Category: Uncategorised

The results and analysis for Blu-ray (and DVD) sales for the week ending 15th August 2015 is in. It's another poor set of results for Blu-ray, as once again, the quantity and quality of new releases were less than desired. Out of the new releases, Hot Pursuit was the best selling.

You can read the rest of the stats and analysis here

Two independent surveys shows that while the popularity of SVOD services such as Netflix has changed the way consumers watch content, many still prefer to buy, rent their movies and TV shows, and many still exclusively rely on packaged media.

A survey by Nielsen found that 73% of American consumers still buy or rent movies and TV shows. Out of these consumers, 61% went for packaged media (including Blu-ray and DVD), while 53% has bought or rented a digital file, and 41% said they consumed both types of content. This means that 20% (61% minus 41%) used packaged media exclusively.

For SVOD, it now accounts for 10% of weekly viewing hours for consumers (compared to 34% for broadcast TV, 12% for video games and 7% for packaged media). Consumers also said that SVOD has changed their buying habits, with 3% saying they buy less TV shows on discs as a result, and are going to the movies less.

A separate study from Futuresource Consulting has found that 50% of survey respondents still buy discs, and the proportion of disc buyers in the US and UK are actually up compared to the last survey.

The data shows that 20% of all digital consumers still buy discs, with those in the US more likely to buy them than compared to consumers in Canada, Australia, Germany, the UK and France.

Interestingly, the data shows that DVD buyers are increasingly female, those most likely to have children under 12 at home. Consumers that are more willing to adopt new tech actually tend to prefer packaged media over digital services.

Windows 10 will prevent games with old DRM from being played, while several top torrent trackers have started to ban users who use Windows 10.

Games that use older version of SafeDisc and SecuROM will not work in Windows 10, according to Microsoft’s Boris Schneider-Johne. Speaking in a videointerview with Rocket Bean TV (and translated via Rock, Paper, Shotgun), Schneider-Johne pointed out that Windows 10's security policy prevents these potentially insecure apps from running.

"Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10. There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system," Schneider-Johne said, according to the translation provided by RPS.

"And then there are old games on CD-Rom that have DRM. This DRM stuff is also deeply embedded in your system, and that’s where Windows 10 says 'sorry, we cannot allow that, because that would be a possible loophole for computer viruses.'

"That’s why there are a couple of games from 2003-2008 with Securom, etc. that simply don’t run without a no-CD patch or some such. We can just not support that if it’s a possible danger for our users. There are a couple of patches from developers already, and there is stuff like GOG where you’ll find versions of those games that work."

Meanwhile, the privacy issues related to Windows 10 have forced several top torrent trackers to block users using Windows 10.

The biggest concern appears to be Windows 10's willingness to send private user information to an anti-piracy company called MarkMonitor. According to one tracker iTS, Microsoft has been sending "contents of your local disks directly to one of their servers".

This has forced iTS to ban its users from using Windows 10, and users with the OS will be redirected to a video explaining why the ban is in place.

Another tracker, BB, is also following suit.

"We have also found [Windows 10] will be gathering information on users’ P2P use to be shared with anti piracy group," staff from BB informed users.

"What’s particularly nasty is that apparently it sends the results of local(!!) searches to a well known anti piracy company directly so as soon as you have one known p2p or scene release on your local disk … BAM!"

But according to analysis by TorrentFreak, these privacy concerns may be overstated. For example, according to the torrent news website, Microsoft has been working with MarkMonitor for years, but only in the protection of users from phishing attempts. And the recent change to Microsoft's service agreement that has caused so much controversy, is unlikely to target third-party non Microsoft products.

TorrentFreak says that instead of scaring users with unsubstantiated claims or banning the OS entirely, torrent trackers and others should simply try and educate users on the potential privacy pitfalls of Windows 10, and help users fix some of these privacy issues.

From fake PS4s to real RIAA threats, read this and other news stories for the week ending 23 August 2015

Continue reading ...

An update to Microsoft's Service Agreement may allow the company to scan for and disable "counterfeit games" and "unauthorized hardware".

According to the updated clause under section 7b, Microsoft will retain the right to prevent you from using these unauthorised software and hardware. Section 7b reads:

"We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices. You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services."

The updated clause, first spotted by Alphr, seems to suggest Microsoft may want to retain the right to disable pirated first-party games (games published by Microsoft). There is no clearer definition for "unauthorized hardware peripheral devices", but the latter may mainly refer to unlicensed peripherals for Xbox consoles, as opposed to uncertified PCs.

The service agreement applies to Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One. While the service agreement does not specifically cover Windows 10, it does cover Microsoft accounts, which is heavily relied upon in Windows 10 features, including Cortana.

The updated service agreement came into effect on August 1.

The results and analysis for Blu-ray (and DVD) sales for the week ending 8th August 2015 is in. Insurgent was the week's best selling new release, and overall best seller. It was another very quiet week, in which the next best selling new release was the Divergent/Insurgent double pack, only exclusively available at Walmart.

You can read the rest of the stats and analysis here

Copyright infringement in gaming is nothing new, but in China, it takes on a different meaning.

Meet OUYE, a console that combines the PS4's chassis, with the Xbox One's controller, and then tops it off by ripping off both OUYA's name and hardware design.

Submitted to China's own version of Kickstarter, the Shenzhen based company claims the Android based micro gaming console (not too dissimilar to OUYA) features a "unique" design that took the company six months to design.

If the project does get off the ground, the console will cost project backers less than USD $70 to own (that's $29 cheaper than OUYA).

The machine will run Android 4.4.2 using an eight-core A80 processor, with a 64-bit Power VR G6230 GPU. It even includes 4K support via the HDMI 1.4 connector.

China recently lifted a 13 year ban on imports of foreign game consoles, paving the way for the real PS4 and Xbox One to enter the lucrative Chinese gaming market.

From an unexpected new codec to the expected music industry overreaction to a new piracy problem, read this and other news stories for the week ending 16 August 2015

Continue reading ...

Copyright groups linked to the music recording industry have accused CNET owned Download.com of offering software downloads that are inducing people to music piracy.

A coalition of 16 music groups including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) have written a letter to the CEO of CNET's parent company, CBS, asking the website to review their policy in regards to "ripping" software.

The copyright groups say that CNET's Download.com offers downloads that rip YouTube streams, including legally uploaded music videos, and other software that rips audio from video files.

The group says that using these software for their intended purposes amounts to music piracy, as the music contained in these music videos have only been licensed for use in these videos, and taking the audio out of these videos is not permitted.

"[CNET's Download.com] has made various computer, web, and mobile applications available that induce users to infringe copyrighted content by ripping the audio or the audio and video from what might be an otherwise legitimate stream," the letter reads.

"We ask that you consider the above in light of industry best practices, your company’s reputation, the clear infringing nature of these applications, and your role in creating a safe, legitimate, and innovative Internet ecosystem," the groups add.

CBS, however, does not agree with these groups' assessment, at least from a legal point of view.

Speaking to Billboard, CBS says that "all of the software indexed on Download.com is legal", and that if users decide to use the software for illegal purposes, that's an issue between the rights-holder and the user.

This is not the first time CBS and CNET have been accused of inducing piracy by offering related downloads. CNET was previously sued for offering LimeWire, uTorrent and other file sharing tools, but a judge eventually ruled in favor of the download portal.

Flightgear is constantly under development and as the feature freeze for the next 3.6 release approaches, it is becoming increasingly clear what the next version will have to offer to users:

(to avoid misunderstandings – this is a selection of features currently under development, not a release note, i.e. there is no guarantee that all items will appear in 3.6, nor is are the features of 3.6 limited to what is listed here)

A complete makeover for the default aircraft

The C-172p has always been Flightgear’s default plane, as it is easy to fly and great to learn the basics of aviation. Thanks to a joint effort of several gifted developers, it just got a lot better. The revised version offers improved flight dynamics with the ability to bring the plane into spins. It makes good use of the latest state of the art of Flightgear’s rendering frameworks, including hires textures, the new internal shadow effect for ALS, environment dependent fogging of the windshield and of course support for the Rembrandt rendering engine.

And it comes with a damage model, creating a very visual impression of what happens if you land too hard:

A new user interface / instructor station

Using Flightgear’s inbuilt web-server, Phi is a new way to access Flightgear from an external device. You can run a web browser on your pad, connect to a running FG instance on your PC and access everything you need from there. This makes for a great training setup in which the instructor can select challenging conditions for the student, monitor the flight or cause failures which need to be responded to. Phi supports pre-flight checklists, environment settings, a moving map widget and many features more.

‘Houston, the Atlantis has reached orbit.’

Launching vertically like a rocket, capable of limited maneuvering in orbit and entering the atmosphere again to land like a plane, the Space Shuttle is a truly unique flying experience. Based on a large body of public domain wind tunnel data by NASA, Flightgear now offers the possibility to take the Shuttle into low orbit and back in a highly realistic simulation.

Experience the strength of the aerodynamical forces during launch as thrust vectoring keeps the Shuttle on its ascent path, learn about the inherent yaw instability of the Shuttle during the hypersonic entry phase and the crucial role of the RCS jets and the body flap, explore how elevon deflection changes the airstream at the aft fuselage and alters roll and yaw stability, or simply start in orbit, enjoy the view or do a spacewalk.

The simulation includes all mission phases with many different digital autopilot settings to control thrust vectoring, RCS jets or airfoils, checks on aerodynamical and structural limits as well as damage and failure simulation in case of limit violations – basically the Shuttle can be flown by the Crew Operations Manual. A 3d cockit is already in place, and work is underway to provide the original avionics.

Rain on the windshield

The Atmospheric Light Scattering rendering framework is rolling out a new suite of effects to render the cockpit interior in more detail. These include a glass shader which renders interior reflection, damage and dirt, glare, raindrop splashes, frost and temperature-dependent fogging and an interior effect capable of drawing shadows, light filtering through colored glass or caustics as well as panel backlight illumination. Enjoy the enhanced immersion into the simulation these features provide!

Regional textures for Latin America

Thanks to local users, the whole of Latin America is receiving more realistic local textures. Look forward to the typical red roofs or urban terrain, to seeing dramatic changes in the water color where the dark Rio Negro meets the muddy Rio Solimoes close to Manaus and to many other nice touches in the area. If you haven’t done it yet, schedule a flight in South America after the next release, there’s lots to explore!

New and improved aircraft

The Citation II provides a new cockpit, making use of plenty of the new effects. Enjoy Flightgear in this nice business jet!

The new F-15 comes with a detailed JSBSim flight dynamics model with lots of wind tunnel data worked in as well as a detailed 3d cockpit with tons of functionality.

And many improvements more

* work on an integrated launcher, specifically making life easier on newer Mac OS distributions
* the aircraft center, a tool to download and manage aircraft in-sim
* expanded functionality of the Canvas 2d rendering framework
* …

Stay tuned as we fly towards our next release!