Fully Charged: Angry Birds 2 is finally happening, and Surface RT tablets update dated

Angry Birds 2 is finally coming

Angry Birds hit the App Store in late 2009, and it wasn’t long before the game was a certified smash. A couple of similar entries followed, along with the great Angry Birds Space and Angry Birds Star Wars… but since then, the series has largely been copying popular mobile formulas and slapping its name on them. After all this time, why on earth hasn’t there been a proper, numbered sequel?

Well, it’s happening. Rovio has started sending out invites to a media event for 28 July in San Francisco, along with artwork that shows the logo, familiar birds, and tagline, "Bigger. Badder. Birdier." However, the imagery makes it look like Angry Birds 2 might just be a renamed version of Angry Birds: Under Pigstruction, a game that is currently soft-launched in certain territories. Whatever is happening here, we should find out soon. Here’s hoping it’s a return to form for the recently beleaguered franchise.

[Source: Touch Arcade]

Surface RT tablets update dated

Microsoft’s Windows RT-based Surface tablets have been the odd man out in the company’s hardware lineup, and that’s especially true now that Windows 10 is on the horizon. Because, sadly, they simply won’t be updated to the new OS. However, Microsoft said that some additional functionality would come to the discontinued tablets, and now we know when.

Microsoft’s Gabe Aul fielded a question on Twitter yesterday with the response, "Windows 8.1 RT Update 3 will be available in September." It’s still unclear which features will be added to the Surface and Surface 2 in this update, but hopefully it’ll be a solid refresh for the left behind hardware.

[Source: The Verge]

Neil Young pulls streaming catalog

Legendary rocker Neil Young just released an album that was available across the major streaming services, but he’s changed his mind, declaring that his entire catalog will be pulled from all of them. He grumbles about the amount of money that artists make in his Facebook post on the matter, but says he’s mainly upset about quality.

"I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don’t feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It’s bad for my music," he writes. "For me, It’s about making and distributing music people can really hear and feel. I stand for that. When the quality is back, I’ll give it another look. Never say never."

Young has been the public face behind the Pono portable music player, and as of this writing, his music is still available from that service’s digital store. We’re curious what Young thinks of Tidal’s pricier lossless streaming service, but at least for now, he doesn’t seem terribly open to the streaming conversation.

[Source: Facebook via Rolling Stone]

Xbox One game gets Philips Hue support

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-mNbs5mR0

Sure, you’ve got a massive, ultra-crisp television and a booming surround sound system, but are you still searching for ways to make console gaming more immersive? How does paired room lighting sound? That’s what you can experience with an Xbox One game thanks to an update that adds real-time support for the Philips Hue connected lighting system.

Chariot is the game, and it’s a cute platformer with couch co-op support and very colourful graphics. The Xbox One version can now control Hue lightbulbs and deliver everything from "subtle shifts to sudden bursts" of light while you play. It’s just one game for now, but hopefully it’ll become a trend.

[Source: BusinessWire]