Nintendo Switch is the spiritual successor to the Nvidia SHIELD

 Nintendo has revealed its new console, the Switch (which was codenamed the NX prior to its public debut). The thing that makes Switch different from any other console out there by a major game maker is its ability to quickly transition from home console to portable, thanks to a tablet format for the primary gaming hardware, and modular a modular ‘Joy-Con’ controller design. Is… Read More

Zwift merges indoor fitness with massive multi-player online gaming

 At its core, Zwift is indoor cycling software. But layered on top of its functionality is a community that in the two years the company has been operating has grown in both scale and shear strength. At an event at Rapha’s cycling in SF, I found myself surrounded by core users proudly flaunting their team names and meeting, often not for the first time. Even Barry Bonds showed up to… Read More

Six reasons to be hyped for the Nintendo Switch (and four reasons to worry)

 Yesterday saw the introduction — after many leaks and rumors — of the Nintendo Switch, the company’s next game console. It isn’t due to arrive until March of next year, which is infinitely frustrating because it looks amazing for several reasons, not all of them obvious. Here’s why I’m more excited about the Switch than for any Nintendo product in a long time. Read More

Pokémon Go’s first ever in-game event ups the candy count for Halloween

 Pokémon Go players will get the chance to participate in the game’s first ever in-game event this Halloween, starting Wednesday October 26 and running through November 1. The event will feature higher encounter rates for spooky Pokémon, including Drowzee, Zubat, Gastly, Gengar, Golbat, Haunter and Hypno, and trainers will also get more candy for catching, buddy training and… Read More

Xiaomi beefs up its mobile virtual reality push with Mi VR

 Xiaomi has added another mobile VR headset to its portfolio: announcing the Mi VR today — which it says is its first virtual reality headset with an inertial motion controller. Read More

Gaming features in Windows 10 Creator’s Update include native Beam streaming

 Game Broadcasting for Windows 10 is coming, which brings built-in game streaming to the platform at the OS level. The tech for this is built using Beam, the TechCrunch Battlefield company acquired by Microsoft earlier this year. The Game Broadcasting tools provided by Beam incorporate interaction options for spectators, including the ability to make suggestions. On stage at the Windows… Read More

Minecraft comes to Apple TV

 Minecraft, having already come to just about every other platform, is now on Apple TV, or will be soon at any rate. Well, that’s pretty much the news! Read More

PlayStation VR is easily the winner in virtual reality right now

 Consumer virtual reality has a clear new leader today, and it’s the just-launched PlayStation VR. Unequivocally, this is the best VR experience currently available outside of the kinds of high-flying, super-secret test rigs that exist out there for army training or whatever that cost millions of dollars. That includes top-of-line hardware like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, as well as… Read More

Six new Sun and Moon Pokémon evolutions revealed

 Pokémon Sun and Moon’s release for 3DS rapidly approaches, and the Pokémon Company is unveiling eight new Pokémon unique to the new games, including six evolutions of Sun/Moon characters and two Alola-region variants of existing pocket monsters. The new Pokémon include two evolutions of a new dragon/fighting type that looks like a good candidate for inclusion in my primary lineup of six. Read More

Rockstar teases Red Dead Redemption follow-up

 Rockstar is toying with the emotions of fans of its popular western adventure game Red Dead Redemption, with a couple of teaser images that are clearly leading up to a big announcement. Fans and industry observers suspect we could finally see the studio announce a sequel to the 2010 Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game. Red Dead Redemption was itself a follow-up to Red Dead Revolver, a… Read More

Razer acquires audiovisual icon THX as it explores growth beyond the games industry

 Razer, the company that develops hardware and services for gamers and the world of gaming, has made an acquisition to catapult it to more platforms and more people: The company has acquired THX, the legendary audio and video quality assurance company that was originally founded by George Lucas as part of Lucasfilm. Razer’s CEO Min-Liang Tan said in an interview that the terms of… Read More

Red Dead Redemption 2 confirmed for Fall 2017

 Rockstar games confirmed a sequel to Red Dead Redemption is on the way for release in Fall 2017, tweeting the date along with the promise of a trailer arriving this Thursday, October 20. The follow-up to Rockstar’s epic Western action-adventure game series has been teased through Rockstar’s account, leaving many to suspect a sequel was planned, but now we know for sure. The… Read More

Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition is a lovely piece of self-contained 80s nostalgia

 Nintendo’s got a gift for repurposing. In the 30+ years since it was first released, the NES and its beloved range of intellectual properties have been repackaged in just about every way imaginable – and heck, even that system’s most beloved protagonist was on-loan from a platformer about a giant ape with a princess-stealing problem. Mind, none of this is a criticism, really.… Read More

HP’s OMEN 17 is an epic gaming laptop that needs just a tweak or two

 HP Inc. isn’t a name that comes to mind when you think of “enthusiast PC gaming system,” but the more endearing folks at HP think that recent tweaks made to OMEN gaming brand can change brand perception in the eyes of PC gamers, like myself. Read More

Is VR a leap back in time for the games industry?

 When we look back through the annals of time, there, etched in the history books will be “2016: The year of VR.” And what a year it’s been. We’ve already seen the Samsung VR launch to great applause, but with the imminent release of the PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift devices, the sector is about to shift into overdrive. But VR is not exactly new — the concept has… Read More

Nintendo added $1.36 billion in market cap after Nintendo NX teaser

 In just a few minutes, Nintendo will unveil (update: meet the Nintendo Switch) the first official teaser for the Nintendo NX, the company’s next flagship console. While the console isn’t supposed to come out until March 2017, people are excited — including investors. A few minutes after Nintendo teased the NX preview on Twitter, Nintendo’s shares jumped. The company… Read More

Nintendo wants all third-party games on the Nintendo Switch

 Nintendo finally unveiled the successor to the Wii U and 3DS — the Nintendo Switch. Interestingly, Nintendo won’t just be showing off its own games before the release. In the press release, the company announced that it has partnered with most of the big video game companies. For once, Nintendo wants to partner with third-party developers in a big way. While many video game… Read More

The new Remix Android set top box adds 4K video

 Even with an abundant number of Android set top boxes floating around, the promise of the Remix Mini managed to capture Kickstarter’s imagination in a big way, pulling in $1.6 million in pledges when it closed in August of last year. The device’s success was due in no small part to pricing – the company was offering early birds a first-gen version of the system for $20, a… Read More

Osmo’s new Pizza Co. game uses augmented reality to teach kids about running a business

 With its latest title, educational game-maker Osmo is tackling a subject that’s close to CEO Pramod Sharma’s heart — entrepreneurship. Co-founded by Sharma and Jérôme Scholler (both former Googlers), Osmo makes iPad games that combine touchscreen gameplay with real-world objects and physical activities in front of the screen. Past games have covered topics like coding,… Read More

A short list of some games we want to see on the Nintendo Switch

 Nintendo showed off its new console, the Nintendo Switch, for the first time, in a video earlier today. It’s basically a tablet to which you connect two controllers when you’re carrying it around, and then you use a regular controller when the tablet is plugged into the TV. In other words, it’s a kind of hybrid console where you can play both while you’re on the move… Read More

Meet the giant robot equipped with a paintball cannon

Why engineers want to build giant robots which can battle each other.

Drones carry patients' blood for a fee in Rwanda

A drones start-up is launching a service that will deliver blood, plasma and coagulants to hospitals in Rwanda.

PlayStation VR headset: The verdict

BBC Click's Marc Cieslak reviews Sony's PlayStation virtual reality headset.

Let's play!

Firms are increasingly using game play to encourage greater engagement from customers and staff - but does gamification work?

Life streamed online

In 1996 Jennifer Ringley switched on a webcam and opened her life to the public for seven years. Then she logged off - completely. What was it all about?

Robot rage

Will human drivers take advantage of driverless cars' safety-first caution and simply ignore them?

Clicks and bricks

The building industry has not been known for digital innovation, but virtual reality design and project management software are changing perceptions.

Selfie blackmail

Smartphones and social media are colliding with notions of honour and shame in conservative societies - with devastating effects on the lives of some young women.

Real-world VR

VR is increasingly being used in real-world situations by schools, charities, hospitals and... kitchen retailers.

Skype sex scam

Arab men are being targeted by blackmailers who trick them into them masturbating on webcams - then make them pay for it.

Blockchain bandits

Are hack attacks aimed at the technology behind Bitcoin and other virtual currencies undermining confidence in the digital cash world?

Smart home threat

Recent cyber-attacks using botnet armies of hacked "internet of things" devices highlights the pressing need for improved security.

The Pompeii house recreated in 3D and other tech news

BBC Click's Stephen Beckett looks at some of the best of the week's technology news.

'Emoldjis': Gran's call for older people's lives to be reflected

False teeth and bad back emojis, the brainchild of a frustrated grandmother, could soon be in use after being sent off for official approval.

Here are some of the best Vines ever made - according to the internet

With Twitter closing down its micro-video sharing service, Vine, have a look back at some of its best bits.

The smart mirror which makes customised makeup patches

BBC Click's Dan Simmons looks at some of the latest technology on show in Japan.

The suitcase with a built-in scooter and other travel tech

Tommy Sandhu looks at some of the latest travel gadgets

The drone designed to fly on one propeller

BBC Click's Spencer Kelly finds out why a drone with one propeller was created.

Vine star Charlie Murphy discusses the service's end

Charlie Murphy posted one of the most watched videos on Vine, but says that he is not surprised the service is being shut down.

The robotic caterpillar powered by light and other news

BBC Click's Lara Lewington looks at some of the best of the week's technology news.

Gotcha! Norwegian prime minister caught playing Pokémon GO during parliamentary debate

 Pokémon GO fever may be receding in the U.S., but in Norway it’s still raging. The country’s prime minister, Erna Solberg, was caught red-handed playing the game in parliament. Read More

Panasonic reveals bendable battery at Ceatec

A bendable battery could be the first stage for new "disruptive" electronics, say experts.

Which report: UK 'lags behind' London on 4G coverage

A Which report into the state of UK broadband finds that the rest of the UK is lagging behind London when it comes to accessing 4G data services.

Google Pixel phones and Home speaker take on Siri and Echo

Google unveils two phones and a voice-activated speaker, both powered by its new virtual assistant.

Facebook apologises for baby hedgehog Marketplace ads

Baby hedgehogs, illegal drugs and guns were listed for sale on the new Marketplace section of Facebook's app.

TalkTalk fined £400,000 for theft of customer details

UK telecoms firm TalkTalk is given a record £400,000 fine for security failings which let customer data be stolen "with ease".

Blackberry not giving up on smartphones

Blackberry says it will continue to be a smartphone brand, after announcing it will end in-house development of devices.

NSA government contractor 'stole classified files'

A National Security Agency contractor is accused of stealing top secret files that could have caused "exceptionally grave damage to national security".

Samsung takes over AI pioneer and creators of Apple's Siri

Smartphone giant Samsung steps up its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) by taking over Viv, a new digital assistant developed by the creators of Apple's Siri.

Fujitsu shares jump on takeover rumours

Shares in Japanese electronics company Fujitsu jump more than 7% on media reports it will sell its computer business to Chinese firm Lenovo.

RBS, NatWest and SEB banks employ virtual staff

Chatbots are being rolled out in customer service departments at Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Swedish bank SEB

Yahoo 'scanned emails to help FBI hunt terrorists'

Yahoo was ordered to scan users' emails to help the FBI hunt terrorists, reports the New York Times.

Spotify ads 'launched virus pop-ups'

Spotify says it has fixed a problem in its software that let advertisements automatically open virus-infected websites on a victim's device.

Hack warnings prompt cyber 'security fatigue'

Endless warnings have given people "security fatigue" that stops them keeping their devices safe, suggests a study.

Twitter shares plunge by a fifth

Shares in social media website Twitter plunge by a fifth on Thursday amid worries about a lack of takeover interest.

Pokemon Go is making it easier to catch rare characters

Pokemon Go is trying to lure back players by making it easier to catch rare Pokemon characters.

Lady Gaga: Clips from new album 'leak' on Amazon

Snippets of Lady Gaga's new album have been shared online after fans "tricked" the Amazon's virtual assistant into playing preview clips.

How the street light got a hi-tech makeover

Next time you're out after dark, spare a thought for the humble street light - because it's not so humble anymore.

Credit card with fraud-busting display

A credit card with an ever-changing security code is being launched in France and may also come to the UK.

Google’s new VR headset is a hipster Daydream

 Looking cool has never been Google’s strong suit. This is the engineer-led company that brought us Google Glass, after all. Yet some beanie-clad Mountain View designer seems to have had a vinyl-fueled revelation. Google is late to the game of non-cardboard virtual reality headsets. Oculus, Samsung, HTC, and others have popularized sci-fi looking VR masks. So to standout, Google needed… Read More

Play this killer self-driving car ethics game

 Should a self-driving car full of old folks crash to avoid puppies in the cross-walk? Is it OK to run over two criminals if you save one doctor? Whose lives are worth more, seven-year-olds or senior citizens? In, This new game called the “Moral Machine” from MIT’s researchers, a car’s breaks fail and you have to choose whether it crashes into a barrier, killing the… Read More

Lightseekers aims to evolve toys-to-life with rich stories and many ways to play

Skylanders, Amiibo, Disney Infinity – the toys-to-life category got big, fast, but most of the action in the space following Skylanders tended to be mostly derivative, without really pushing the category forward when it comes to the breadth of available technologies. Lightseekers, a new cross-platform action RPG game debuting on Kickstarter today that incorporates physical toys created… Read More

Telegram levels up its bot platform with competitive games that live inside chats

 Messaging platform Telegram is powering up on the chatbot front, with the launch of what it dubs a “bot-powered gaming platform” — in a bid to try to drive more engagement via addictive new features. Read More

1950s electro

Some 65 years after it was made, earliest known recording of music produced by a computer has finally been restored.

Cheetah trade: Nations to suppress social media enticement

Arab nations join forces with African countries in a bid to suppress the illegal live trade in cheetahs, with a special focus on social media.

Blippar founder: 'Fake it till you make it'

Jessica Butcher, the co-founder of Blippar, offers the business advice she wishes she had been given when she started out.

Facebook Messenger 'slims down'

Facebook announces a "slimmed down" version of its Messenger app for countries where older smartphones and slower net speeds are more common

Toyota unveils Kirobo Mini robot companion

Toyota is to sell a small robot, which it says can provide companionship.

Tesla sees jump in car deliveries

US electric carmaker Tesla, which has yet to make a profit, has reported a sharp rise in car deliveries for the past quarter.

Samsung: Have 'exploding' Galaxy Note 7s burned the brand?

Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is going back on sale in South Korea following a safety recall.

Russian blogger Anton Nosik convicted of extremism

Russian blogger and entrepreneur Anton Nosik has been found guilty of extremism by a Russian court over comments about Syria.

Facebook Messenger 'slims down' for old phones

Facebook announces a "slimmed down" version of its Messenger app for countries where older smartphones and slower net speeds are more common.

Toyota launches 'baby' robot for companionship

A palm-sized robot that can hold conversations will go on sale in Japan next year, developer Toyota announces.

Fears of massive net attacks as code shared online

Computer code used to mount one of the biggest web attacks ever seen has been released online.

Amazon shows its first games integrated with Twitch

 Amazon Game Studios this week showed off the first games that will be integrated with live-streaming site Twitch, which Amazon acquired for over $1 billion in 2014.  The new games will run on Lumberyard, the game engine powered by Amazon Web Services, that debuted earlier this year. These integrations will allow gamers to stream their broadcasts in real-time, overlaid with live stats,… Read More