Project Spark is a game creation video game for Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Xbox One. The game was announced during Microsoft's E3 2013 press event, and was launched as a Windows open beta in December 2013, and an Xbox One beta in March 2014.

 

Project Spark Is a digital canvas which can be used to make games, movies and other experiences. A player can download other user-generated content, remix that content or create content of their own. A player can use the Xbox controller, keyboard and mouse, touch-devices, Kinect and SmartGlass to build experiences. Kinect can be used to animate models and record audio. The created environments can contain mountains, rivers, and towns. The player can also create events, like inter-character battles. Created items and objects are able to be shared with other players.

 

Recently Microsoft announced that it will be dropping the micro transactions based revenue model for its Project Spark game creation game and will make it completely free starting October 5.

 

Project Spark has been quite a popular game world creation video game for Windows 8.1 and Xbox One. Although the game itself is free, users were required to purchase DLC such as tools and enhancements for new experiences. Now, the company has announced that all such content will also be given for free.

 

The downloadable content will be made available to new and existing gamers from October 5. Additionally, the game is set to receive a major update on the same day that will bring new assets and the restrictions on terrain and props will be removed. Changes to the achievements system will also be part of this update.

 

Microsoft has been quick to support Apple Watch on many of its popular iPhone apps. Skype made its way to the Apple Watch earlier this year, and now Microsoft is bringing Skype to Android Wear today. The latest Skype 6.4 for Android update brings messaging, new Skype Mojis, and the ability to accept or decline calls on your wrist.

 

While managing calls might not be that useful, Microsoft has added the ability to respond to Skype messages from Android Wear. You can speak into your wrist, send Skype Mojis, or use a pre-written response to quickly message a Skype contact back. Managing calls simply lets you accept or decline, hang up, or mute an ongoing conversation. If you have an Android Wear watch then the latest update is available now in the Google Play Store.

 

Russian scientists and engineers have developed a micro-robot that looks and moves like an insect and can carry a tiny camera, the country's Baltic Federal Immanuel Kant University announced on Thursday.

 

The team members behind the project said they plan to supply a sample of the bug-like robots to the armed forces next week, once they develop a prototype in camouflage colors.

 

The robot is 4 inches long and can move at the speed of 12 inches per second. It is equipped with a photosensitive sensor, as well as contact and contactless sensors meaning it can track obstacles while travelling.

 

It can act as a scout and perform reconnaissance.

 

The current prototype can only move for 20 minutes at a time, but is intended by December to be able to move for longer, either autonomously or to follow a predetermined route.

 

According to the Kant University in Kaliningrad, where the robot was developed, it was designed to emulate the Blaberus Giganteus cockroach prevalent in South America.

 

The developers usec a specimen of the similar-looking Blaberus Craniifer during development.

 

Scientists spent the first two months of development observing the movements of real cockroaches to ensure the robot's own movements were as insect-like and organic as possible.

 

Although the prototype does not currently have a camera mounted on it, it can carry a load of up to 10 grams that scientists say would be enough to carry a small portable camera, with which it will be able to penetrate hard-to-reach areas.

 

Developers from the university say the Russian military is already interested in the project and a camouflage version of the robot will be submitted to the armed forces for testing next week.

 

The university believes that the project can be very useful to Russia's emergency services, who are in charge of search and rescue missions in the country and often work in zones where infrastructure has been damaged.

After Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows XP, China wasn't too happy to hear the news. The country wasn't too keen on upgrading, finding it too expensive to do so. In line with this, they also announced plans to build its own OS more than a year ago, to replace Windows. And just recently, a sneak peek of the operating system, which is named "NeoKylin," has surfaced.

 

Nikhil Sonnad, a reporter from Quartz was able to get an inside look on the custom OS. NeoKylin is developed by China Standard Software, in Shanghai, and built under Unix. Furthermore, the existence of a Yellowdog Updater Modified (yum) package management utility suggests that the OS is based on Fedora, another Linux-based OS, as the report states. The OS' name is taken from "qilin," a fictional hooved chimerical creature.

 

The first thing you will notice upon logging in, is its high resemblance from Windows XP. The majority of the UI is XP-inspired, from the taskbar, programs, functions, buttons, down to the Start menu. Other items in Microsoft Windows like My Documents, My Computer, Control Panel, and the Recycle Bin are also present. It has built-in programs like Firefox, a music player, image editor GIMP, a few games like Minesweeper, and Solitaire, among many others.

 

 

Source: Neowin

Norwegian software company Opera, famous for its web browsers both for mobile and desktop, has unveiled a new brand identity today. The update illustrates a fresh logo and title change - aiming to better reflect the success the company has enjoyed over the past 20 years.

 

The company firmly believes that a 'new look and feel' will further recognize the capabilities of the web browser service, where Opera serves over 350 million internet users each month. Moreover, it is reported that 1.1 billion users access content provided by the company through its subsidiary advertising division, Mediaworks.