Digital games distribution earned $3.8 billion in 2010, a quarter of entire video game market

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/digital-games-distribution-earned-3-8-billion-in-2010-a-quarte/

Alright, so technically all video games are digital, but what we're talking about here is the stuff that you don't buy on physical media -- downloadable games, add-on content, mobile apps, subscriptions, and gaming on social networks. That market has grown to account for 24 percent of all video game revenues in 2010, or $3.8 billion, according to the Entertainment Software Association. The ESA is the body running the currently ongoing E3 shindig, and its data comes from the NPD Group, which likes to keep a cold robotic finger on the gaming industry's pulse. Other findings in the latest ESA study include the average age of gamers (37!), the best-selling genres (action with 21.7 percent, followed by sports at 16.3 percent), and the highest-grossing games of 2010 (no prizes for guessing the warmongering winner of that one). Give the source link a bash to immerse yourself in even more gaming trivia from yesteryear.

Digital games distribution earned $3.8 billion in 2010, a quarter of entire video game market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Foursquare and Netflix Apps Are Storing Your Passwords Unencrypted [Security]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5810066/foursquare-and-netflix-apps-are-storing-your-passwords-unencrypted

Storing passwords in plaintext is a bad idea. You'd think that the smarties at Netflix and Foursquare would know better. But the Wall Street Journal reports their Android versions—and other apps—do no such thing. Not good.

According to security firm viaForensics, the the Netflix, Foursquare, LinkedIn, and Square apps for Android are storing your passwords without a trace of encryption. Square's app on iOS is equally vulnerable, revealing transaction and digital signature histories to prying hacker fingers.

Any responses, fellas? Foursquare, LinkedIn, and Netflix have all released mea clupas, saying they're "working on" fixes for the unencrypted vitals. Square, on the other hand, blames global credit card standards for the data their app holds. Keep that in mind next time you swipe your card through someone's phone. [WSJ]

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Samsung Galaxy S II said to be Verizon-bound in July (update: just a miscommunication)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-said-to-be-verizon-bound-in-july/

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S II, our tiny American hearts are getting rather sick of all the love we've been experiencing lately. Computerworld's latest rumor may be just what we need to stay sane for another month, though; it cites an unnamed Verizon spokesperson who mentioned this Fascinate follow-up, which will likely be known as the Function, will be coming in for a soft landing sometime in July, though no specifics were offered. The Galaxy S II is already being sold in Europe and Asia and blends a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, Gingerbread, dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, and many more top-of-the-line specs into one sleek and gorgeous package. If the July window is accurate, it means Verizon could be one of the first US carriers out of the gate with the phone. This is great news for the carrier that was, of the four national powers, dead last in getting its model of the Galaxy S to market. We're anxiously awaiting word from a Verizon spokesperson for additional comment and will keep you posted -- if our heart hasn't popped out of our chest by then.

Update: We just received word from a Verizon spokesperson that the reference to a July release was just a miscommunication and was actually in reference to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Yeah, we're bummed out, too.

Samsung Galaxy S II said to be Verizon-bound in July (update: just a miscommunication) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Racing 2 HD beats Wii U to the wireless, dual-screen gaming punch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/real-racing-2-hd-beats-wii-u-to-the-wireless-dual-screen-gaming/

Hey, guess what? That Real Racing 2 HD update that combined your iPad and TV for dual-screen gaming action will soon be able to ditch the wires and use AirPlay to beam every turn and crash to your flatscreen. You'll need an Apple TV or other Mac device hooked up to your set, and the feature won't be unlocked until iOS 5 hits, but it should satisfy your curiosity for what playing a Wii U might be like until the new Nintendo console lands next year. If you're set hardware-wise and your interest is piqued, you can download the game for $12.99 from the app store -- now you've just gotta hold tight for that OS update in the fall.

Real Racing 2 HD beats Wii U to the wireless, dual-screen gaming punch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DarbeeVision teams with Sunflex to launder your HDMI video, give your picture added depth and clarity

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/darbeevision-teams-with-sunflex-to-launder-your-hdmi-video-give/

DarbeeVision's Visual Presence technology has been sprucing up moving pictures for ages, but until now, its greater visual depth and detail could only be added in post-processing. However, there's a new version that works by scanning 165 million pixels per second and applies its visual voodoo in real-time. It's a firmware solution that can be put into any device with a processor and a screen, and the company is currently in talks with TV manufacturers to get its tech baked in. Darbee has also partnered up with Sunflex to construct a Snakebyte-branded module that does the Darbee deed externally as an HDMI pass-through. In its current form, the system's not ready for prime time, as it's comprised of three circuit boards screwed together in an unwieldy package. When it hits the market later this year, the company claims it'll be in a plastic case the size of a remote control.

We got to see the system in person at E3 2011 and found the results to be a mixed bag. Much like Belkin's RazorVision we saw years ago, Visual Presence promises to make your picture more lifelike and detailed. In the demo we saw, graphical meadows benefitted from the enhancement -- we could see individual blades of grass waving to and fro with much more clarity. However, castle walls and textured garments looked like someone cranked up the contrast to 11, which created too much visual noise for our liking. The good news is, the effect is adjustable, so you can dial in the level of detail to suit the situation and your individual taste. Sound good? Well, the device should ship by October and retail for around $150.

Gallery: DarbeeVision HDMI picture enhancement module

DarbeeVision teams with Sunflex to launder your HDMI video, give your picture added depth and clarity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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