magnify
formats

Perfect World Entertainment’s Latest Expansion, Battle of the Immortals: Shifting Tides, Is Now Live!

Players Can Now Experience Single Person Instance with 100 Levels for Greater Challenges and Rewards

(Redwood City, CA) September 19, 2012 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc. announced today that the latest expansion to its action-packed free-to-play MMORPG Battle of the Immortals: Shifting Tides is now available to play. As one of the most robust updates in Battle of the Immortals, this expansion brings with it many exciting fresh features to push players to their limits, including new zones, 100 new levels within a single instance, fiercer bosses, a new PvP arena, and much more!

“Our players have been asking for more content, and we’re happy to give it to them with this latest update,” said Battle of the Immortals Product Manager Thang Phan. “With a slew of new content and instances like the Endless Stairs, players will not only need to hone their skills, but refine their combat strategy as well.”

New Features:

• The Endless Stairs — Unlock 100 new levels, a variety of puzzles, and a multitude of boss fights, this brand new single instance promises to push players to their limits.

• Exalted Strength — Aside from increasing a character’s strength, this advance system will unlock newperks including new equipment, a new instance, powerful pets, and more.

• Champion’s Arena — Brand new PvP arena for all champions ready to prove their might and gain massive rewards. The arena’s balancing system ensures fair combat to all who step foot with its walls and rewards for those who are victorious in battle.

• Radiant Temple — Explore this never before seen instance and face the dangers that lurk in every crevice of the temple. Sharpen your skills, because even the most experienced warriors will need to be at their best to have the slightest chance at survival.

Shifting Tides is an exciting adventure, which continues the saga to prevent the total annihilation of the world of Motenia. The Goddesses of Fate have convened to locate a source of power to help strengthen the world’s defenses. The journey to locate the source of power is a treacherous pursuit through unexplored lands that pushes each hero to their limits. Only time will tell if the tides have shifted to benefit mankind and the destruction of the world has been averted.

Battle of the Immortals delivers an interactive experience and immerses its players in a world filled with gods and goddesses.  Face the challenge of transforming would-be heroes into legendary warriors through cities and landscapes filled with strife and chaos for free!

For more information, visit http://boi.perfectworld.com/

 
formats

New WRECK-IT RALPH movie posters from Disney

Melbourne Australia 19th of September 2012 – Check out these amazing posters for Disney’s upcoming film WRECK-IT RALPH… can you guess all the video game characters?

 
formats

COD: Black Ops II: MP Deep Dive Video

Here’s a really cool MP deep dive video for Black Ops II. Game Design Director David Vonderhaar provides commentary on MP and takes a look at some of the awesome features that are in store, including a new loadout system, unique weaponry and multi-team game modes.

 
formats

McAfee Helps Protect Windows 8

McAfee consumers and enterprise products compatible with Microsoft’s newest operating system 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sept. 18, 2012 – McAfee announced today that McAfee consumer and enterprise security products support Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, Microsoft’s newest operating systems (OS) that are set to be released in October. McAfee security products have been improved to offer comprehensive protection against new and evolving threats for consumers and businesses updating to the latest platforms.

“Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 are products that continue to push the computing industry forward with an extensive array of new features, as well as new security and performance enhancements,” said Simon Hunt, vice president and CTO, endpoint security at McAfee. “Our developers have been working with Microsoft to offer consumers and enterprises the tools necessary for protection against all threat vectors and against data loss.”

McAfee Enterprise and SMB Products
McAfee’s enterprise and small to medium business (SMB) products are designed to support Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. By using McAfee products, organisations of all sizes can feel confident that they are using a comprehensive, multilayer security system that offers strong protection against known and unknown threats.

McAfee Consumer Products
McAfee consumer products are designed to support Windows 8 to help users be more secure. Consumers with an active subscription to McAfee products with default settings intact will automatically be updated to Windows 8-compatible versions. Those downloading the product from the web or installing from the CD will automatically receive the latest version compatible with Windows 8.

 
formats

Kobo Amps Up Storage on Kobo Arc Tablet Hitting Stores this November

Giving More Choice to Consumers, Kobo Arc Now Ranges from 16GB to 64GB,

Starting at the Affordable Low Price of $249.99

 

SYDNEY, Australia September 19, 2012Kobo, a global leader in eReading, today announced that the Kobo Arc 7” Android 4.0 tablet will be hitting stores in November with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB options. Taking a new and innovative approach to tablet design, Kobo designed the Kobo Arc to transform the traditional tablet experience from searching within apps to an immersive content platform with its unique interface Tapestries. People now have more choice in how they explore, save and experience the music, movies, eBooks, and webpages they love with the Kobo Arc – and with more storage available the possibilities are endless.

“We designed the Kobo Arc to let people focus on the music, eBooks, movies, website and applications they love rather than on the hardware they hold in their hand – though that is amazingly designed as well,” said Wayne White, General Manager of Devices, Kobo. “We’ve accomplished this by offering consumers more – more storage, more customisation, more choice – all in the powerful, attractive and vivid Android 4.0 Kobo Arc.”

Based on the content people “pin” to their Tapestries – from webpages, news articles, eBooks, movies, or pictures – the intelligent recommendations engine suggests additional content in the first-of-its-kind, Discovery Ribbon. The Kobo Arc is the only tablet that learns about the interests of its user, rather than tracking payment and browsing history, to suggest more of the content they love. Beyond the Tapestries interface which is designed to reflect the personal tastes of its user, consumers can also personalise their Kobo Arc experience through more eReading options, selecting from black or white models, as well as colourful SnapBacks in blue and purple.

The highly responsive Kobo Arc is driven by a 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 dual-core processor to deliver more processing power while retaining more than 10 hours of battery life in a single charge, giving consumers a highly responsive and long-lasting multimedia experience. Its 7” high-definition display with 178 degree viewing angles, 215 pixels/inch and 1280×800 resolution with 16-million colours bring video and pictures to life. In Kobo’s laboratory drop-tests, the Kobo Arc’s ultra-durable glass proved more resistant to damage than any other tablet currently available in the market.  At only 364 grams, the Kobo Arc is also one of the lightest 7” tablets available and with the new storage configurations, consumers will relish in their ability to store as many songs, movies, eBooks, and pictures as they desire.

Comfortable to hold and optimised for reading outdoors, the Kobo Arc has front-facing stereo speakers with SRS TruMedia® sound to bring music to life as well as a 1.3 MegaPixel front-facing camera, built-in microphone, and 802.11 WiFi to easily connect to the web without an expensive data plan. The fully customisable Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system allows consumers to configure and modify the Kobo Arc. The company has already begun its development plans for Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The Kobo Arc comes with Google Play to provide hours of entertainment through the Google Play Store’s 600,000 apps including Gmail and YouTube in addition to pre-loaded apps like Facebook®, Twitter®, Rdio®, Zinio® and PressReader®.

With the Kobo Arc, Kobo continues to build on its Read Freely philosophy which encourages more people to read anytime , anyplace and on any device they choose. The company’s eReading platform automatically syncs people’s libraries across devices from the Kobo Arc, to its E Ink eReaders, to the free apps for virtually any desktop, tablet, eReader or smartphone.  With more than 10-million users across 190 countries, Kobo offers more choice than ever before with its new Family of eReaders, growing catalogue of more than 3-million eBooks, and content in 60 languages.

The Kobo Arc will be available for $249.99 (16GB), $299.99 (32GB) and $349.99 (64GB). Pre-orders will be available this fall in advance of its in-store availability this November.

About Kobo Inc.

Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering nearly 3-million eBooks.  Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo has built an open-standards platform to provide consumers with a choice when reading. Inspired by a “Read Freely” philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo has expanded to nearly 190 countries, where millions of consumers have access to localised eBook catalogues and award-winning eReaders, like the Kobo Touch. With top-ranked eReading applications for Apple, BlackBerry, Android, and Windows products, Kobo allows consumers to make eReading social through Facebook Timeline and Reading Life, an industry-first social experience that lets users earn awards for time spent reading and encourage others to join in. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains across the globe.

For more information, visit www.kobo.com.

 
formats

007 Legends: Goldfinger REVEAL

Goldfinger – one of the most iconic James Bond movies –is the fifth 007 movie-inspired mission that joins Die Another Day, Moonraker, Licence to Kill and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in this year’s upcoming 007™ Legends video game.

Check out these cool new screenshots!

 
formats

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria – The Mists Clear September 25th

Soon, intrepid explorers of the Alliance and the Horde will be able to set foot upon the shores of the long-lost continent of Pandaria and embark on a perilous journey to uncover its ancient mysteries.

While heroic adventurers hailing from Australia and New Zealand can purchase a copy of Mists of Pandaria directly from www.warcraft.com, they can also pick up the game at their favourite retailer on Tuesday, September 25th beginning at 9 AM local time. (9 AM NZST/9 AM AEST/9 AM ACST/9 AM AWST)

For a handy reference, the game servers will go live at:

New Zealand Standard Time: 7:00 PM

Australian Eastern Standard Time: 5:00 PM

Australian Central Standard Time: 4:30 PM

Australian Western Standard Time: 3:00 PM

The new continent reveals itself to a broken world just as the Alliance and Horde are spiralling ever closer to a war that will consume all of Azeroth. Will the mists of Pandaria part to reveal the world’s salvation? Or will the battle to control this rich and breathtaking new land push the two mighty factions over the brink of war and into total annihilation? The answers await within Pandaria’s mysterious shores!

 
formats

Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader Quickly and Reliably Transfers Files from All Popular Memory Card Formats

New Card Reader Boasts Read Speeds up to Five Times Faster than USB 2.0 While Enabling Concurrent Downloads and Card-to-Card File Transfer

Sydney, Australia, September 19, 2012 – Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, today announced the new Lexar® Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader, a versatile, all-in-one solution for quick and reliable file transfers from 25 of the most popular memory card formats. The reader provides five slots compatible with popular card formats such as CompactFlash, Secure Digital, including newly added support for Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) cards, Mobile, Memory Stick and xD-Picture cards. The reader is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports, can read multiple cards simultaneously, and provides card-to-card file transfer. For additional information about the Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 UB 3.0 Reader, visit www.lexar.com.

“The Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader is an excellent choice for anyone with various memory card formats looking to quickly and easily transfer multiple files,” said Manisha Sharma, director of product marketing for cards, Lexar. “Over the years, consumers have upgraded their cameras and photography equipment, leaving them with a variety of card formats. Because this reader is compatible with multiple variations of cards, consumers can now shoot a whole vacation or sporting event using all of their devices knowing they’ll be able to quickly transfer and manage their photos and videos when they get home.”

The Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader leverages SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology to offer high-speed file transfers with a USB interface read speed of up to 500MB/s, and is up to five times faster than USB 2.0.* The reader also features a convenient pop-up design mechanism to protect the card slots when the reader is not in use and comes with a USB 3.0 cable cord. A blue LED activity light lets users know when data is being transferred.

The Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader supports the following memory cards formats:

  • CompactFlash slot: Reads CompactFlash® Type I and Type II
  • Secure Digital slot: SD™, SDHC™, SDXC™, miniSD™, miniSDHC™, MMC™, MMCplus™, and RS-MMC™
  • Mobile slot: microSD™, microSDHC™, and Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™)
  • Memory Stick slot: Memory Stick™, Memory Stick (with MagicGate™), Memory Stick PRO™, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Memory Stick PRO Duo (with MagicGate), Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark2, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™, and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo “HX”
  • xD-Picture Card slot: xD-Picture Card™, xD-Picture Card Type-M, xD-Picture Card Type-M+, and xD-Picture Card Type-H
 
formats

Visit Narnia before the snow melts and wardrobe closes 7 October!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition is closing on Sunday, 7 October following a five week extension.  The exhibition, showing at the Powerhouse Museum since May, extended its Sydney season to give visitors one last chance to see the popular family exhibition during the October school holidays.

Coinciding with the exhibition’s extension, the Powerhouse Museum will stage a special school holiday program (22 September – 5 October) looking at how the creative professionals in theatre and film turn ideas from the page onto the stage and big screen.

‘From Page to Stage’ will feature a series of public programs including a drop-in children’s activity for budding prop-masters who can design and create their own swords and shields; combat demonstrations by trained actors showing how battles are performed for the stage and screen; and an illustrator drawing exercise, accompanied by demonstrations by puppeteers who will bring mythical Australian creatures to life.

Many of the mythical creatures from Narnia are also revisited in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition.  Reepicheep, a Minotaur, the White Witch, and Mr Tumnus are just a few of the characters that fans will come face-to-face with once they step through the wardrobe.

Based on the blockbuster film series and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, and produced by GES in partnership with Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, this state-of-the-art entertainment and educational experience offers the opportunity to tour scenes from the famed literary world of Narnia.  Through authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the magical Narnia films, visitors enter a three-dimensional world that combines the wonders of science with aspects of fantasy. Narnia scenes and characters captivate visitors and take them on a journey of discovery.

Once inside The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition, visitors encounter several interactive elements including a replica of the White Witch’s throne where visitors can sit and feel the chill of the icy throne, a frozen waterfall that is icy to the touch, a fabulous model of King Miraz’s castle, a metal armour suit and swords that can be touched and lifted to experience their tremendous weight, and a life-size working catapult that demonstrates how the medieval device can hurl an object great distances.

The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of classic children’s books written by C.S. Lewis that appear on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for primary school years five and six.  A re-creation of C.S. Lewis’ study, where he wrote the Narnia adventures, is also shown in the exhibition.

 
formats

Symantec Unveils Newly Expanded Global Security Operations Centre in Australia

One Million Dollar Investment in Local Infrastructure & Resources

SYDNEY, Australia – September 19, 2012 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the opening of its newly expanded Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Sydney to support the rapid growth of the Symantec Managed Security Services (MSS) group. Confronted by a complex and evolving threat landscape, enterprises are increasingly looking for the security know-how and established technologies and processes of a security partner able to build and sustain a resilient incident management program on their behalf.

“The expanded Security Operations Centre in Sydney represents more than a million dollar investment in infrastructure and resources in both security response centres and security operations centres that will help meet customer demand in Australia for managed security services,” said Brenton Smith, vice president and managing director, Pacific region, Symantec. “By expanding our facility, we are able to tap into the local talent pool of security professionals within Australia and support our customers locally. We have built a team of analysts in Australia with deep security expertise that is very difficult to replicate by an individual organisation.”

The Sydney team is part of a 24×7 follow the sun security monitoring and management service that is responsible for defending organisations against sophisticated targeted attacks as well as new malware variants and vulnerabilities that continue to increase every day.  Every month, the global Symantec Managed Security Services team will analyse more than 275 billion log entries; identify approximately 40,000 potential security events and escalate over 4,000 validated, severe events.

“The expanded security operations centre in Sydney joins Symantec’s other global centres in the UK, US and India as part of the first line of defense against cyber threats for customers around the world,” said Bernard Kwok, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and Japan, Symantec. “Our investment in expanding the Security Operations Centre in Sydney demonstrates our long term commitment to Australia and the wider Asia Pacific and Japan region. The security requirements of our customers vary from region to region and this investment enables us to be closer to our customers in Australia and meet their specific security needs.”

According to the latest Symantec Internet Security Threat Report , targeted attacks are spreading to organisations of all sizes and a variety of personnel; data breaches are increasing; and attackers are focusing more on mobile threats.

“Businesses today are operating in times of advanced persistent threats, targeted attacks, socially engineered malware and even politically motivated hacktivist attacks. With these changes, they require powerful technology, accurate threat intelligence, proven processes and experienced professionals to combat them,” said Peter Sparkes, director, Managed Security Services, Asia Pacific and Japan, Symantec.

“Symantec MSS takes a comprehensive, edge-to-endpoint monitoring approach to provide broad visibility of activity across an enterprise’s infrastructure, and leverages threat intelligence from the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, the largest, most sophisticated intelligence network on the planet,” continued Sparkes.

Symantec’s SOCs offer real-time, comprehensive protection from known and emerging threats, enabling organisations to minimise risk and strengthen their security posture. Symantec’s SOCs analyse more than 15 billion logs worldwide each day to provide enterprise-wide protection and help customers bolster defenses and respond to new threats as they emerge. Using Symantec’s portfolio of advanced security monitoring and management services, last year alone, Symantec was able to block more than 5.5 billion malicious attacks.