AirPods model, Powerbeats Pro is somewhat ruggedized and features IPX4 water resistance.
Lead your team to international glory with Cricket 19. The truly global cricket simulation from Big Ant Studios, the leading name in authentic, realistic cricket action, Cricket 19 allows you to take control of your team, from club through national level, and lead them to T20, ODI, or Test Match glory.
Cake the Wizard is dead, and his Magic Dog is out of control. Can you save the world? Can you save the Dog? Gear up, eat rocks, throw banana-boomerangs and fight a Giant Potato. Explore a huge game world, unlock over 15 playable characters and collect hundreds of items and perks in this local co-op Action RPG for 1 to 4 players.
E3 2019 -- Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Box Art Revealed Before EA Play
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is going to be the biggest part of EA Play--the fan-focused event just before E3 2019. Ahead of that showcase for the upcoming game on Saturday, EA has released two key pieces of artwork, showing off the standard and deluxe box covers.
The standard cover is a character medley in the identifiable Star Wars style, showing off protagonist Cal Kestis flanked by allies and enemies, along with TIE Fighters and AT walkers. The deluxe cover takes a more simplistic approach, with a close-up of Cal's face draped in shadow. Both covers notably have a light-dark motif, splitting the color scheme into two parts.
Despite what the box art suggests, Jedi Fallen Order will not be rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. EA has clarified that this was only meant as a placeholder; an ESRB rating is still to come, but it seems safe to assume it will be given either a Mature or, more likely, Teen rating.
Jedi Fallen Order focuses on a Padawan who escaped the Jedi purge that occurred when the Emperor instructed his troopers to execute Order 66. Since it takes place in the dark times between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Cal spends his time hiding from the Empire's agents, who have been deployed to watch for and mop up any remaining Jedi. Jedi Fallen Order releases on November 15 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The game from Respawn is headlining the EA Play event, and will be the first to take the stage on Saturday, June 8 at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM BST / 2:30 AM AET (June 9). EA isn't giving a formal press conference for E3 this year, but will be hosting a series of streams focused on its various games all Saturday morning. Others include Apex Legends, Battlefield 5, FIFA 20, Madden NFL 20, and The Sims 4.
