• Google’s Eric Schmidt Urging PC Users to Dump Windows and ‘Get A Mac’

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Cloud, Featured, Gadgets, google, Microsoft, News, Rants & Raves No Responses

    Some interesting tidbits from yesterday’s D9 Conference interviewing Google‘s chairman Eric Schmidt. Probably the most interesting one is that Google has “just renewed their Map and Search agreements with Apple”.

    In terms of platform war, Shmidt said there is, primarily, a gang of four that includes Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook. Microsoft is not included. He explains, Microsoft is not driving the consumer revolution, they are focused on corporate and are doing so successfully, something that will likely continue for decades to come.

    When asked how consumers could be more secure, he claimed that Chrome was a more secure browser, using two factor Gmail authentication is key and users simply “could use a Mac instead of a PC”.

    When Google launched its cloud music offering, many were disappointed, the service was just a locker for music. When asked why Google failed at signing with record labels, Schmidt simply says, “I’ve just not been successful in doing that”.

  • Gears of War 3 Campaign Trailer Released

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Games, Microsoft, Poster, Trailer No Responses

    Microsoft has released the full length World Premiere trailer for Epic Games’ hotly-anticipated Gears of War 3‘s campaign. Backed up by Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, the trailer shows off Marcus Fenix and the rest of the COG Armed Forces taking on all sorts of meanies, both Locust and Lambent, all while trying to find Marcus’ father and finally bring an end to the war which by the way look bigger and badder.

    Epic’s already released a taste of what the multiplayer portion of Gears 3 will play like, with a month-long beta that just ended, but the new trailer offers the first glimpse of the storyline that will wrap up the Gears trilogy.

    Gears of War 3 is the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in videogames. Developed by Epic Games exclusively for Xbox 360, Gears of War 3 plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival and brotherhood.

    Check out the world premiere trailer below, it looks great.

    Gears of War 3 hits Xbox 360 on September 20 worldwide.

     

  • Over 500 New Features in the Upcoming Windows Phone 7 Mango

    // Gradly // blog, Microsoft, Mobile, News, Rants & Raves, Rumors, Software No Responses

    Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has promised over 500 new features for the next release of Windows Phone 7 dubbed ‘Mango’ and will get version 7.5.

    Speaking at Japanese Microsoft Developer Forum 2011, Ballmer promised the features to be unveiled in the Mango event today. The software giant is also expected to unveil new developer tools for Windows Phone applications. Microsoft is currently hard at work on “Mango”, its next major release of Windows Phone. Nokia is also reportedly waiting for the next release of Windows Phone before it unveils its first Windows Phone device. Watch Ballmer speaking about the 500 new features in the video below:

    Neowin is adding additional rumor before today’s Mango activities kick out. Windows Phone 7.5 may be released to Manufacturers today, and will be coming out to all phones in September.

  • Gears of War 3 Becomes The Fastest Pre-Ordered Game in Xbox 360 History

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Featured, Games, Microsoft, News, Wallpaper 1 Response

    Epic Games and Microsoft have achieved a big milestone today as the game Gears of War 3 has become the fastest pre-ordered title in Xbox 360 history and has broken 1 million orders. This comes as a result for statistics released for the public beta which ended on May 15, with an impressive 1.29 million players who participated in the franchise.

    The game also logged some very impressive stats. check out the figures rundown below:

    • 145 different countries participated in the beta
    • 249 years worth of matches played
    • More than 11 million matches completed
    • More than 927 million kills recorded
    • More than 131 million executions performed
    • More than 23 million deaths by chainsaw
    • Nearly 23 BILLION bullets fired
    • 4.9 billion ribbons and 291M medals earned
    • 435K people earned the Beta exclusive Thrashball Cole skin to use in the retail game when it launches in September
    • 234K people earned the Beta exclusive Gold Retro Lancer to use in the retail game when it launches in September

    Cliff Bleszinski, Epic Games’ Design Director commented on the success of the beta:

    “We can’t thank the fans enough. The beta was a fun way to give players an early taste of our game, it also provided us with invaluable feedback to help us refine and polish ‘Gears of War 3’ to ensure it’s truly the culmination of the trilogy we promised to the fans.”

    Gears of War 3 will be releasing September 20, 2011 exclusively for Xbox 360.