Xbox One: Microsoft won't charge fee for used game licenses, requires online check-in once every 24 hours (update)

Microsoft today unveiled plans to allow used games on its next game console, the Xbox One, ending speculation about fees associated with the process. "Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games," a Q&A regarding Xbox One licensing fees reads. "We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers." There is an exception noted, as the above only applies to Microsoft-published games apparently:

"Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends. Loaning or renting games won't be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners."

You'll also be able to give your games to friends, though you must be friends on Xbox Live for more than 30 days and "each game can only be given once." It's unclear if the game can be given away to subsequent people by the receiver.

Update After the Break.

Samsung unleashes Galaxy S 4 wireless charging kit in the US for $90

Wireless charging sounds mighty convenient if you regularly deal with a jungle of wires, doesn't it? Samsung's wireless charging kit for the S 4 is one option now that it's available in the US. It uses the Qi wireless charging standard, so if you already have a Qi charger, all you'll need to do is grab the backplate for $39.99. Otherwise, you can also snag the charging pad for $49.99. Hit the source for more info if you're convinced this is what you've been waiting for your whole S 4-using life. The components don't seem to be in stock right now -- we couldn't add them to our cart -- but even if you get lucky, you might want to hold off on clicking that Buy Now button until you've seen its alternatives.

Source -Droid Life

Leaked video seems to show Nokia EOS PureView smartphone with mechanical shutter

Don't get your hopes up, because the leaked video after the break is one of the most deliberately constrained pieces of camerawork it's possible to imagine. It avoids showing anything except the mechanical shutter release on the back of a phone that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Nokia EOS photos we covered yesterday, and in fact it comes from @ViziLeaks, who was one of the sources of those images. And, well, that's pretty much all there is to say about it, except that it adds a further bit of weight to the notion that we might see a new version of the PureView 808 camera (which also had a mechanical shutter) on a Nokia Windows Phone sometime soon.

Apple Close to Finishing WWDC 2013 Decorations

Apple is nearly finished decorating the Moscone Center for WWDC 2013. Work began two days ago with giant Apple logos on the outside of the building, as well as large horizontal and street pole banners.

Spotted on some of the banners inside the Moscone Center is the tagline 'Where A Whole New World's Developing'.

Thanks to MacStories for the imagery.


Workers are also preparing the banners that have sometimes been covered with black sheets pre-Keynote in past years.

Update: MacStories has taken a new photo that appears to show a first-floor banner concealed with a white sheet instead of the black sheet that has been seen in prior years.

More After the Break.

Apple to offer its own iPhone trade-in program for the first time

Just off the wires, Apple appears to be ready to offer trade-ins on iPhones for the first timeaccording to Bloomberg. Apple currently offers a free recycling program for older devices but this would seem to follow efforts by companies such as Gazelle, Amazon and others who offer big bucks for older iOS devices and Macs.

Apple Inc. is starting an iPhone trade-in program this month aimed at getting users to upgrade to the iPhone 5 and turn in older models, people with knowledge of the plans said.

Apple has teamed up with Brightstar Corp., a mobile-phone distributor, to run the exchange program, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t publicly announced the plan.

The trade-ins will only be done at Apple Retail Stores and will allow customers to recieve credit instantly. Recently, Best Buy began offering Free iPhone 5s with plan for an iPhone 4 or 4S trade-in. Apple apparently liked the idea – Brightstar counts both Best Buy and Apple amongst its client list. Apple also worked with Brightstar to help AT&T and T-Mobile with their recent trade-in promotions.

Used iPhones collected in the U.S. will only be resold in emerging markets, where Apple’s share is lower and demand for cheap devices is greater according to the report.