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OPPO Find 5 vs iPhone 5: brands’ top-tier mobile devices clash

With the OPPO Find 5 seeing a surprising amount of interest in the forums and across-the-ocean mobile carriers of the world this month, it comes time to compare to one of the other most-searched smartphones on the planet: the iPhone 5. Both devices are the hero smartphone for their manufacturer, and both work with the newest (or ever-so-close to newest) mobile operating system available to them. Other than that, they’re quite a bit different from one another.

While the iPhone 5 has seen significant success since its launch last year, OPPO’s launch of the Find 5 has been limited. The OPPO Find 5 is only out in and around China, and if you’re planning on using it in the USA, you’ll need to make more than a little bit of effort to have it sent to you. Once you have the Find 5 in-hand, you’ll find it impressive as a non-major-brand device can be.

The OPPO Find 5 works with a 5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, this bringing it up to 441 PPI. Meanwhile the iPhone 5 has a 4-inch display with 640 x 1136 pixel resolution, putting it at 326 PPI. Both devices have generous viewing angles, and the operating systems running on each device is optimized for the screen size they’re working with

Android and iOS can be compared, but because they’re working with completely different app ecosystems, it’d be a mistake to compare the iPhone 5 to the OPPO Find 5 in any more than a piece-by-piece fashion. It really comes down to user preference when you see these devices in action, and with both using Google or Apple’s newest operating system right out of the box, basic system abilities are more similar to one another than they’ve ever been before.

The iPhone 5 is significantly smaller than the OPPO Find 5, coming in at 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) with a weight of 112 g (3.95 oz). The OPPO Find 5 is sized at 141.8 x 68.8 x 8.9 mm (5.58 x 2.71 x 0.35 in) with a weight of 165 g (5.82 oz). You’ll find the iPhone 5 fits the palm of your hand in a more natural way while the Find 5 brings a display size better suited to those looking to play high-powered games and high-definition videos.

The iPhone 5 and the OPPO Find 5 take fine photos and video, but the Apple product is perfected in a way that allows basically any user to take really nice looking shots. The Find 5 has the ability to capture media that looks nice, but it’s not quick to do so. A user not ready to hold their device steady against a solid surface for every photo and video should beware, for certain.

Have a peek at our iPhone 5 review as well as our OPPO Find 5 review and see for yourself which device is ready to command your hand. This selection will likely be based a bit more on your location on this planet than your preference for smartphone prowess and the release size is quite different between these two bits of technology – and let us know if either strikes your fancy.

OPPO Find 5 vs iPhone 5: brands’ top-tier mobile devices clash is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

EA points toward SimCity sales as high point in recent quarter

Electronic Arts has reported its Q4 2013 earnings, and the company boasted a $1.04 billion revenue, which is up from $977 million a year ago. Net income also saw a growth from last year, with $169 million in cold, hard profit for the quarter, compared to $56 million during the same quarter last year. However, it was the game sales that EA really wanted to show off.

Since the game’s launch in March, SimCity has sold over 1.6 million copies so far, even despite the fiasco that erupted during launch. EA says that half of these sales were from digital downloads, meaning that 800,000 copies of the game were sold through EA’s Origin gaming service alone, which is quite impressive.

As for other games that EA highlights, FIFA 13 has sold over 14.5 million copies in EA’s fiscal year 2013 so far, and EA says that Battlefield 3 Premium has over 3.5 million subscribers to date. As for the company’s latest iOS game, Real Racing 3 has seen more than 30 million downloads, and has been averaging over 2.5 million daily active users since its launch.

Despite all the hate that EA has been getting lately, including its “Worst Company in America” award for the second straight year, EA claims that they were the number one publisher in “Western retail markets” during the past quarter, as well as the number one publisher in the world when it comes to iOS games. Sales speak for themselves, we suppose.

EA points toward SimCity sales as high point in recent quarter is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Ender’s Game trailer reveals child genius training for future alien war

It’s finally time to get a good look at the film adaptation of the science fiction novel classic Ender’s Game with the first official full-length trailer for the movie. This trailer is just under two minutes long and has Harrison Ford speaking in what might be the least intense declaration of intent in the history of on-film representations of the military, rivaled only by his admittedly unenthusiastic voice-over for the theater version of Blade Runner. That said, the visuals appear to be bringing a fully prepared vision from director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci.

This clip is joined by a Google Hangout that’s taking place starting at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT and going forward into the afternoon. This Google+ Hangout holds the heads of the film, Hood and Orci, speaking to select members of the public as well as the star of the film Asa Butterfield. This actor portrays Ender in the film which will be released on the 1st of November this year.

Ender’s Game has also seen the start of a viral campaign that will be ushering in information about the plot and the environment which will hold the characters of this science fiction story. This story takes place in the future, a future where a single alien invasion has set our Earth on high alert, allowing a single government system to keep sway over the citizens of our planet while they train children to become future military leaders. These children – Ender included – are part of a future era of humanity in which kids have the potential to become genius-level thinkers in their adolescence.

The film stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, and Sir Ben Kingsley amongst many new entrants into the major motion picture world. This film is the first official adaptation of the Orson Scott Card novel Ender’s Game, a book which was born of a short science fiction tale told in the pages of Analog Science Fiction and Fact.

Have a peek at SlashGear’s brief timeline of events that’ve recently lead up to this release and be prepared for a flow of information the likes of which we’ve not seen since Prometheus.

Ender’s Game trailer reveals child genius training for future alien war is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

White House hires Twitter legal director as chief privacy officer

The White House has hired its first ever chief privacy officer, and the the person to take the helm for the first time is Twitter‘s legal director Nicole Wong, who has over a decade of experience dealing with both copyright and privacy law. The appointment of a chief privacy officer comes at a curious time, when a handful of privacy bills are trying to make their way through Congress.

Before Twitter, Wong served as the vice president and deputy general counsel at Google for eight years, in which she headed a team of lawyers that were responsible for reviewing various aspects of a new product from the company, including details like privacy, copyright, and removal requests.

Details on the new gig are scarce, but CNET reports that the new position will report to the chief technology officer as a senior advisor of sorts. The current chief technology officer of the White House is Todd Park, who was just hired on about two months ago. Wong’s job will focus on internet and privacy policy.

Before working at Google, Wong received her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Frankly, we’re not surprised that the White House hired Wong. She hasn’t been at Twitter for that long, but the social media service has received high marks for its privacy policies and its user data protection.

[via CNET]

White House hires Twitter legal director as chief privacy officer is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Ender’s Game movie trailer imminent as viral campaign makes way [UPDATE]

Today is the day the Ender’s Game movie gets its first full-length trailer. But before it’s released, the company behind the production is pushing a full-breadth viral data campaign to support it. Much in the same way Prometheus was supported by the virtual presence of the company Weyland Industries, here Ender’s Game is heralded by the International Fleet. This government group plays a major part in the Ender’s Game story, and here appears with propaganda aplenty for those anticipating the film.

The International Fleet Sentinel is a faux-publication being shown through the micro-blogging website Tumblr. There you’ll find a series of five portals that bring information about the story through blurbs written from the perspective of the space army that is the International Fleet and the world government, graphics included. The first of these is a Mission Statement.

UPDATE: The first full-length Ender’s Game movie trailer has been released – have a peek at it and discuss without end!

Series: Mission Statement of the International Fleet

It’s here that the International Fleet lets Earth know that it remains at the center of the “single, harmonious government” preparing for a potential second global invasion by aliens that were defeated by Mazer Rackham in the distant past. Readers of the book know that this posturing is done for more than just the benefit of the citizens of the Earth’s confidence in their leadership.

“Lucky for us, every human being has preparation on their mind,” reports I.F. Major Gerald Stacks, special negotiations envoy to the nations of Earth. “The leadership of humanity must prioritize interstellar readiness and, to support that, total global cohesion.”

This theme seems to be getting pushed harder than it is in the original book. Perhaps we’ll see more of a “big government crush” than we do in the original storyline. And hopefully more of Peter and Valentine.

Next Leader Recruitment

The application process for Battle School is not that unlike joining the Navy here in the present, only it’s not the recruit that signs away their future, it’s their parents. Gifted children are what Battle School will be pushing through to end up in I.F. Tactical and the Strategic Training Academy.

“There is no greater pride for parents than to see their children achieve greatness, and there is no greater achievement than to protect the survival of our race. The I.F. Tactical and Strategic Training Academies are training tomorrow’s brightest leaders and greatest public servants. Our world needs heroes. Your children are our brightest hope.

These exclusive academies provide a safe place for gifted children to refine their focus and learn the necessary skills to lead our planet in the impending intergalactic war. Prepare our world for the future and prepare your child for greatness today.

Does your child have what it takes? Could your child be the next Mazer Rackham? Apply to the I.F. through your local recruiting office to discuss your child’s government sponsored education.”

Of course these kids wont remain children as such for long. As the story tells us and as we can expect from the film, Battle School gives no mercy to the future battle-hardened members of the military, not for size, not for ability, not at any level. Through this mercilessness, Ender will become more powerful than the coddled child he was on Earth.

Here you’ll see the first teaser for the film, a seconds-long set of mini-clips also making way for the first full-length trailer coming up later today.

Developing a Strategic Mind

Here you’ll find information about the Battle School, where Ender and other future geniuses are sent to develop and become great leaders. It’s not in every plotline that a group of children are given such regard. Here though, the IF has recognized the power of the children of this future generation and will be making full use of it.

Looking Back at the Great Invasion

Setting the viewer up for an understanding of why everyone is so flustered about aliens in the movie, this bit tells of the former great leader of the military in Mazer Rackham. This fellow is, in the story, a major hero and one looked up to as history’s most prominent savior of the human race. The victory he commanded allowed the “Great Invasion” to be stopped and preparations to begin for the next wave of alien opponents.

Thirds

A plot element used in the Ender’s Game story used to single out Ender and prepare him to be a major military leader for the future of the human race. This Thirds announcement lets the world know that though overpopulation has regulated society at large to have only two children per couple of parents lest a special exception be made. Ender is, of course, part of a very special situation, as we’ll find throughout the story.

Ender’s Game movie trailer imminent as viral campaign makes way [UPDATE] is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Windows 8.1 Blue confirmed for June launch for developers

During the Wired Business Conference today, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for Windows Julie Larson-Green confirmed that a major update for Windows 8 — known as Windows 8.1 “Blue” — will be launching this year, with a developer version arriving first during Microsoft’s BUILD conference at the end of the June.

An exact release date for the final version hasn’t been disclosed yet, but Microsoft says that it’ll be out at some point “later this year.” While the preview that the company will release in June will mostly be meant for developers, the company will be providing public preview versions as well for anyone to try out.

We’ve been hearing a lot of chatter about Windows Blue lately, including the possibility of Microsoft bringing back some crucial features that users have missed from Windows 7, including re-introducing the Start button, and including an option to boot straight to the desktop, bypassing the start screen altogether.

Microsoft could also be working on Windows Blue versions for their tablet operating system. We heard hearsay earlier today about the possibility of new HTC tablets coming with an updated version Windows RT. We’re not sure if we’ll hear about Blue updates for Windows RT at BUILD this year, but it’ll definitely be something that we’ll keep in our minds as we go into June.

Windows 8.1 Blue confirmed for June launch for developers is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Humble Bundle is back with Double Fine lineup

For those who’ve been desperately missing the Humble Bundle series, you’ll be glad to know that it’s back again, and it has a game studio theme again, only this time it’s indie themed. All the games included were developed by indie game studio Double Fine Productions, including Costume Quest, Psychonauts, and Stacking, as well as other exclusive goodies.

By paying whatever you want, you’ll get the three games mentioned above, but if you pay at least the average contribution (which stands at $8.10 right now), you’ll also get a copy of Brutal Legends, as well as the soundtrack to the game, plus Psychonauts’ two soundtracks as well. $8 for four indie games is quite the deal.

However, if you pay at least $35, you’ll get the four games, as well as a pre-order to Broken Age (formerly known as Double Fine Adventure), which is raising funds right now on Kickstarter. If you contribute at least $70, you’ll get everything previously mentioned, as well as a Humble Double Fine Bundle T-shirt in either black or white.

As always, this Humble Bundle will see some of the funds raised go to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as well as the Child’s Play Charity. When you contribute, you’ll be able to choose how much of your money goes to each organization, and you have two weeks to decide whether or not that extra $35 is worth the T-shirt.

Humble Bundle is back with Double Fine lineup is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

BitTorrent introduces new file format for content creators

BitTorrent has been moving its way up in the world as far as introducing new features and services, and today’s announcement goes right along with that. The company announced a new file format called Bundle, which will allow content creators to require users to pay or register an account before downloading the torrent.

Essentially, a Bundle consists of a couple of free pieces of content, whether it’d be a song, video, trailer, etc. However, in order to unlock more content within the Bundle, you have to pay (or at least submit an email address) for the bonuses to unlock. This could be a full-length album or a full movie where the trailer is the free part.

BitTorrent Bundle is in its alpha stages, so its way off from being a final product, but you can already try it out for yourself with the first Bundle being released today from BitTorrent, which is a promo for “Kaskade’s Freaks of Nature” DVD. In this case, the Bundle consists of a free song and trailer for the DVD, but if you submit your email address, it’ll unlock some sweet concert footage and “an exclusive digital tour booklet.”

Hopefully this move will make content creators less scared of BitTorrent and more willing to take advantage of the torrenting community. Plus, a method like this could cut down on piracy, as BitTorrent is actively seeking ways to come up with legal alternatives to prevent more people from illegally downloading content, and Bundles could be their saving grace.

BitTorrent introduces new file format for content creators is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Audi Spock vs Spock continues Star Trek crossover advertising

As it was with the Acer Enterprise-esque spot that turned out to be a rather strange Windows 8 computer by the name of Aspire R7 last month, so too do the stars of Star Trek appear this week in a video spot for Audi. In their newest crossover appearance, both original Spock and new-age Spock have a bit of a battle on the road, complete with so many Star Trek references your head will spin. This spot is also home to a driverless / self-driven Audi vehicle in addition to the Audi S7, as driven by Zachary Quinto.

What the audience will find in this push for the film is an advertisement for an Audi vehicle stocked with infotainment system, light-up bits and pieces, and a presentation that makes Leonard Nimoy’s ride look like a bit of a joke. Of course that’s the point, as the new age – with Quinto, aka Spock from the newest series of Star Trek movies – makes way as the old – Leonard Nimoy, stays cool.

You’ll find Nimoy making reference after reference not just to Star Trek in more form than one, but to his own professional (read: odd) past as well. For an extended period of his vehicle trip in this video he sings a new rendition of the classic “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins”, a song which he sang for a variety show in 1967 by he name of Malibu U. Because we live in an age where all things digital can be preserved, you’ll be treated to this epic masterpiece as well, right this minute.

Please mind the 60′s pixie women, if you can. Zachary Quinto meanwhile stays par for the course, ready to appear as Spock for the film Star Trek Into Darkness later this month – on the 17th of May, mind you. It’s also rumored that Quinto will be returning to the most terrifying television show of all for another season soon: American Horror Story. Can’t be too silly for that one.

Audi Spock vs Spock continues Star Trek crossover advertising is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft returning to Gamescom to show off Xbox 720

While Microsoft is planning its own reveal event on May 21 to unveil its next-generation gaming console, the company will also be at E3 in June to show off even more stuff the company is working on. However, Microsoft will also be returning to Gamescom later this August after skipping last year’s event, where they’ll be revealing the “next chapter of Xbox gaming experiences.”

Xbox EMEA social marketing manager Graeme Boyd tweeted the news today, but details have yet to revealed. Then again, we probably won’t hear more about Microsoft’s Gamescom appearance until the event gets closer. From the looks of it so far, it seems the company may spread out announcements for the Xbox 720 over three events.

However, since Gamescom is in August, that could be the time when Microsoft will release its next-generation console, thus being the purpose behind the company’s appearance at the event. Both Microsoft and Sony are expected to launch their new consoles in time for the holiday season, so we should be seeing them pop up early on in August and September.

Microsoft skipped Gamescom last year, with no word on whether or not the company would return, but it looks like they just can’t get enough, as they’ll be returning to the Germany event come late August. It’ll be interesting to see what new stuff they unveil, considering they’ll have E3 and their own event to splurge out details of their new console.

Microsoft returning to Gamescom to show off Xbox 720 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.