Microsoft cutting support for some of its MSN-branded apps

Microsoft is cutting more things from its stables. This time, the company plans to discontinue some  of its MSN-branded apps for all platforms (Windows, iOS, and Android). These include MSN Health & Fitness, MSN Travel, and MSN Food & Drink. The discontinuation is happening in waves in the next few months. Food & Drink and Travel will be discontinued by September 28, while Health & Fitness by November 1. Some of the content from these pages will be available in other places, like MSN's home page. 

Source: ZDNet 

PayPal's BattleHack to take place in Toronto on July 18-19

PayPal Canada is hosting this year's BattleHack in Toronto on July 18-19. The Task is to build a mobile app in 24-hours to better your city or community.

Coders in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Venice and Chicago have already battled it out. Soon, a few hundred Canadian developers will take up the challenge at PayPal’s BattleHack in Toronto on July 18-19th. Team Angry Kittens (last year’s Toronto winners) won a ticket to the World Finals where they placed second and nearly won the grand prize of $100,000 (US). 

 

Don't call it a comeback: iPod line expected to see a refresh

With Apple Music showing a renewed interest in the consumption and enjoyment of music, many have wondered what was to happen to the Apple's iPod line.

Well, wonder no more. There have been various leaks and indicators that we are going to see updates to the iPod Touch, iPod nano and iPod Shuffle. French website iGen has earmarked July 14 for an iPod refresh. Aside from bold new colours, the iPod Touch is likely getting a processor upgrade which should at least put it at par with the iPhone 5s. As for the iPod Classic? it is still gone but not forgotten.

Transformers: Devastation game brings back a lot of what was good about the original Transformers

For many who grew up with the Transformers comics, the animated TV show and the corresponding cult classic Transformers: The Movie (1986, gosh!), there's a certain mystique and honesty to the animation and characterization of that time that wasn't recaptured by subsequent reboots or the over the top feature films. It is for these purists that the Transformers: Devastation video game seems to have been created. An all-out brawler that brings the comics and 80's era animation style to gaming consoles and to PCs.

Players will have the ability to shift between vehicle and robot mode, environments are expected to be immersive and they've even brought in the original TV voice actors for added authenticity  including Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Dan Gilvezan(Bumblebee), Michael Bell (Sideswipe), Gregg Berger (Grimlock) and Frank Welker (Megatron, Soundwave). Transformers: Devastation comes this Fall to n Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.