Conversational search now available in latest build of Chrome web browser

After revealing it at I/O 2013 only days ago, Google's new conversational voice search function is up and running on Chrome 27. If you've got that version, you'll now get a spoken response on top of a web page display when using the voice search function (the microphone in the main search window), for starters. More interestingly, the new feature also includes semantic search, meaning you can ask follow-up questions without repeating needless info -- for instance, "who's the CEO of GE?" can now be followed up with "how old is he?" and Google will know who "he" is. We gave it a spin for ourselves and found that when it worked, it worked well, however, the system may be overwhelmed by the launch and is giving us a "no internet connection" message most of the time -- not exactly what we're looking for.

According to recently released birthday stats, 'Diablo 3' still enjoys 2.1 million players a day

Despite the doom-and-gloom that the internet loves to spout about Diablo III's "failure", it seems as though the game is doing quite well for itself one year on.

Diablo III has turned one year old, and Blizzard are celebrating. Previously, they announced that players would get bonus XP and loot throughout the birthday celebration, and the game is currently enjoying a $20 discount on the official Blizzard store. If any one concept represents the core of the Diablo series, it's numbers. You slay monsters to collect gold to buy gear to make your numbers bigger. In celebration of numbers, Blizzard have released a nice, big, number-filled infographic that shows despite all the doom-and-gloom stories we have heard, it's still doing pretty well after its first birthday.

The image shows that an average of 2.1 million players still log in to sanctuary every day, and that around 14 million unique players have experienced the game. 67 million characters have been created, and they have collected 648 trillion gold! If you're a fan of stats, be sure to check out the full image after the break.

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New 'Man of Steel' Trailer leaves us ready for June 14th

We all thought there was no way a trailer could top the last one director Zack Snyder provided us for Man of Steel. At three minutes, even its length was epic. And the action it showed was pure, ass-kicking Superman.

The latest trailer (number four, if you count the teasers as one) is shorter than the previous one but, somehow jam-packed with even more spectacle. That’s thanks in large part to the menacing threats of General Zod. He’s ready to reign hell on the Planet Earth if they don’t give up Kal-El, and this trailer proves he means serious business. City-destroying, genocide-starting, skull-crushing business. Hit the break link for the trailer.

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Another 'Byzanthium' trailer to get your blood pumping

IFC Films just unveiled another trailer for Byzantium, Neil Jordan’s mother-daughter vampire pic starring Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton. IFC acquired US rights out of Toronto and has it set for a June 28 theatrical release. Yahoo released another trailer last month, and this film has us buzzing with anticipation. Hit the break link for the latest trailer featuring bloodsuckers of a different variety.

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Steven Spielberg working on live-action 'Halo' TV series for XBOX

As part of the hardware announcement for the new Microsoft XBOX One, the company has been touting new ways to interact with television, gaming, and other content. We’ve known that Xbox Live has been planning to move into some of the original TV space that Netflix has been doing, and now we know what the vehicle will be: a live-action Halo TV series, with involvement from Steven Spielberg.

Nancy Tellem, from Xbox Entertainment Studios, said ”Until now ,the TV viewing experience has been a one way street for the viewer. But now that’s about to change.” That led to the announcement that 343 Industries and Spielberg are working together on Halo.

XBOX One has a new and vastly improved Kinect

Microsoft's introducing a new Kinect motion-sensing camera to go alongside its new Xbox One game console. The camera peripheral is getting some major improvements in its second iteration, and it's expected to ship with every new console at launch. One of the most impressive features is the ability to wake the console with just a voice command. Simply say "Xbox on," and you're ready to get gaming. In fact, you can shout all sorts of things at your new Kinect, such as "watch TV" or "snap Internet Explorer." That's right, there is true multitasking built into Xbox One and you can move windows around or switch between tasks, with just a voice command. Of course, you can also navigate the various panels and screens with the usual hand waves and air pinches, should you feel a bit silly talking to your console.

On the inside is a 1080p camera -- a huge step up from the VGA sensor on the original Kinect. The new motion controller processes a stunning two gigabits of data per second to accurately read your environment. Everything about this second iteration of the Kinect is more accurate, in fact, from the number of reference points on your skeleton it monitors down to its ability to read your heartbeat. And it's powerful enough to bring that increased fidelity to not just one, but six skeletons simultaneously (should you have enough room in your pad for that many players). It even has the ability to talk to the standard Xbox controller for some Move-like functionality. Lift the remote and you'll lift your shield in the game, for example. For Microsoft, the Kinect is what ties the Xbox One experience together.

Improved gamer controller for XBOX One

Despite the few protestations gamers have with the Xbox 360 wireless controller, Microsoft is apparently updating its much-loved input device for the next-generation, Xbox One. At first glance, the controller looks rather similar to its successor, though there are definitely some design tweaks in tow. For starters, the renowned "Xbox button" has been moved up a bit, making room for a couple of buttons in the central place where it used to be located.

What's more, and in what's perhaps the biggest change, the triggers now have a built-in rumble system, which Microsoft's calling "Impulse Triggers." There's now also a redesigned d-pad that takes on a more traditional "cross" look, while the thumbsticks are slightly shorter and have a textured design around the edge, which, presumably, should help keep your thumbs gripped with more ease. The battery compartment, meanwhile, is much smaller than the previous version. Hit the break for some images.

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Microsoft unveils its Next-Gen console, 'XBOX One'

Microsoft debuted the Xbox One this morning live from a tent on its Redmond, Wash., campus, putting to end months of speculation about the company's next-generation video game console. The console will be available "later this year." Microsoft exec Don Mattrick called it out as an "all-in-one" box. The core strategy is "simple, instant and complete." It was debuted alongside a new gamepad as well as a new Kinect motion camera. Hit the break for some images.

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Ridley Scott's next film, 'Exodus' will release next holiday season

Fox Studios has set an official date for Ridley Scott's new film, Exodus. It is set to release in theaters on December 12, 2014. That doesn’t leave Scott with a whole lot of room to do much else before jumping into Exodus from The Counselor. It’s probably a safe bet, then, that Prometheus 2 won’t land before 2015 or so. But that’s not stopping a casting rumor concerning British actor Rik Barnett (Rebels Without a Clue) from making the rounds. 

The buzz about Barnett comes from Prometheus 2 Movie News (via Screen Rant). They cite a source who claims that Scott has met “many times” with Barnett, whom he wants for a key role possibly connected to Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace). I don’t know enough about the site to gauge how reliable they or their anonymous informant is, so for now this should strictly be filed under rumor.

Even if it’s true that Barnett and Scott have been chatting, the site’s sources caution that no casting will be locked in until the story and script are finalized. But for now, Scott will be keeping his focus on the two projects he definitely has scheduled to premiere in the near future. Exodus' new opening date not only puts it in the thick of prestige pic season, it puts it in close proximity to tough competitors like The Hobbit: There and Back Again (December 17) and Tomorrowland (December 19).

The biblical epic already has a script, written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage with additional work by Steve Zaillian. However, it still needs a star. Christian Bale was said to be circling the lead role a few months back, but nothing’s been confirmed at this point. In the meantime, The Counselor is due in theaters November 15, also thanks to Fox.

New Trailer for 'The Wolverine' is out. Check it out here

Here’s the newest trailer for Fox‘s The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman that will begin showing this weekend in theaters attached to Fast & Furious 6. The James Mangold-directed 3D pic opens wide July 26 and this offers the clearest look yet at the Japan-set plot. Hit the break link for the trailer in full.

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