‘Forza Horizon 3’ comes to Windows 10

Fans of the Forza series are in for a treat. The Windows 10 version is almost here. Pre-order for the Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition brings the game into your hands on September 23, which is four days ahead of the release of the Deluxe and Standard editions. Coinciding with this release, NVIDIA and AMD are going to launch game-ready drivers for Forza Horizon 3. While the current drivers work, the updates will bring performance optimization and stability improvements.

Playground Games is currently working on some in-game errors with some marketplace functionality—including selecting DLC like VIP or Car Pass from the in-game Marketplace tab and accessing certain DLC cars from within the Autoshow. The game should be up and running for September 23.

Source: Xbox Wire

IBM opens innovation space for Canadian entrepreneurs and startups

IBM in partnership with Ontario Centres of Excellence and the Government of Ontario launched the IBM Innovation Space, a new startup hub in Toronto to accelerate innovation activities and investments in Ontario by helping businesses propel into the global marketplace.

The IBM Innovation Space is the first initiative to launch under the IBM Innovation Incubator Project, a $54 million dollar initiative funded by a $24.75 million dollar contribution from IBM and $22.75 million from the Government of Ontario’s Jobs and Prosperity Fund.  Other partners include the SOSCIP Research Consortium and members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE).

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Netflix plans to fill half of its catalog with originals in the coming years

Marvel's Luke Cage is a Netflix-exclusive show

In an effort to get more people to come and stay with its service, Netflix’s CFO David Wells talks about the streaming service’s plan to have at least half of its catalog be composed of its own original shows and movies in  the next few years. Netflix is supposedly “one-third to halfway” towards reaching that target. The service is steadily being known as home to a lot of acclaimed originals that are either made by Netflix themselves, co-produced with other studios, or acquired post-production. Wells says they’ll continue with this approach to reach that target. And if they’re able to get good content, this might help them keep subscribers on its service as other companies won’t have access to their exclusives.

Source: The Verge

Big tech companies pledge to help millions of refugees

U.S. President Barack Obama announced at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations that tech companies are among the 51 companies who are “investing, donating, or raising” over US$650 million to help educate, employ, and train around 6.3 million refugees from 20 countries. Some of the companies include Microsoft, Facebook, Google, HP, TripAdvisor, Uber, SAP, and Airbnb. Earlier in June, the White House started an initiative that aimed at getting “measurable and significant commitments” from the private sector to help out the forcibly displaced. Google, HP, IBM, and Microsoft were among the 15 companies who helped found the initiative.

An example given by CNET is that Google plans to give a $1 million grant to the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which was established by George Clooney and his wife Amal, to help educate Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Another example is Microsoft plans to work with local providers in Malawi to provide wireless broadband access to refugees and international aid organizations.