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From Maru to Grumpy Cat, Surprise Kitten to Nyan Cat, felines have been some of the biggest stars on so far. But which are most popular?

3DS, Nintendo, cert: EFirst released in Japan in 2012, Puzzle & Dragons has proved to be a phenomenal success and is presented here as a double pack of two versions on the 3DS. The game combines puzzle gameplay (similar to Bejeweled) with an RPG element (akin to Pokémon). Players must build a team of monsters, level them up, develop their abilities and use them in battles. These battles take the form of match-three puzzles, and monsters will only unleash their attacks if gamers can combine the correctly coloured orbs.It’s a compelling template that has inspired multiple rivals and, while the Mario edition boasts familiar characters and locations, it lacks the variety and depth of Puzzle & Dragons Z. However, Z in turn gameplay does become bogged down in a rather tedious story in places but when the game gets going, it’s an addictive experience. With hundreds of levels to discover, this is a really generous package for fans of match-three puzzlers. Out on Friday. Continue reading...

(iPhone, iPad, Redbreast Studio, cert: 9) Continue reading...

The place to talk about games and other things that matterOh, it’s Monday. How did that happen? Continue reading...

(PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, WiiU, Slightly Mad Studios, cert:3)On a very base level, Project CARS is going to be a divisive game: you’re either going to love it or hate it. Developed with a strong emphasis on realistic graphics and accurate physics, Project CARS is a stunning and complex racer.It’s almost tempting to call it a “simulation” instead of a “game” as the whole thing feels more like a training programme for real racing drivers. There are hours to be spent tweaking tyre pressures and brake sensitivity to run practice laps and shave a couple of seconds off the best time. There’s a wealth of player choice with multiple career modes, dozens of cars and customisable weekend races. Continue reading...

In commencement speech at George Washington University, CEO says Jobs wanted his company’s products to change the worldSteve Jobs’ vision of Apple products helping to change the world has come true, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said on Sunday, thanks to iPhone cameras enabling people to capture instances of injustice on film.Cook was delivering the commencement speech at George Washington University, in Washington DC. Continue reading...

Online abuse doesn’t have to be cruel. New app Goat Attack allows you to anonymously harass people with a side-helping of baaaad punsAll the most exciting technological innovations start life in the US, don’t they? The space shuttle, the iPhone, the lightbulb. Now, a new invention can be added to this list – an app that enables you to send your friends pictures of goats, purporting to be from the goats themselves, along with faintly disappointing goat puns. It is inexplicably popular with a certain genre of tech blog, and thus it reaches us. This is probably how jazz began.While you have to live in the US to receive a Goat Attack, you don’t have to live there to send one. Accordingly, I went online and paid $0.79 to bombard my expat friend Jon with goat puns. It felt more gleeful than I had expected. This sense only grew when I learned that Jon, an intrepid journalist who, by and large, does not write about goat-based text apps, had been a little unnerved initially, thinking he was “being targeted by someone I’d pissed off with a story”. Continue reading...

Mary Lee’s tweets are penned by an anonymous journalist, but that’s OK with the researchers who track her: ‘They’re really clever’ Continue reading...

Ouya, an Android-based console company that raised $8m on Kickstarter, is now reportedly seeking a quick sale amid money troubles. Here are some lessons from high-flying crowdfunded failures Continue reading...

The little Ford is the nation’s favourite car – and it’s about to celebrate a major milestone. Time for a fiesta Continue reading...

Lawmakers vote to highlight the potential dangers of keeping devices close to the body as scientists raise raft of concerns, especially for children Continue reading...

When they’re not making music or appearing in Star Wars, Hot Chip’s Felix Martin and actor Peter Serafinowicz are big on consoles. Here’s what a lifetime squinting at a screen has taught them Continue reading...

‘Driving it, you look as though you have a pension and an Ocado account; you look like someone who sends their forms back on time, and who never lets their athlete’s foot get out of control’ Continue reading...

Legislative changes exempting law enforcement officers from ban on breaking into people’s digital devices were never debated by parliament, tribunal hears Continue reading...

In Cannes with new movie Irrational Man, veteran director reveals his unease about forthcoming online streaming series and says he’d reshoot all his previous films if he could Continue reading...

The investment values the ridesharing company at $2.5bn, which he says is a bargain compared with Uber’s $41bn Continue reading...

3DS; Nintendo; £26.99-£29.99 Continue reading...

Small electric two-seater pods will take to public roads – but must be fitted with a removable steering wheel and pedals, and limited to 25mphGoogle’s prototype self-driving car pods will take to public roads for the first time around its headquarters in Mountain View, California this summer.The pods, which resemble a Smart Car crossed with a Nissan Micra, will be fitted with a removable steering wheel, brake and accelerator pedals, and will require a human “safety driver” at all times. Continue reading...

If the 20th anniversary of the Saturn’s fateful US launch has filled you with nostalgia, here’s how to act on itIt was this week 20 years ago that Sega launched its Saturn console in the US, bringing forward the date by several months to beat the original PlayStation to market. Starved of software support and with only a few retailers on board, the ploy failed, and Sony’s machine marched to victory.But the Saturn was a really interesting console, with dozens of great games that still hold up today. Occasionally, they turn up as digital downloads on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, but the best way to experience them is on the original machine – as long as you have some space under your TV.Related: Sega Saturn: how one decision destroyed PlayStation's greatest rival Continue reading...

Lohan Presencer has criticised Spotify before, but he’s just as angry at Universal Music Group and its rivals for their approach to digital musicMinistry of Sound chief executive Lohan Presencer is no fan of music-streaming service Spotify, but in his latest public speech he reserved more criticism for the major labels that license it.“Ever since the 80s and the beginning of the consolidation of the record industry… the way that the people who run those companies are contracted and remunerated and rewarded is all short-term,” said Presencer, speaking in Brighton at a Fireside Sessions event alongside industry conference The Great Escape.Related: Warner Music reveals streaming income has overtaken downloadsRelated: Free streaming is 'killing music industry': Ministry of Sound boss Continue reading...

Belgian data protection agency demands Facebook stops its tracking of users without explicit consent, including through social pluginsThe Belgian privacy commission has told Facebook to stop tracking the internet activities of people who have not registered with the site or have logged out, after a “staggering” report showed alleged breaches of EU privacy law.

Messages such as ‘the media is always lying’ delivered to visitorsThe Washington Post’s mobile website was brought down on Thursday evening, with the Syrian Mobile Army claiming responsibility for the attack.#SEA hacks @Washingtonpost mobile site in order to deliver a message. #SEA pic.twitter.com/CDX5CKSXRk Continue reading...

Agency deployed mass tracking devices across US that could record up to 1,800 license plates a minute, according to internal documents obtained by the ACLU Continue reading...

Addictive King Digital game will come preinstalled on Windows 10, pushing its classic time-wasting predecessors to the curbOffice-worker productivity is likely to take a hit once Windows 10 lands, after Microsoft decided to include Candy Crush Saga alongside the preinstalled classics Minesweeper, Solitaire and Hearts.The freemium match-three game, which propelled British developer King Digital to record heights with users addicted enough to pay to keep playing, will be bundled with Windows 10. Continue reading...

The place to talk about games and other things that matter Continue reading...

Watch the prime minster do the spidey strut, a 102-year-old blow out her teeth and the return of National Lampoon’s Griswold family in Vacation Continue reading...

The online discussion forum said in a blog post that it is ‘unhappy with harassing behavior’ and plans to review individual cases and possibly block usersReddit, the online discussion forum known for its free-wheeling ethos, is enacting an anti-harassment policy while still trying to keep its roots as a place for free expression.Reddit said in a blog post on Thursday that it is “unhappy with harassing behavior” on the site and its survey data shows that users are too. It has been reviewing its community guidelines for the past six months. Continue reading...

Valuable smartwatch lacks activation lock protection fitted on Apple’s iPhone and can be reset without having passcodeConcerns have been raised over the ease with which thieves can reset the Apple Watch, as well as pair it with any iPhone, without the original owner’s permission.

Pilot project uses fibre-optic cables capable of operating more than 100 times faster than national broadband average Continue reading...

Smartphone made by Fujitsu and sold by Japan’s largest mobile phone operator leads the charge towards iris-recognition technologyIris-scanning technology promises to kill the password with the launch of a new smartphone that looks into users’ eyes to unlock it.

Artists will be able to post media and promote one another’s work on Spotify-style service, latest media reports suggestApple’s last attempt at blending digital music and social networking flopped: Ping was unveiled in September 2010 as a way for people to follow friends and musicians within the company’s iTunes store, but shut down two years later after it failed to catch on.Now the company is reportedly planning another crack at social music, as part of its plans to relaunch its Beats Music streaming service in the summer.Related: Why are Apple's music streaming plans arousing the interest of regulators?Artists will also be able to share the content of other artists in an effort of cross-promotion. For example, all-gold Apple Watch wearer Kanye West could promote a new album from Taylor Swift on his Apple Music artist page, if he so chooses.Using iTunes accounts, all users of the streaming music service will be able to comment on and like these posts from big name artists, but users won’t have their own social network profiles like with Ping.”Related: Trent Reznor to be 'point man' for iTunes relaunch Continue reading...

Slight Mad Studios has upped the ante on the modern driving sim experience with this thrilling, single-minded racerThe wait has been long. Delayed more times than Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes contract renewal, Project Cars has finally arrived on the starting grid with a clear desire to make up for lost time.Driving sim fans have been waiting months to hear the roar of this game’s superbly sampled engines, and that’s been hard – particularly for PS4 owners, who haven’t yet had a proper racing simulation to play on their 18-month-old machine. Fortunately, Slightly Mad Studios, a specialist in this most demanding of genres, has ensured that the end result has justified its late arrival. Continue reading...

What would happen if you combined the roguelike and rhythm action genres? Read on to find out – and rejoiceOn the face of it, the roguelike and rhythm-action game genres are not obvious bedfellows. The former is about grinding through endless dungeons, hacking and slashing at enemy monsters, the latter is about hitting buttons in time to music. It’s hard to think of two more opposing video game styles. Maybe first-person shooters and sports management sims? Or massively multiplayer fantasy games and match-three puzzlers?Whatever the case, a small Vancouver studio named Brace Yourself has picked up the, erm, “rhythm roguelike” gauntlet and ran with it.Related: Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review – a rich adventure born in literature Continue reading...

After the huge success of the Mega Drive, Sega was filled with confidence about its future. But then Sony announced PlayStation and everything fell apart Continue reading...

LG’s challenger to the Apple Watch is the most convincing Android Wear device yet, but its design lacks subtletyThe LG Watch Urbane is the Korean company’s third smartwatch in under a year, a shiny, metal-covered, round Android Wear watch to compete with Apple’s Watch – and with a price tag to match.The Urbane is a follow-up to the chunky G Watch R and LG’s second round smartwatch to use its 1.3in plastic OLED screen.Pros: Fast, always-on screen, latest Android Wear, heart rate monitor, Wi-Fi, quality leather watch strap.Cons: Really big, styling is divisive, less than two-day battery, no ambient light sensor, expensive. Continue reading...

From books to Apple Watch, UK developer Six to Start has grand ambitions for its mobile fitness app, but is promising not to ‘turn it into a terrible game’ Continue reading...

Open letter signed by 80 experts in technology and data law argues for more public scrutiny over Google’s handling of removal requestsGoogle needs to be more transparent in the way it handles so-called “right to be forgotten” requests, with 80 leading academics writing an open letter that accuses the firm of developing its policies “in the dark”.In the detailed and strongly worded four-page letter shared with the Guardian, experts in technology law, data protection and philosophy claim that releasing more information about the volume, character and classification of removal requests would benefit the public and help inform a wider global discussion on privacy and personal data.Related: Dear Google: open letter from 80 academics on 'right to be forgotten'Related: Google says it acknowledges some people want 'right to be forgotten' Continue reading...

Politicians to vote on proposal to let retailers accept only card or smartphone payments from 2016 Continue reading...

Former chief of staff to Michael Howard joins taxi company as it battles fierce resistance to expand and float on the stock market

Company also announces other benefits including 15 vacation days and a $4,000 bonus for having a child, as Fight for $15 movement gains steam across the US Continue reading...

The outgoing presenter of Tech Weekly is joined by the tech team to marvel at the last seven years of digital innovation Continue reading...

American startup hopes to kill off pay-as-you-go and cheap mobile phone contracts with free services offering 200 minutes, texts and dataUS mobile phone provider FreedomPop is launching its Sim-only service in the UK - which offers free calls, texts and data.

This vast fantasy adventure combines sophisticated storytelling with an expansive and richly conceived worldGeralt of Rivia was born in literature. The lead character of Witcher 3 first appeared in the fantasy novels of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. But his true home is in video games.As a Witcher, he has many talents, which make him the perfect, pliable protagonist. Geralt is a fine swordsman, able to control both crowds of jabbing bandits and the hulking beasts that he pursues across the countryside for rich bounties. He is an accomplished rider, able to drive a stallion through forests and across shallow rivers – even, sometimes, in formal races on the manicured track – at speed. It’s a necessary skill here in Temeria, which stretches farther than most video game lands, from the fields of Velen, with their stoic windmills and muddles of sunflowers, to the craggy, froth-lapped rocks of the Skellige islands and beyond. Continue reading...

Practice revealed by Edward Snowden – collection of metadata of all US phone calls – being debated