Former Sony And PlayStation Exec Kaz Hirai Is Retiring
In February it was announced that Kaz Hirai, who led the PlayStation business before being promoted to CEO of Sony, would step down and transition to the role of director, chairman. Now, Sony has announced that Hirai will be retiring from those roles effective June 18. Hirai will serve as senior advisor for the company and "will continue to provide counsel as requested by Sony's management team."
In a statement, Hirai lent his support to Kenichiro Yoshida, who replaced him as CEO of Sony on April 1. "Since passing the baton of CEO to Yoshida-san last April, as Chairman of Sony, I have had the opportunity to both ensure a smooth transition and provide support to Sony's management. I am confident that everyone at Sony is fully aligned under Yoshida-san's strong leadership, and are ready to build an even brighter future for Sony.
"As such, I have decided to depart from Sony, which has been a part of my life for the past 35 years. I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to all our employees and stakeholders who have supported me throughout this journey."
Yoshida added: "Hirai-san and I have been working on management reforms together since December 2013. While he will be retiring from both Chairman and our Board of Directors, we look forward to his continuing high-level support to Sony's management that encompasses a breadth of diverse businesses."
Hirai was instrumental in launching the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, and went on to become CEO and president of Sony. In February, the PlayStation business had a management reshuffle, with Jim Ryan being appointed president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
2019 is set to be quite a different year for the PlayStation division, particularly in the way it communicates and promotes its products to its audience and the wider gaming community. The company has pulled out of E3, where it traditionally debuted and showed off its biggest upcoming games.
Fans are looking to PlayStation Experience to be the tentpole PlayStation event for 2019. Sony opted to skip PlayStation Experience in 2018, so many are hoping to see it return this year. However, as of yet Sony hasn't indicated it has plans to host the show.
Sony has kicked off State of Play, however. This is a series of smaller, streamed showcases in the same vein as Nintendo's Directs. The first one yielded a new Iron Man VR title, as well as information on No Man's Sky VR and Mortal Kombat 11. You can read all the news from Sony's first State of Play to catch up on what happened.
Sony has said State of Play will return throughout the year to deliver updates on key titles. While the first episode wasn't exactly a barnstormer, the company has a number of big games on the way, including Death Stranding, The Last of Us: Part II, and Ghost of Tsushima, so upcoming episodes stand to be much more exciting.
Super Blood Hockey Brings Brutal Arcade Action To Switch Next Month
Digerati has revealed that it will be bringing Super Blood Hockey and its retro-flavoured violence to Nintendo Switch next month.
Described as “a violent homage to classic 8- and 16-bit ice hockey games” Super Blood Hockey lets you customise your line-up, take to the ice, and use fast-paced skills and bone-crunching brutality to dominate the game. You can take part in a single player tournament, or compete against friends in four-player local multiplayer.
The new console version even features dieting, showering, and some pretty shady performance-enhancing drugs. But hey, it’s only a video game, right? Here are some key features:
Key Features – Use superior skating, positioning, strategy and blood-splattering violence – Take on the world in a global tournament, where failure results in execution – Varied challenges and scenarios, including Turbo Mode and 12 vs 12 Mega Rumble – Paint the ice with the blood of your friends in 4-player local multiplayer – Franchise Mode: Create, recruit and manage your own custom team of inmates in a futuristic world of dystopic blood sports – Enjoy the retro beats of an original soundtrack by chiptunist Shawn Daley
As noted above, this one will arrive on Switch sometime in April (the date hasn’t been fixed just yet). It’ll then launch on PS4 and Xbox One in Q2 2019.
What do you think? Will you be giving this one a go? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Sega Reveals Spooky New Haunted Castle Track For Team Sonic Racing
Sega has revealed yet another track – and accompanying song – set to be playable in Team Sonic Racing. This time around we have a new ‘Haunted Castle’ setting.
You can see a teaser for the new track in the image above (which is all we have in terms of new visuals, unfortunately) and check out the music in the video below. The song was written by Sonic Mania composer, Tee Lopes, and performed by S.A.M.E featuring Tei Sena on violin.
As for the track itself, all we have to go on is the fact that players will encounter “mysterious ghosts haunting the halls of this treacherous map”. There are less than two months to go now until the game is finally in our hands, so at least we don’t have long to wait to get stuck in.
Are you looking forward to Team Sonic Racing? Have you been patiently waiting for it to release since it was first announced? Let us know in the comments.
Linux Release Roundup: Applications and Distros Released This Week
This is a continually updated article that lists various Linux distribution and Linux-related application releases of the week.
At It’s FOSS, we try to provide you with all the major happenings of the Linux and Open Source world. But it’s not always possible to cover all the news, specially the minor releases of a popular application or a distribution.
Hence, I have created this page, which I’ll be continually updating with the links and short snippets of the new releases of the current week. Eventually, I’ll remove releases older than 2 weeks from the page.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 03-29-2019, 11:28 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Pokemon Go Community Day For April Announced, Features Bagon
Now that March is nearly behind us and April is just around the corner, Niantic has shared the first details for April's Pokemon Go Community Day. The monthly event is scheduled to return on Saturday, April 13, and this time around it'll feature a rare Dragon Pokemon: Bagon.
All throughout the Community Day, Bagon will appear in the wild in greater numbers than it normally does, making it much easier to add some to your collection. Considering that Niantic typically introduces the Shiny form of that month's featured Pokemon during each Community Day, you'll also presumably have your first chance to catch a Shiny Bagon during this month's event.
Bagon is the base form of the powerful Dragon/Flying Pokemon Salamence, so you'll want to catch as many as you can during April's Community Day. If you manage to evolve any into Salamence up to an hour after the event ends, it will also learn an exclusive move, although Niantic hasn't revealed what that will be just yet.
Like March's Community Day, April's event will take place from 3-6 PM local time, rather than the usual schedule it followed. As an added incentive to participate, Niantic is also offering triple the usual amount of XP for capturing Pokemon. You can read more details about the event on the official Pokemon website.
That isn't the only event happening in Pokemon Go next month. From April 2-9, Niantic is also holding a Bug Out event. During that period, Bug Pokemon will appear more frequently than normal, and Incenses will last twice as long. You'll also be able to find special limited-time Field Research tasks revolving around Bug Pokemon from Poke Stops.
In the meantime, the Gen 4 Legendary Giratina is set to return to Raids beginning March 28. It will initially appear in its standard Altered Forme until April 2, when it'll transform into its Origine Forme. A new Limited Research event is also scheduled for March 30. During that, you'll find special Field Research tasks focusing on Lotad, and you'll even have your first opportunity to catch Shiny versions of Lotad and Castform.
Natsume Announces Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure For Switch
Natsume Inc, a developer and publisher perhaps best known for series such as Harvest Moon and Rune Factory, has announced that Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure is reeling in a release on Nintendo Switch.
The game will be the latest entry into Natsume’s Reel Fishing franchise, which has seen releases on Nintendo DS, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS in the past (the imagery above actually comes from the 3DS release). Road Trip Adventure is the first time the series has made its way over to Switch; the title graphic below is the only imagery yet to be released.
We do, however, have a quick blurb of the game thanks to a press release sent out today. Check it out:
After meeting a mysterious man at a museum, three college friends set off on a summer road trip to find the elusive fish he mentions to them. But what’s the story behind this fish? And for that matter, who’s the man who sent them on their adventure in the first place? He certainly is a unique individual, to say the very least! In any case, working together, these friends will unlock all these secrets and more in Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure!
The game will arrive on both Switch and PS4 “this summer”, with more details expected to be shared before then.
Are you a fan of fishing games? Would you be up for a new Reel Fishing game on the go? Tell us below.
Panic Button Is Bringing Hob: The Definitive Edition To Switch Next Week
Switch port wizard Panic Button has been hard at work on a new game for the Nintendo Switch thanks to a partnership with publisher, Perfect World Entertainment, it has been confirmed. And that’s on top of its work on Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
The release in question is Hob: The Definitive Edition, an “immersive atmospheric single-player adventure” which originally launched on PC and PS4 back in 2017 courtesy of Runic Games. A press release today states that “Panic Button has taken everything that fans loved about the original game and developed a version exclusively for Nintendo Switch, featuring improved controls and game features”. Here’s an overview of the game:
Hob: The Definitive Edition is an artfully crafted single-player adventure which sends gamers on a mysterious, breathtaking journey through the ruins of a lost civilization, where they will encounter strange creatures and unlock satisfying puzzles hidden throughout the world. The team at Panic Button has developed a version of the game for Nintendo Switch that provides adventurers with brand new ways to unravel the mysteries of Hob. This includes added camera controls, improvements to the game’s UI, a variety of quality-of-life improvements and new features only possible on the Nintendo Switch system, including HD rumble and touch screen functionality.
Hob: The Definitive Edition launches very soon indeed, hitting Switch on 4th April for $19.99. You can go ahead and pre-order the game from the eShop today at 10% off.
Panic Button’s recent Switch efforts – such as DOOM, Wolfenstein, and Warframe – have gone down very nicely indeed with critics and fans alike. Hopes will no doubt be high for this new port, too.
Are you excited to check out Hob? Are you a fan of Panic Button’s work? Tell us below.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 03-29-2019, 11:28 AM - Forum: Windows
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Closing the skills gap in manufacturing with Microsoft 365
The manufacturing industry is being transformed by the rise in new digital industrial technology, known as Industry 4.0. New technologies are changing every stage of production, increasing productivity, optimizing operations, and unlocking new areas of growth. In order for manufacturers to capture the value this technology unlocks, they’ll need to ensure their workforce has the right skills and the right tools.
This is especially true as it relates to an organization’s Firstline Workforce. In manufacturing, Firstline Workers are the employees who deliver products and materials, drive product quality, and keep critical equipment running. To help manufacturers with their digital transformation, we’re enabling new ways to work with Microsoft 365 for Firstline Workers to learn, communicate, and collaborate more effectively.
Upskilling and equipping the Firstline Workforce
With the rise of Industry 4.0, manufacturers must reimagine the roles, skills, and tools to transform work throughout their organization. This means providing digital and soft skills, empowering workers with modern tools, and blurring the boundaries of technology with new immersive experiences. In an increasingly digital and complex landscape, the types of skills that employees need are rapidly evolving, and it is increasingly difficult for the workforce to keep pace.
Solutions in Microsoft 365 that enable Firstline Workers to learn, communicate, and collaborate include:
Using Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Online, manufacturers can securely centralize training efforts, easily distribute onboarding and training materials, and connect all levels of the organization to find and share best practices.
Using Microsoft Stream, organizations can deliver dynamic, role-based content and video to increase engagement and retention of training programs and support peer-to-peer information sharing.
To help equip workers to operate in a digitally-enabled manufacturing environment, Teams provides a single hub for teamwork to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate production from the engineering rooms to the factory floor.
Earlier this year, we announced new capabilities—including urgent messaging, location sharing, and image annotations—which organizations can use to create a safer and more efficient workplace. For example, these features can help workers identify, communicate, and share the location of hazardous spills to help reduce operational disruptions.
Additionally, Microsoft Teams is extensible and allows companies to transform business processes usingMicrosoft Flow and PowerApps. These services help to digitize everyday activities—such as documentation during quality assurance, data capture, and inventory management—helping reduce costs and free up time for Firstline Workers to focus on higher value activities.
As Industry 4.0 reshapes the manufacturing industry, finding new innovations to help workers learn, communicate, and collaborate remains a top priority. Microsoft is addressing these challenges through breakthroughs in hardware design, artificial intelligence (AI) experiences, mixed reality with HoloLens 2, and through business-ready solutions with Dynamics 365 and industry partners.
UsingDynamics 365 Remote Assist, technicians can solve problems faster by calling in remote experts via Microsoft Teams to help walk through repairs using mixed reality annotations, sharing diagrams and schematics. And withDynamics 365 Guides, employees can learn new skills with step-by-step instructions that guide employees to the tools they need and how to use them in real work situations.
Helping our customers succeed
Leading manufacturers choose Microsoft 365 to prepare, equip, and empower their employees at all levels:
To accelerate productivity and information flow, Cummins replaced its existing productivity and collaboration tools with Microsoft 365, introducing a modern knowledge management and collaboration framework to reduce skills gaps and anchor a new culture of work.
“Our modern, tech-driven workplaces give employees the tools they need to innovate, so we can introduce new energy products and technology solutions to the market. It’s also a key strategy in attracting top talent.” —Sherry Aaholm, VP and CIO for Cummins
Goodyear is using the integrated and adaptive tools in Microsoft 365 to help accelerate innovation and enable new capabilities inside the company. For example, Goodyear is connecting its workforce via tools like Teams, which is driving productivity and generating efficiencies to deliver the right products to the right place at the right time.
“Enhancing collaboration is crucial to us for improved decision making and to drive innovation, both in tires and beyond tires… Our multigenerational and multicultural global workforce is now sharing perspectives and ideas more quickly and easily than ever.” —Sherry Neubert, CIO for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
We’re incredibly excited about our opportunity to help manufacturers transform and we are just getting started!
Join us at Hannover Messe and learn more
Next week, members of the Microsoft team will be at Hannover Messe, the annual manufacturing conference. Visit us at Microsoft stand C40 and learn how Microsoft is enabling Intelligent Manufacturing.
How to Install NTP Server and Client(s) on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
NTP or Network Time Protocol is a protocol that is used to synchronize all system clocks in a network to use the same time. When we use the term NTP, we are referring to the protocol itself and also the client and server programs running on the networked computers. NTP belongs to the traditional TCP/IP protocol suite and can easily be classified as one of its oldest parts.
When you are initially setting up the clock, it takes six exchanges within 5 to 10 minutes before the clock is set up. Once the clocks in a network are synchronized, the client(s) update their clocks with the server once every 10 minutes. This is usually done through a single exchange of message(transaction). These transactions use port number 123 of your system.
In this article, we will describe a step-by-step procedure on how to:
Install and configure the NTP server on a Ubuntu machine.
Configure the NTP Client to be time synced with the server.
We have run the commands and procedures mentioned in this article on a Ubuntu 18.04 LTS system.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 03-29-2019, 05:20 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Avengers Posters, T-Shirts, And Collectibles That'll Get You Hyped For Endgame
It's been more than 10 years since the release of Iron Man in 2008, which sparked the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a collection of movies that's earned a massive fan base over the past decade. Now, the grand finale to the story built up by 21 films is nearly here with the upcoming release of Avengers: Endgame on April 26.
If you're already planning your Marvel movie marathon and reading up on Endgame theories, we feel you. The hype is real. To fuel your obsession even more, we rounded up some of the best Avengers and MCU-themed merch out there, both licensed and fan-made. From posters and Funko Pop figures to collectibles, T-shirts, and even Legos, these Marvel-inspired products will keep your favorite heroes close--even after their stories come to a conclusion in Endgame.
Because it definitely makes sense to store your tools inside a...much bigger and powerful tool like Thor's hammer. This ThinkGeek exclusive is officially licensed Marvel merch; plus, it doesn't just look badass--it also serves a practical purpose.
We can't all live in a palace in the high-tech African country of Wakanda--but this welcome mat will still look cool outside the door of your own personal kingdom.
These astral-themed posters will make you think of your favorite Guardians every time you see them. Choose between Star-Lord (RIP), Baby Groot (RIP), and the sole Guardian survivor of Thanos' snap, Rocket. These posters also come with hooks on the back for easy hanging.
This full-size Iron Man helmet lights up and makes sounds, but you can also literally wear it to capture the feeling of suiting up as the high-tech hero. The Amazon-exclusive item is perfect for both display and cosplay purposes. With some fan theories suggesting Tony Stark won't live through Endgame, this collectible is the perfect way to honor the armored Avenger.
Not only was Black Panther nominated for Best Picture at the 2019 Oscars; it took home three awards that night and is one of the most commercially successful Marvel movies to date. In fact, we've called it "the best Marvel movie of all time" in our ranking of all the Marvel films. If you loved Black Panther as much as we did, you'll appreciate this comprehensive guide to all things Wakanda, going all the way back to Black Panther's comics debut back in 1966. Aside from gorgeous comic artwork and profiles of T'Challa and all of his friends and allies, this book also plots Black Panther's most important issues, major plotlines, story arcs, and more.
Whether you have kids or are an avid Lego enthusiast yourself, you'll appreciate this Lego set that recreates the showdown between Thanos, Iron Man, Gamora, and Star-Lord. There are multiple other Lego Infinity War sets available on Amazon too.
The original MCU Avengers are among the few heroes left going into Endgame, but this shirt gives a nod to the five original Avengers in the comics--Thor, Iron Man, Ant Man, The Wasp, and The Hulk--with a retro style inspired by their 1960s comic design.
We saw her backstory in Captain Marvel, and now the MCU's latest character will be joining the fight against Thanos in Endgame. Practically every Marvel character has gotten their own Funko Pop--browse the collection to find your favorite hero.
While we're talking about Funko Pops: This Spider-Man Funko wearing Peter Parker's outfit in Spider-Man: Homecoming is just wonderful. And considering the sequel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, will be the first MCU film to release after Endgame, what better way to honor the spider hero's eventual return after he was turned to dust in Infinity War?
Thor and The Hulk went head-to-head in an arena battle in Thor: Ragnarok--and now they can hang side-by-side in your home. These licensed, ThickGeek-exclusive posters are already encased in black frames with metal mounting brackets on the back. Last time we checked, only the Thor poster was still in stock--if you want the Hulk poster, you can have ThinkGeek email you when it's available again.
Marvel Studios 101: All Your Questions Answered, $11.55
With 21 films to date, the MCU has covered a lot of ground and introduced dozens of characters, so it's understandable you might not remember every plot point. This book is a valuable, yet affordable resource for casual Marvel fans who need a refresher on everything that's happened leading up to the events of Infinity War and Endgame. With lots of helpful charts and illustrations, it also makes a great gift for younger fans.
In this fun dice and card game, you and up to three other players will assemble a team of heroes to face off against Thanos himself. Utilizing the different strengths of characters like Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Bucky Barnes, your goal is defeat Thanos before he collects all the Infinity Stones.
The man, the myth, the legend himself--this colorful poster from BlackRavenOath captures Stan Lee is classic Andy Warhol style. The Marvel creator behind countless beloved characters, like Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Iron Man, passed away late last year. One of his final famous cameos will appear in Endgame.
This collection comes with three games--Lego Marvel Super-Heroes, Lego Marvel Super-Heroes 2, and Lego Marvel's Avengers--plus all DLC at a discounted price of just $40. The Lego games are known for their highly entertaining local co-op, so they make great options if you want to team up with a friend or family member to play as Marvel's most iconic heroes and take down villains.
If you've ever looked at the Infinity Gauntlet and thought, "Huh, I'd like that for myself," well, your dreams can finally come true. This wearable electronic fist allows for finger movement and produces lights and movie effect sounds when you press the middle button. You can also lock it to keep in display mode.
This stunning art from swiffy honors Shuri, the teen genius in Black Panther and T'Challa's sassy sister. The latest Endgame posters revealed Shuri didn't survive Thanos' snap in Infinity War, so we're anxious to see her final fate in Endgame.
This officially licensed Marvel tee is a dark reminder of the chaos left behind at the end of Infinity War--and the dramatic conclusion that awaits us in Endgame.
