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Submission + - Microsoft allows indie self-publishing, debugging on retail Xbox One (gameinformer.com)

Submitted by tlhIngan
tlhIngan writes: Microsoft was the last platform manufacturer to require that all games go through publishers, a much hated policy. Indeed, their approval process was one of the harshest around. But taking a page from Apple, Microsoft will allow indie developers to self publish, and allow retail Xbox One units to serve as developer consoles. Previously, self-publishing developers were relegated to the "Xbox Live Indie Arcade" section, as well as developer consoles often costing upwards of $10,000 with special requirements and NDAs. This puts Microsoft's Xbox One more in line with Apple's App Store, including Microsoft's new promise of a 14-day turnaround for approvals. Microsoft's retail debug console system is to work similarly to Apple's — that is, to run pre-release code, the individual consoles used have to be registered with Microsoft.

Comment Imagine The Meeting That Broke Out... (Score 1) 547

by AtomicRhino (#44054261) Attached to: Microsoft Kills Xbox One Phone-Home DRM
Well this is a change of events. Glad to see the elitist attitude is now swayed.... slightly. The media has already broke with "Xbox One Is Going To Suck because (DRM/Phone Home/Etc)" so they have already shot themselves in the foot and really I think its a bit too late to save face when they've pissed off so many already. But congrats to listening to your customers, you've adhered to one of the core business fundamentals. Maybe they will actually sell some units now. However without Indie getting back on the rails, Its looking like my Xbox-console run will be changing to PS this generation.
Censorship

North Korea's Own OS, Red Star 316

Posted by timothy from the linux-is-sometimes-for-communists dept.
klaasb writes "North Korea's self-developed computer operating system, named 'Red Star,' was brought to light for the first time by a Russian satellite broadcaster yesterday. North Korea's top IT experts began developing the Red Star in 2006, but its composition and operation mechanisms were unknown until the internet version of the Russia Today TV program featured the system, citing the blog of a Russian student who goes to the Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang."
Image

PhD Candidate Talks About the Physics of Space Battles 361

Posted by samzenpus from the load-photon-torpedoes dept.
darthvader100 writes "Gizmodo has run an article with some predictions on what future space battles will be like. The author brings up several theories on propulsion (and orbits), weapons (explosives, kinetic and laser), and design. Sounds like the ideal shape for spaceships will be spherical, like the one in the Hitchhiker's Guide movie."
Medicine

Turning a Cell Phone Into a Microscope 50

Posted by timothy from the in-line-for-a-macarthur-grant dept.
stupendou writes with this excerpt from the New York Times: "Microscopes are invaluable tools to identify blood and other cells when screening for diseases like anemia, tuberculosis and malaria. But they are also bulky and expensive. Now an engineer, using software that he developed and about $10 worth of off-the-shelf hardware, has adapted cellphones to substitute for microscopes." But not based on optical magnification: the article explains that Aydogan Ozcan, a UCLA assistant professor of electrical engineering, has combined the wireless transmission abilities and imaging sensors now typical in wireless phones to make the phones capable of detecting cell abnormalities and more by capturing wave interference patterns from body fluids — like blood — and sending them on for analysis.

Update 20091108 15:03 GMT by timothy: Dave Bullock mentions this gallery he shot last year for Wired showing how a phone is hacked to add microscope abilities. "The new version looks a bit more polished, to say the least," he writes.

Comment Comparing Apples To Oranges.... (Score 1) 650

by AtomicRhino (#29571887) Attached to: Bad PC Sales Staff Exposed
Working retail for one of the biggest, it does have its challenges. Going to Tesco's for a laptop and expecting answers worthy of certifications you hold....theres your first mistake. You most likely hit up the location on the weekend, where some part-timer that works electronics had the misfortune of feeling like a pile of crap because they did not have the answer for the customer. Don't take into the consideration that this individual could be completely talented in knowing the latest games or systems or has crazy music knowledge. He was answering questions to the best of what he knew or what he was told (or possibly bs'ing). At the end of the day he was still there to assist you. What makes the writer of an article such an ass, is the fact that buddy knew his stuff and was purposely wording an article around computer service at a Tesco's. Why not do a review on getting your engine rebuilt from a Mr. Lube or A Penn-10.

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