prototype Archives

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Android XR apps will have camera permissions similar to Android phones

In December of last year, Google introduced Android XR, an extended reality operating system for virtual and mixed reality headsets, with a commercial launch planned for 2025. Samsung is developing a headset for this platform, called Project Moohan, and Google’s DeepMind subsidiary is creating a pair of smart glasses. Android XR app developers can request camera permissions similar to those on Android smartphones, allowing access to both world-facing and selfie cameras. Unlike Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro, which do not allow third-party camera access, Android XR will enable developers to access the living room feed through the headset's cameras to enhance mixed-reality applications. Developers can also request access to "Scene Understanding" features, including light estimation and advanced tracking capabilities for hand movements. Basic hand tracking functionalities will be available by default, with further details expected from Google soon.

AppWizard

February 10, 2025

Oh hell yeah, someone’s making a game about customizing and off-roading RC cars in your backyard

TrophyRC is a simulation game developed by Eugene Hatskevich that allows players to design and navigate obstacle courses with remote control cars. It offers a to-scale off-roading experience and encourages creativity in building challenges for miniature vehicles. The game is currently available on Steam, but does not have a confirmed release date. A prototype version is accessible on itch.io, showcasing foundational mechanics and improvements in water physics and gameplay dynamics.

AppWizard

February 9, 2025

The best unofficial Alien game is getting a spiritual successor where you carve up derelict ships and manage drones with ‘personality quirks’

Keenan announced three new game projects in development: 1. Humanity 2.0: A spiritual successor to Duskers, featuring a wireframe visual style where players dispatch drones to explore derelict spaceships, scavenge resources, dismantle ships, and construct new spacecraft. Drones will have unique personalities that affect their behavior. 2. Scheme: A tactical political strategy game where players navigate political intrigue as a lowborn character, using tactics like bribery and manipulation to ascend the social ladder without traditional troop movements, instead orchestrating conflicts between factions. 3. Magic Wizard Chess: A tactical roguelike game with unique gameplay mechanics, lacking health bars and incorporating psychological evaluations for players, though details remain vague.

Tech Optimizer

December 24, 2024

PostgreSQL vs. the Cloud for GenAI? 4 Things To Consider

Generative AI (GenAI) is expected to transform industries by improving productivity and revenue. A Deloitte report states that 80% of enterprises with advanced AI capabilities plan to increase AI investments. Companies must modernize legacy systems and tackle data challenges to implement GenAI, but many still use outdated technology, leading to costly transitions and downtime. Nearly half of US generative AI decision-makers expect returns on their investments within three years, which may underestimate the complexities of AI implementation. While cloud computing offers scalability, managing costs can be difficult, prompting many enterprises to adopt financial operations frameworks (FinOps). Concerns about third-party cloud services are leading businesses to consider on-premises and hybrid solutions, with predictions that by 2025, half of enterprises will use on-premises models for AI development. Choosing the right database is crucial for GenAI development, with PostgreSQL being a strong option due to its extensibility, seamless integration, open-source benefits, and deployment flexibility. Successful GenAI strategies focus on rapid development, cost-effective failures, and effective scaling, with Percona offering support to help organizations achieve these goals.

BetaBeacon

December 14, 2024

Google Steps Up Mixed Reality Game with New Integration

Google is introducing a new Android XR operating system and Gemini AI for smart glasses and augmented reality, putting them in direct competition with Apple and Meta. The Android XR system, developed with Samsung, will power AR and VR experiences, with the Gemini AI enhancing user experience by facilitating conversations and device control. The integration of Android XR with Gemini 2.0 AI aims to create AI models capable of understanding the world and making decisions. Google plans to adapt popular apps for immersive experiences through Android XR, with prototype glasses undergoing testing soon. The company is optimistic about the transformative potential of Android XR in revolutionizing user interaction with technology.

BetaBeacon

December 12, 2024

Yes, you’ll be able to game on Samsung and Google’s Android XR headset

Google's Android XR platform supports gaming and controller APIs. Samsung's Project Moohan VR headset, running on Android XR, will ship with controllers for gaming.

Winsage

November 28, 2024

RomCom exploits Firefox and Windows zero days in the wild

ESET researchers discovered a critical vulnerability, CVE-2024-9680, in Mozilla products exploited by the Russia-aligned group RomCom. This vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 9.8, affects various versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, and the Tor Browser, allowing code execution within the browser's restricted context. When combined with another Windows vulnerability, CVE-2024-49039, attackers can execute arbitrary code in the context of the logged-in user. The exploit can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious web page, enabling the installation of RomCom's backdoor without user interaction. RomCom has been linked to the exploitation of significant zero-day vulnerabilities, including the earlier use of CVE-2023-36884 via Microsoft Word in June 2023. The newly identified vulnerability was reported to Mozilla on October 8th, 2024, and patched the following day. The vulnerability is a use-after-free bug in Firefox's animation timeline. Further investigation revealed CVE-2024-49039, a privilege escalation bug in Windows, which Microsoft patched on November 12th, 2024. RomCom has targeted various sectors in 2024, including governmental entities in Ukraine, the pharmaceutical sector in the US, and the legal sector in Germany, among others. The compromise chain begins with a fake website that redirects victims to a server hosting the exploit. ESET identified multiple command-and-control servers used by RomCom, employing deceptive naming schemes to obscure their intentions. The exploit utilizes shellcode that executes arbitrary code by manipulating animation objects in Firefox. The vulnerability was patched by Mozilla within a day of its discovery. The RomCom backdoor is capable of executing commands and downloading additional modules onto the victim's machine. Indicators of compromise include specific JavaScript files and DLLs associated with the exploit.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

The Big Indie Interviews: Message Photon on their award-winning roguelike Painted Peril

Painted Peril secured second place in The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki. The game is a roguelike experience developed by a team from Finland, where players explore a world of color magic and combine hues to create spells. The project originated about 1.5 years ago as a university course initiative at Chalmers University of Technology, where a group of six students developed the initial prototype and won the Jury Spotlight Award at the Gotland Game Conference. Players control Sylvia the squirrel, navigating a cave system and using color effects and spellcasting mechanics. The game includes various bottles that affect spell behavior, promoting experimentation with color combinations. Emil Ekroth, a developer, discussed the challenges of indie development, emphasizing the need for versatility and motivation. The pitching experience highlighted the importance of clear communication. The team is exploring publishing options for Painted Peril, including potential self-publishing on Steam.

AppWizard

November 14, 2024

No Man’s Sky dev shares another reminder of how hard game dev is: 20 different formats to balance, with “around 140 combinations of graphics options” on PC

Martin Griffiths, an engine programmer at Hello Games, shared a detailed breakdown of the various platforms supported by the game No Man's Sky, which includes: - PS5 (Base) - PS5 (Base, PSVR2) - PS5 Pro - PS5 Pro (8K) - PS5 Pro (PSVR2) - PS4 (Base) - PS4 (Pro, x 2 - 1080p/4k modes) - PS4 (Base PSVR) - PS4 Pro (PSVR) - PS4 (PSVR, enhanced when running on PS5) - Xbox One, Xbox One S - Xbox One X (x4 - Quality/Perf modes, 1080p/4k modes) - Xbox Series S (x4 - Quality/Perf modes, 1080p/4k modes) - Xbox Series X - Switch (Handheld) - Switch (TV mode) - PC (around 140 combinations of graphics options - AA, Super Resolution, Quality modes etc) - Mac (a similar amount of options, with dev support from The-Forge) - PC (Steam Deck, Rog Ally, Intel, Laptop/Integrated graphics) - PCVR (a dozen or so supported headsets, and most of the same options as flat mode) Griffiths noted that supporting the PS5 Pro was particularly demanding, requiring him to dedicate "around 4-5 months of my time spread over the last year" to optimize the console's capabilities.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

AI-generated Minecraft unveiled, showcasing AI’s unlimited ability to copy things but worse

Decart has unveiled Oasis, which it claims to be "the world's first real-time AI world model." The company envisions a future where foundation models integrate with entertainment platforms to generate content in real time based on user preferences. Current demonstrations of Oasis resemble a prototype version of Minecraft, lacking the polish of the original game. The technology was developed using Nvidia H100 graphics cards but struggles to perform at 360p and 20 frames per second. Future iterations may utilize Etched ASICs for improved performance up to 4K resolution. Additionally, AI-powered Frame Generation could enhance gaming performance on standard hardware. The author attempted to access the Oasis platform but was unable to load the site.