The macOS Big Sur public beta is now available

If you’ve been eager to get your hands on the next big macOS update without having to run a developer build, now’s your chance. The public beta of macOS Big Sur is now live.Apple has redesigned many aspects of the OS this time around, and it has desc...

Apple releases second public betas for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra

Were you quick to hop on the test versions of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra? It's time to start updating. Apple has released the second public betas of both platforms, and they're not just adding some spit and polish. The new iOS 10 beta introduces a fu...

Public beta registration now open for the Xbox 360’s 2013 Live update

Public beta registration now open for the Xbox 360's 2013 Live update

It's that time of the year again, and we're not talking about the long Independence Day weekend. Microsoft has opened up public beta registration for the 2013 Xbox Live update, and this time around you'll need to log your interest directly through an Xbox 360 console. Xbox owners in Japan will be missing out, although they'll have the same opportunity "at a later date." There should be a tile on the dashboard home screen entitled "Xbox Beta Program," and with limited spots available, we recommend you sign up immediately if you'd like to participate -- last year's spots were filled pretty quickly. There doesn't appear to be anything exciting included in the beta; Major Nelson cites "updates to improve overall performance" and the option to purchase content with actual money instead of MS points. There may be more details in the beta FAQ when it goes live later today, but if you get into the program and find anything juicy MS neglected to mention, it hopes you'll honor the NDA which you'll agree to as part of the registration process.

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Source: Major Nelson

PSA: Apple to shut down iWork.com beta today, iCloud patiently awaits you

PSA Apple to shut down iWorkcom beta today, iCloud now awaits you

In the months leading up to this very moment, we've seen Apple introduce a full set of new MacBook Airs and an extremely high-res Pro of its own -- but today the company's taking a slightly different route, shutting down its doc-sharing iWork.com for good. Not all is lost, however, as this a natural move from the Cupertino outfit to make an expected transition to a more iCloud-heavy ecosystem -- a place where you'll essentially be able to accomplish similar things. The good news is you still have the rest of the day to clean out your invisible locker and save your must-have documents, and in case you need help with that, Apple's support page (linked below) will fill you in on all those step-by-steps.

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PSA: Apple to shut down iWork.com beta today, iCloud patiently awaits you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft kicked off public beta for 2012 Xbox Live update, but quickly ran out of space

Microsoft kicked off public beta for 2012 Xbox Live update, but quickly ran out of space

And just like that, it was all over. Shortly after the well-known, always-informative Major Nelson announced that this year's upcoming Xbox Live update had officially opened its beta doors to the public, he soon followed up with a note saying it was already "full and no longer accepting sign-ups." For the lucky ones, though, the public beta will give them early access to a slew of anticipated Xbox Live features, such as personalized dashboard recommendations, improved category / discovery features and, best of all, a look at Internet Explorer on Microsoft's entertainment console. Sadly, Major Nelson didn't say whether or not there's going to be more spaces opening up soon, but we'll keep you in the loop if anything changes.

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Microsoft kicked off public beta for 2012 Xbox Live update, but quickly ran out of space originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve Source Filmmaker makes a movie out of any Source game, now you’re directing with Portals (video)

Valve Source Filmmaker makes a movie out of any Source game, now you're directing with Portals video

Creating machinima with a video game engine usually requires accepting one of two truths: either that it will require a lot of fudging or that it will have all the sophistication of playing with action figures. Valve Software isn't very happy with that dichotomy, which is why it's posting its very own movie-making tool, Source Filmmaker, as a public beta. Any game that runs on the Source engine, whether it's Left 4 Dead 2, Portal 2 or another in the family, can have gameplay run-throughs edited and dissected right down to custom facial expressions. As Valve expounds in the video after the break, throwing a gaming-grade PC at the task gives directors the advantage of seeing exactly how any changes will look in the final scene; there's no rough wireframes or pre-rendering here. Budding Francis Ford Coppolas can sign up for an invitation to the Filmmaker beta at the project page. If you'd just like to see how far someone can go with the end results, we've also included the latest Team Fortress 2 character profile video, Meet the Pyro, after the jump.

Continue reading Valve Source Filmmaker makes a movie out of any Source game, now you're directing with Portals (video)

Valve Source Filmmaker makes a movie out of any Source game, now you're directing with Portals (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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