Video: Inside tech for 'Assassin's Creed III'

I'm not sure video game players need more incentive to check out Assassin's Creed III. Between its setting during the American Revolution, delightful use of muskets and naval warfare, the action title from Ubisoft has made a strong impression thus far.In case you need more convincing, the publisher has launched a fresh trailer taking viewers through the world of Assassin's Creed III and its AnvilNext technology.The game launches Oct. 30 for PC,...

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Customer losses, high retention costs hit Leap Wireless

By Sayantani GhoshMon Aug 6, 2012 7:43pm EDT n">(Reuters) - Leap Wireless International Inc's quarterly revenue missed Wall Street estimates as more customers defected and average revenue per subscriber (ARPU) at the low-cost mobile services provider fell for the first time in seven quarters.Shares of the company, which focuses on cost-conscious customers and competes with MetroPCS Communications Inc, fell 15 percent in trading after the bell.The company said customer retention programs did not work out as well as expected and came at a higher-than-anticipated...

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Photos: Here's how 'Doom 3' looks in HD

Want a taste of what the classic first-person shooter Doom 3 will look like with a high-definition makeover?Publisher Bethesda Softworks has released some fresh images featuring Doom 3: BFG Edition, which launches Oct. 16 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.Along with HD visuals, the re-release includes a "Lost Mission" consisting of seven levels, support for Achievements and Trophies as well as 3-D, plus the expansion Resurrection of Evil and original...

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Mini Minis in athletics cause big branding stir

By Karolos GrohmannLONDON | Tue Aug 7, 2012 11:19am EDT LONDON (Reuters) - Remote-controlled miniatures of Mini cars whizzing around the athletics stadium to shuttle javelins, discus and hammers back to the athletes have triggered branding questions at what are strictly ad-free Olympic venues at the London Games.The International Olympic Committee ensures adverts or logos of products are not visible in the fields of play in line with its Olympic Charter despite sponsors paying hundreds of millions of dollars to be associated with the Games.The...

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Disinformation flies in Syria's growing cyber war

Members of Free Syrian Army, who defected from the regular army, are seen in Kafranbel, near Idlib Syria July 28, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Shaam News Network/HandoutBy Peter Apps, Political Risk CorrespondentLONDON | Tue Aug 7, 2012 2:11pm EDT LONDON (Reuters) - On Sunday, it was a hijacked Reuters Twitter feed trying to create the impression of a rebel collapse in Aleppo. On Monday, it was another account purporting to be a Russian diplomat announcing...

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Video: First look at Black Ops II multiplayer

Video game players have heard plenty about the single-player campaign for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, but what most fans of the first-person shooter really care about is the popular multiplayer mode.Activision and studio Treyarch have released a video with the first glimpse at multiplayer, which features a host of fresh pieces of gear.Among some of the new items we spotted:-- The "Guardian Suppress," a turret that seems to emit heat to slow enemies...

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Judge in Google, Oracle case seeks names of paid reporters, bloggers

A photo of the Google Inc. logo is shown on a computer screen in San Francisco, California July 16, 2009. Credit: Reuters/Robert GalbraithBy Alexei OreskovicSAN FRANCISCO | Wed Aug 8, 2012 12:38am EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc and Oracle Corp's copyright and patent battle took a strange twist on Tuesday, after a judge ordered the companies to disclose the names of journalists, bloggers and other commentators on their payrolls.U.S. District...

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Analysis: EBay lures big retailers in Amazon battle

By Alistair Barr and Dhanya SkariachanTue Aug 7, 2012 5:46pm EDT n">(Reuters) - EBay Inc, once a scrappy auction site for mom and pop sellers, is enticing some of the world's largest retailers by arguing it can help them compete better against e-commerce leader Amazon.com Inc.EBay Chief Executive John Donahoe and other executives have been telling retailers that Amazon is their enemy, while eBay is a friend because, unlike Amazon, it holds no inventory.Amazon buys products wholesale, stores them in inventory and sells them to consumers at higher...

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'Temple Run' tops 100 million downloads

The hit mobile game Temple Run has reached another huge milestone: 100 million downloads.In a statement released Thursday, Imangi Studios revealed the game has hosted over 10 billion sessions since it arrived in Apple's App Store a year ago today."We never imagined that the game we were making and loved would be so well received around the world," said Keith Shepherd, co-founder of Imangi Studios, in a statement.More than 68 million downloads have...

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Facebook opens doors to real-money gambling in Britain

In this photo illustration, a Facebook logo on a computer screen is seen through a magnifying glass held by a woman in Bern May 19, 2012. Picture taken May 19, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Thomas HodelBy Alexei OreskovicSAN FRANCISCO | Tue Aug 7, 2012 2:40pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc will allow users in Britain to wager real money on its service, opening its doors to gambling for the first time as revenue growth slows at the world's No....

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'LittleBigPlanet Karting' arrives in November

The adorable burlap star of the PlayStation 3 series LittleBigPlanet will kick off his first driving adventure this November.Sony says the upcoming racing title LittleBigPlanet Karting will launch on the console Nov. 6.The game will feature all the elements of previous LittleBigPlanet titles, most notably the ability to create and share levels. However, as the name suggests, it will have a stronger racing focus.Sony announced the game in March,...

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Acer CEO wants a rethink by Microsoft: FT

A man's hand is seen on an Acer logo as he pastes a poster below at a computer mart in Taipei April 23, 2008. Credit: Reuters/Nicky LohLONDON | Mon Aug 6, 2012 7:46pm EDT LONDON (Reuters) - Taiwanese computer maker Acer has urged Microsoft Corp to reconsider its planned venture into the tablet market, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.Acer Chairman and Chief Executive J.T. Wang, said Microsoft's plans to launch its own "Surface" tablet in...

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Apple, Google bid on Kodak patents: report

Kodak World Headquarters is pictured in Rochester, New York January 19, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Adam FensterView the original article h...

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Former Apple designer says Samsung phones looked similar

A customer looks at the screen of an iPad in an Apple store in central Prague, October 6, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Petr JosekBy Edwin ChanSAN JOSE, California | Tue Aug 7, 2012 6:30pm EDT SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - The focus of Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics courtroom battle shifted to the iPhone's iconic display on Tuesday, as the U.S. company called on a former employee and award-winning graphic designer to back up claims that Samsung gadgets...

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Launch Pad: Some signs of video game life

Maybe it's not one of those blockbuster weeks video game players are used to witnessing, but at least it's something.Choices are few, but there are some intriguing options on the digital space.Here's a look at what's new in video games this week.Retail games launching Aug. 7Persona 4 ArenaPublisher: AtlusPlatform(s): PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Details: Fighting game based on the series of role-playing titles features key characters from Persona 3 and...

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Apple won't include YouTube app in new mobile software

Attendees sit in front of an Apple logo during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 in San Francisco, California June 11, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Stephen LamBy Alexei OreskovicSAN FRANCISCO | Tue Aug 7, 2012 12:59pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc's new version of its iPhone and iPad software will not include a pre-loaded app for Google Inc's popular video website, YouTube, Apple said on Monday.It was the latest sign of the growing...

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Video: Five minutes with 'Resident Evil 6'

It appears video game players will have a fourth character to blast zombies with in the upcoming action title Resident Evil 6.A video released by publisher Capcom features Ada Wong, who has made appearances in Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4 and Operation Raccoon City.Wong's adventure is available once players complete the campaigns starring Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy and Jake Muller. Among the new gadgets players will use include a crossbow...

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'Mass Effect 3' expansion 'Leviathan' revealed

BioWare will launch an expansion later this summer of the single-player campaign featured in its outer space epic Mass Effect 3.The download, Leviathan, will be available for $10 on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.According to a post on BioWare's blog, Commander Shepard and his squad search for the Leviathan, a mysterious being rumored to have the power to destroy the Reapers, an alien machine race invading Earth.The expansion will open up new areas...

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'God of War,' 'inFamous' collections unveiled

Sony has introduced a pair of collections launching later this month based on the PlayStation franchises God of War and inFamous.Both packages will launch for $29.99 on Aug. 28, the same day as a previously announced compilation based on the action series Ratchet & Clank.The God of War Saga will feature all three console titles, two more titles originally launched on PlayStation Portable, extra bonus content and a one-month voucher for PlayStation...

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EA sues Zynga, cites copyright infringement

Electronic Arts is suing Zynga citing copyright infringement, claiming the social gaming giant copied one of their games.According to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in California, EA alleges Zynga's new Facebook game The Ville is an "unmistakable copy" of The Sims Social."The similarities go well beyond any superficial resemblance," says Lucy Bradshaw, general manager of EA's Maxis label, the creators of The Sims Social. "Zynga's design...

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New app rescues people from bad dates

NEW YORK | Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:16pm EDT NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most people have been there, trapped on an awkward date that is going nowhere. But relief could be on the way with a new app that provides an incoming rescue call.The Bad Date Rescue app, which was launched by the dating website eHarmony.com this week, lets users arrange for a call to appear on their iPhone to graciously allow them to bow out if a date isn't going well."There are all sorts of reasons for why people would want to get out of a date," said Arvind Mishra, director of product...

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CEO vows to turn RIM into "lean, mean machine"

1 of 14. Research In Motion Limited (RIM) President and CEO Thorsten Heins speaks during the annual general meeting of shareholders in Waterloo July 10, 2012. Research In Motion Ltd's slate of directors was re-elected at the BlackBerry maker's annual general meeting on Tuesday, Chairwoman Barbara Stymiest said. Credit: Reuters/Mike CasseseBy Alastair SharpWATERLOO, Ontario | Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:10pm EDT WATERLOO, Ontario (Reuters) - Research In...

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Analysis: Tech Inc's invincible aura fades

By Jim FinkleWed Jul 11, 2012 12:48am EDT n">(Reuters) - Hopes are evaporating that leading technology companies will offer a safe harbor this year from the economic storms swirling across Europe, Asia and the United States.Investors should brace for some of the biggest names in U.S. software and hardware -- from Microsoft Corp and IBM to Intel Corp -- to disappoint when Big Tech begins reporting quarterly earnings next week, analysts said.The trio's shares are all in the red for July, in the wake of earnings warnings over the past week from...

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Judge who shelved Apple trial says patent system out of sync

Federal Judge Richard Posner poses in his Chambers in Chicago July 2, 2012. The U.S. judge who tossed out one of the biggest court cases in Apple Inc's smartphone technology battle thinks policymakers should examine whether patents should cover software at all. Picture taken July 2, 2012. Credit: Reuters/John GressBy Dan LevineCHICAGO | Thu Jul 5, 2012 8:42am EDT CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. judge who tossed out one of the biggest court cases in...

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Russia-focused online games developer eyes new markets

By Tova CohenHERZLIYA, Israel | Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:18am EDT HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Israel-based online games developer Plarium, whose multi-player game Total Domination has attracted 20 million users in just a year, expects revenue to double annually in coming years as it launches new games and enters new markets such as the United States."We are growing very fast," Plarium CEO Avi Shalel told Reuters. "Since the beginning we have doubled revenue every year and we expect this pace to continue."The private company, which has so far focused...

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Oracle continues to add social media muscle with Involver deal

The company logo is shown at the headquarters of Oracle Corporation in Redwood City, California February 2, 2010. Picture taken February 2, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Robert GalbraithBy Gerry ShihSAN FRANCISCO | Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:54pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp said Tuesday it had acquired social marketing firm Involver, notching the third deal in as many months in a red-hot area for enterprise software makers.Terms of the deal were...

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European ruling on Google privacy policy set for September

PARIS | Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:30am EDT PARIS (Reuters) - France's data protection watchdog said it will likely wrap up the inquiry of Google's new privacy policy, which it is conducting on behalf of European regulators, in September.France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique (CNIL) had expected to decide in June whether Google's new approach to privacy that took effect in March conforms with European law, but the process has been slowed as the company provided more information to the regulator."We just received answers to questions we put to...

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Sandvine posts wider-than-expected loss

n">(Reuters) - Canadian network equipment maker Sandvine Corp posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss as revenue fell 24 percent.Second-quarter net loss was $4.2 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with a net income of $1.7 million, or 1.2 cents per share, a year earlier.Revenue fell to $18.6 million from $24.5 million.Analysts had expected a loss of 2 cents per share on revenue of $18.8 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.Sandvine last month warned of smaller-than-expected revenue for the second quarter due to delays in closing...

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Google to pay $22.5 million to settle privacy charges: source

People visit Google's stand at the National Retail Federation Annual Convention and Expo in New York January 16, 2012. Credit: Reuters/ Kena BetancurView the original article h...

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Canadian Solar CEO: could build 700-MW factory in China

By Braden ReddallSAN FRANCISCO | Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:54pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ.O) is expected to decide within months whether to build a factory that could produce 700 megawatts per year of new, more efficient solar cells, the firm's head said on Tuesday, with any facility likely to be in China.Chief Executive Shawn Qu said at a conference in San Francisco that there was a good chance the company, which already carries out most of its production in China, would take the step despite oversupply in the solar equipment...

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After Farmville success, Zynga not ready to plunge into mobile

The corporate logo of Zynga Inc, the social network game development company, is shown at its headquarters in San Francisco, California April 26, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Robert GalbraithBy Gerry ShihSAN FRANCISCO | Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:10pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Zynga Inc CEO Mark Pincus said Tuesday he remains wary of investing as heavily in mobile games as he has in proven Web-based titles like FarmVille despite an industrywide push toward...

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Megaupload tycoon offers to go to U.S. to answer piracy charges

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom talks to members of the media as he leaves the High Court in Auckland February 29, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Simon WattsWELLINGTON | Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:15pm EDT WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Kim Dotcom, the Internet tycoon at the centre of a U.S. investigation into online piracy and fraud, said on Wednesday he was willing to go to the United States to clear his name, offering to forego a pending extradition hearing in New Zealand.Dotcom,...

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