Samsung Electronics Forecasts 25 Percent Fall in Q2 Operating Profit

Samsung Electronics Forecasts 25 Percent Fall in Q2 Operating Profit

Agence France-Presse

NDTV

Samsung estimated Tuesday that its operating profit would plunge nearly 25 percent on year in the second quarter of 2014, as cheap Chinese devices and a strong won hammered down its share of the global smartphone market.

Operating profit was estimated at 7.2 trillion won ($7.1 billion) for the April-June period, compared to 9.53 trillion won a year ago - the South Korean electronic giant's third straight quarter of year-on-year decline.

The Q2 operating profit was down 15.2 percent from the 8.49 trillion won posted in the previous quarter.

The profit drop had been widely expected, but Tuesday's forecast still missed collated analyst estimates.

Samsung did not provide net income or details of division earnings ahead of the official earnings report to be filed later this month.

In an unusual move, Tuesday's forecast was accompanied by an explanatory note that the company said was to "address market and investor concerns" prior to the audited earnings release.

"The company witnessed a slowdown in the overall smartphone market growth and saw increased competition in the Chinese and some European markets," the note said.

"This led to higher inventories for the medium- and low-end smartphones," it said, adding that earnings had also been hit by the appreciation of the Korean won against the dollar, euro and most emerging market currencies.

The surging won is currently running at six-year highs against the dollar, impacting South Korea's export-driven economy.

Sales in April-June stood at 52 trillion won, down 9.5 percent from a year earlier, and 3.1 percent from the first quarter.

Price competition in China
Samsung said it "cautiously expects" a more positive outlook in the third quarter with the release of its new smartphone lineup, and a much lower marketing spend compared to the second quarter.

The company acknowledged that "price competition" in China had boosted inventory in a crucial smartphone market - a situation exacerbated by weaker demand in Europe.

Alarm bells have been sounding for a while over Samsung's reliance on smartphone sales in mature markets such as Europe and the United States, and increasingly competitive emerging markets like China.

The world's largest smartphone maker has a diverse product line ranging from memory chips to home appliances, but more than half of its profits are generated by mobile devices.

"Samsung is suffering from a global market shift toward low-end products and it had to up its marketing spend to reduce the inventory of its high-end handsets," said Noh Geun-Chang, an analyst at HMC Investment Securities

"The fundamental problem for Samsung is that the global handset market has become saturated and demand is moving toward low-priced handsets, where there is intense competition, especially from China," Noh said.

April saw the global roll-out of the latest version of its flagship Galaxy series smartphone, the Galaxy S5  which came with a free premium software bundle valued at more than $500 as Samsung sought to pull in buyers tempted by cheaper models from Chinese rivals like Lenovo.

Initial sales of the S5 were positive, although critics said it offered little in the way of real innovation to set it apart from chief high-end rival Apple, and the new Chinese phones.

There is a general consensus that smartphone evolution has hit a barrier that will only allow incremental improvements on existing design and technology, rather than market-changing reinvention.

Samsung maintained a leading position in the global smartphone market in the first quarter of 2014, but its market share fell for the first time in four years to 31.2 percent from 32.4 percent a year ago.

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Google's Brazil vs Germany Doodle on Tuesday Showcases 'Vanishing Spray'

Google's Brazil vs Germany Doodle on Tuesday Showcases 'Vanishing Spray'

The vanishing spray (used to demarcate the defensive wall) was one of the few new things that spectators got to see at the ongoing World Cup 2014 in Brazil. And Google has chosen to highlight the spray (albeit in a slightly different manner) with its Brazil vs Germany doodle on Tuesday. The semi-final match, which is being dubbed as the final before the final, is expected to be a closely contested one given that both the teams are in the top five rankings under Fifa.

The Brazil vs Germany match doodle features the six letters standing in a line forming a defensive wall. The defensive wall is technically supposed to be 10 yards (9.15 metres) away from the ball. The green and canary yellow ball is seeing lying on the field some distance away. The letter 'R' which denotes the referee uses a vanishing spray can to draw the line, with the only difference being it is not vanishing spray but a can of shaving foam. It then proceeds to spray the same foam on the face of the first 'G' which sports a big beard and a handlebar moustache. It then removes a razor blade signifying that the 'G' needs a shave.

The Brazil vs Germany doodle is number 54 on the list of Google's World Cup 2014 doodles. It is visible in North and South America, as well as parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, along with Australia and New Zealand. It is not visible in Russia, North, East and West Africa and Central America. Clicking on the doodle one is taken to the search results page for the Brazil vs Germany match. It will be played at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte. The two teams had last met in the finals of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, where Brazil had clinically polished off Germany 3-0. Germany has made it to the semi-finals of the last four World Cups and have been described by the international media as 'Frighteningly Consistent'.

In many ways the Brazil vs Germany match is one of unknown strengths and weaknesses for both teams to explore and exploit. For Brazil it is the short passing style combined with rapid pace and skills, while for the Nationalmannschaft it is about moving forward in a very close knit structure and even hounding in on attacking opposition players by using a three-on-one defending approach. Also with Neymar Jr. (the face of the World Cup in Brazil) getting ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a broken third vertebra and captain Thiago Silva missing a match due to a suspension, it will be an interesting battle to watch Brazil take on Germany. The match will be telecast live on July 9.

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Skype 5.2 for iPhone Brings Back Voice Messaging Support and Profiles

Skype 5.2 for iPhone Brings Back Voice Messaging Support and Profiles

by Hitesh Arora,
NDTV

Skype has brought back support for voice messaging and profiles in its latest update (version 5.2) for its iPhone app. These features were removed by the company when it had launched Skype 5.0 'Remastered for iPhone', last month.

Now based on user feedback, Microsoft decided to bring back the features in Skype 5.2. The company wrote on its blog, saying that, "We have been reading and listening to your feedback ever since we launched the new remastered Skype for iPhone and have been hard at work incorporating your suggestions."

The features on the iPhone app are no different for Skype users on Android. With Skype 5.2 for iPhone, users can send and receive a new voice message, and it will appear in the conversation. The profile feature can be accessed from the menu and it enables users to details like Skype name, birthday, location and more.

Additionally, to initiate a one-to-one conversation, users can tap on the contact name in the header. For adding more participants to an existing conversation, users can go to the menu and then tap on the 'Add participants' option.

Previous features of Skype 5.1 are also included in Skype 5.2 by the company. So the features like the ability to delete a conversation, edit a message and a 'Skype'-only contact filter are there in the app too.

The company said it had rewritten Skype 5.0 'from the ground up,' and had claimed that it is 'over 5 times faster than the old version.' The Skype 5.0 UI was revamped to be consistent with the Android and Windows Phone devices. It had removed the classic tab bar and had included large and colourful buttons to Skype 5.0 which will also remain in Skype 5.2.

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Angry Birds Transformers Game Announced With Autobirds and Deceptihogs

Angry Birds Transformers Game Announced With Autobirds and Deceptihogs

by Rohan 

NDTV

Avian Prime. Deceptive Porcatron. These and more might be the newest offerings from Rovio as it announces the latest game from its Angry Birds stables. Angry Birds Transformers will according to the Finland-based game maker feature a battle between the Autobirds (inspired by the Transformer's Autobots) and the Deceptihogs (Decepticons).

The announcement comes barely days after Rovio launched Angry Birds Epic game - a role-playing, medieval-themed version of their largely successful franchise.

In the official press release, Rovio says Angry Birds Transformers game will come to life in the form of products line from Hasbro (the toymakers that own the brand), licensed consumer goods and the mobile game. "We're really excited to combine the iconic Transformers universe with the quirky world of Angry Birds" says Blanca Juti, Chief Marketing Officer of Rovio, adding, "This mash-up is going to appeal to those who grew up with the brand in the 80s, as well as fans of the brand today. People are going to love it!"

So what can audiences expect from it? According to Rovio, plenty. There will be autobot birds and decepticon pigs. There is no word on the gameplay thus far, but transforming birds might not need a slingshot to launch themselves against the green tyrants. It might be important to note that Rovio broke the traditional mould with Angry Birds Epic. Also Angry Birds Star Wars, Angry Birds Star Wars II have been other spin-offs of movie franchises.

The Angry Birds Transformers website as of now only mentions 'Birds Disguised as Robots in Disguise' and 'Coming Soon to App Stores'. It could signify that post the release of Angry Birds Stella Game this fall, Angry Birds Transformers could be a release for the holiday season. Till then it will be all about building the anticipation for when the Autobirds and Deceptihogs assemble.

Later this year Hasbro will also introduce a product line featuring Telepods technology which will enable fans to "teleport their favorite Angry Birds Transformers characters into the game and gain unique powers". The Telepods line will also be released for Angry Birds Stella in September.

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Android-Based 'Nokia by Microsoft' Lumia Smartphone Coming Soon:

Android-Based 'Nokia by Microsoft' Lumia Smartphone Coming Soon:

by Robin Sinha,

NDTV

Microsoft might be planning a surprise for its fans by making an Android-powered Lumia smartphone flaunting the "Nokia by Microsoft" branding. A report also show the recently talked-about Lumia 830 to come with a 'Nokia by Microsoft' brandname.

While we have been hearing much the "Nokia by Microsoft" brand name since last month, this is the first time we have come across a new rumour indicating the Redmond-based firm to make a Lumia handset running its rival, Google's Android OS.

This news comes from the famous tipster @evleaks, who states "Big news: Android-powered Lumia incoming, from Nokia by Microsoft" on its website.

We don't know whether this too, like Nokia X range of handsets, will be a new venture or a fully Android integrated device with a direct access to Google Play. Of course, the leaked information must be taken with a pinch of salt.

In related news, a report from Windows Blog Italia (via Slashgear) shows a rendered image of therecently leaked Nokia Lumia 830 smartphone with a 'Nokia by Microsoft' branded on its back panel.

However, since the branding was not seen on the leaked images, it is hard to be certain based on an unofficial rendered image until the final product arrives. The Nokia Lumia 830, which was spotted in leaked images recently, is rumoured to be a mid-range smartphone that might feature a 4.3-inch display and 13-megapixel PureView camera like the Nokia Lumia 1020.

The rumour mills indicate that Microsoft might launch three new Windows Phone 8.1 devices this year, codenamed 'Superman', 'McLaren', and 'Rock'. Previously a report had claimed that the rumoured Microsoft Nokia Superman will come with a 4.7-inch display and can be expected to launch by the end of this year. The smartphone is said to be the company's first selfie-focused Windows Phone.

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HTC Desire 616 With Dual-SIM Support and Octa-Core SoC Launched

HTC Desire 616 With Dual-SIM Support and Octa-Core SoC Launched

by Robin Sinha,

NDTV

First leaked in the month of March, the octa-core processor running HTC Desire 616 has now been launched in Singapore for price tag of SGD 298 (roughly Rs. 14,335).

Listed on HTC's Hong-Kong website, the Desire 616 has been reported to have also been launched in China, and is now on sale across North Asia, South Asia and Russia also, as per The Next Web.

It has been further reported that the Taiwanese smartphone maker currently has no plans on making the Desire 616 available anywhere outside Asia for now, as per an HTC spokesperson. For now, the company has not provided the Android version the phone runs on.

As per the listing, the HTC Desire 616 smartphone sports a 5-inch display with an HD (720x1280 pixels) resolution. The dual-SIM smartphone supports one regular SIM, and one Micro-SIM.

The smartphone is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. While the processor is unspecified on the website, our previous report indicated the handset to feature aMediaTek-made octa-core processor.

Besides housing an 8-megapixel rear and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, the HTC Desire 616 is also capable of recording full-HD resolution video. While the smartphone comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, it can also house up to 32GB external storage via microSD card.

The wireless connectivity options for the Desire 616 feature Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, GPRS/ EDGE and 3G. Available in White and Black colour variants, the smartphone is backed by a 2000mAh battery, which is rated to give up to 14 hours of talktime in 3G connectivity. Desire 616 measures 142x71.9x9.15mm and weighs 150 grams.

Last week, HTC announced the dual-SIM variant of its flagship, called HTC One (M8) Dual SIM, priced at EUR 799 (approximately Rs. 65,100) for select markets. Other than the dual-SIM capabilities, the HTC One (M8) Dual SIM offers the same specifications as the single-SIM variant.

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Alleged iPad Air 2 Dummy Model Spotted With Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

Alleged iPad Air 2 Dummy Model Spotted With Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
by Robin Sinha
NDTV

Looks like the Apple's much-anticipated iPad Air 2 is finally taking some shape, as some mock-up images of the yet-to-be-announced tablet have popped-up online.

As indicated by the Apple analyst - KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo - in May, as well as another report last month, the latest iPad Air 2 images corroborate the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor, which was first seen on the iPhone 5s smartphone

.The latest leaked images, coming from a Japanese publication known as ASCII Plus (via GforGames), not only show the fingerprint sensor inclusion, but also gives us some design clues on what the final next-generation Apple iPad Air might look like. Notably, the Apple logo is seen to be missing from the back panel.

The alleged iPad Air 2 dummy model, when kept on top of the existing iPad Air tablet, seems almost 1mm thinner. The speaker grills on the bottom has changed to bigger circles in one

row from the smaller circles in two rows. The height and breadth of the alleged Apple iPad Air 2 remains the same as the original iPad Air. However, the rear camera has been shifted more towards the corner.

Last week, the much-talked about iPhone 6'sfront panel was leaked in a video.

 The video showcased two front panels (4.7-inch and 5.5-inch) and further corroborate what's has been widely expected based on earlier leaks, that the next iPhone handsets will come with curved edges.

The alleged 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant is likely to feature a 128GB storage variant, alongside 32GB and 64GB models, which will be reportedly company's attempt to differentiate the bigger iPhone model from other phones in the company's line-up.

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iPhone 6 Battery Sizes Tipped; Foxconn Using Robots to Manufacture:

iPhone 6 Battery Sizes Tipped; Foxconn Using Robots to Manufacture: 

by Hitesh Arora

NDTV

While the tech world is expecting Apple's next generation iPhone to come in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display models, based on the numerous consistent leaks, a whole new set of rumours from China indicates the battery sizes of the two variants.

According to the Chinese website Sohu, the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will pack a battery capacity between 1800mAh and 1900mAh, while the larger 5.5-inch version iPhone 6 (rumoured iPhone Air) will pack a 2500mAh battery.

As the rumour mill is churning out new iPhone 6 leaks on a daily basis, at this point the , even though this rumour is from China where the device is being manufactured. Last week, a report had suggested a new September 15 launch day for the alleged 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models, while retail availability will begin on September 25. It had also claimed that the name of the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant will be called the iPhone Air.

Reportedly, China will also be amongst the first countries to receive the iPhone. The report also details the pricing, which matches previous leaks, claiming the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 (32GB) will cost CNY 5,288 (roughly Rs. 50,800), while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 (16GB) will be priced at CNY 5,998 (roughly Rs. 57,600).

On Friday, an alleged leaked video was circulated over the internet showcasing the alleged iPhone 6front panels with curved edges.

The video also compared the front glass panels of the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model sporting thinner bezels to the current iPhone 5s with slightly broad bezels. In the video, the uploader is seen comparing the single hand experience on the iPhone 5s and the unannounced 4.7-inch iPhone 6.

According to another report from Chinese website Ithome, Apple's iPhone manufacturer Foxconn will allegedly use some 10,000 robots named 'Foxbots' into its assembly line process for the iPhone 6 production.

The company is currently in the final testing stages of the robots and each robot will manufacture 30,000 iPhone 6 smartphones, said Hon Hai Group's CEO Terry Gou at the annual shareholders meeting, according to the report. Gou also informed that each 'Foxbot' is dedicated to this project will cost $20,000 to $25,000, and the company has no plans of selling them.

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Lumia 1525 Tipped to Feature Snapdragon 801, Nokia by Microsoft Branding

Lumia 1525 Tipped to Feature Snapdragon 801, Nokia by Microsoft Branding

Microsoft is rumoured to launch the successor to its flagship phablet, the Lumia 1520, under the new 'Nokia by Microsoft' branding, and call it the Lumia 1525.

According to serial tipster @evleaks, the Lumia 1525 is a Windows Phone 8.1-powered device and will have a Snapdragon 801 instead of the Snapdragon 800 seen on the Lumia 1520 (Review | Pictures). Microsoft is also said to be partnering with AT&T and Verizon in US as carriers, besides T-Mobile.

"The Lumia 1525 from Nokia by Microsoft is a Windows Phone 8.1-powered 1520 with the SoC upgraded to a Snapdragon 801. Besides T-Mobile, it's also going to - wait for it, wait for it - AT&T and Verizon," wrote the tipster.

Unfortunately that's all the information available about the alleged Lumia 1525 as of now. We also recently heard of a new alleged Lumia smartphone that reportedly runs on Android, and sports the 'Nokia by Microsoft' branding.

Previously, another alleged smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 830, was spotted in leaked images recently. It is rumoured to be a mid-range smartphone that might feature a 4.3-inch display and 13-megapixel PureView camera like the Nokia Lumia 1020.

The rumour mills also suggests that Microsoft might launch three new Windows Phone 8.1 devices this year, codenamed 'Superman', 'McLaren', and 'Rock'. Previously a report had claimed that therumoured Microsoft Nokia Superman will come with a 4.7-inch display and can be expected to launch by the end of this year. The smartphone is said to be the company's first selfie-focused Windows Phone.

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Dribblers Messi and Robben face off in semifinal

Dribblers Messi and Robben face off in semifinal

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The World Cup's best dribblers - Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben - face off when Argentina and Netherlands meet in the semifinals.
In Brazil, Robben has been quick, Messi has been quicksilver.
On Wednesday in Sao Paulo, either one could turn the semifinal with a dazzling turn of pace or a weaving run to propel his team to the final.

''We have to cut the supply line to Messi,'' Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi told Dutch website Nu.nl.
The Barcelona star led Argentina through the group stage with four goals. He has also made 180 passes in his five matches so far.
The Dutch have shared the goal-scoring duties more evenly - Robben and Robin van Persie each have three, Memphis Depay has two of the team's total of 12 - but the Bayern Munich winger's scintillating sprints with the ball have often been the highlights of Oranje matches

''We know that we will play against one of the best teams when it comes to counterattacks because of the speed of their men up front,'' Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. ''So we have to take precautions to not give them the possibility to counterattack, to always be well positioned, to not lose balls unnecessarily in areas where there's a lot of risk.''

After scoring 10 times in group play, the Netherlands has managed only two in its two knock-out matches and the Dutch will be hoping captain Van Persie regains his touch in front of goal. He looked off the pace and missed an easy chance near the end of regulation time in the quarterfinal against Costa Rica.

The Netherlands will again be without their powerful midfield controller Nigel de Jong, who has a torn groin muscle. A possible replacement, Leroy Fer, is recovering from a hamstring injury and it is not clear if he will be fit for Wednesday's semifinal at the Itaquerao Stadium.

Argentina will be without Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, who limped off in the first half of his country's quarterfinal win over Belgium with a right thigh injury, but striker Sergio Aguero has been declared fit after recovering from a similar problem.

Di Maria scored the extra-time winner against Switzerland in the second round and set up Gonzalo Higuain's winning goal in the first half against Belgium on Saturday.
''He's a good player, but we look at the whole team, not one player,'' Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen said. ''We're going to watch ... how Argentina plays. We're going to make our plan to beat Argentina.''
Whether that plan again could involve Cillessen being substituted a minute before a penalty shootout and replaced with the more physically imposing Tim Krul - as happened against Costa Rica - remains to be seen.
The move by tactical mastermind Louis van Gaal was the World Cup's most surprising substitution and one of its most effective as Krul stopped two penalties.
''We are ready for everything,'' Krul said. ''Hopefully, we don't need it against Argentina and we can do the job in 90 minutes.''

The two sides have a long World Cup history, including one of the Netherlands' most heart-breaking losses, in the 1978 final when Rob Rensenbrink's shot hit the post shortly before full time with the scores level at 1-1. Argentina went on to win 3-1 in extra time.
In 1998, the Dutch led by Guus Hiddink got a measure of revenge when Dennis Bergkamp's memorable goal knocked Argentina out in the quarterfinals in France.
Cillessen said beating Argentina in Sao Paulo would only be a step on the way to making amends for the 1978 final - one of three the Netherlands has lost, earning the Dutch the title of the best team never to win the World Cup.
''It would be revenge if we win the World Cup,'' Cillessen said. ''But we have to wait for that. It's not a final. It's a semi.''

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Dubai Is Obviously Building the World's Biggest Mall

Dubai Is Obviously Building the World's Biggest Mall

GIZMODO

Since building something that's conventional is out of the question for Dubai, the second-largest United Arab Emirates city announced today that it's breaking ground on the world's largest shopping mall.

In a grand announcement made by the emirate's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, "substantial work" has begun on the aptly titled "Mall of the World." However, details such as a targeted completion date, its cost, and where the financing would come from weren't disclosed. Plans for the mega-mall were originally announced 18 months ago.

And from what Gulf News reports, it sounds impressive. The eight-million square feet facility will house the world's largest indoor theme park, several theaters, a four-mile long "retail street network," around 100 hotels, and a medical facility if you plan to shop until you drop.
For those keeping track at home, the mall is roughly one million square feet bigger than current record-keeper: New South China Mall in city of Dongguan. Also, it's more than two-and-a-half times bigger than our lowly Mall of America.
With stats like that, we can only imagine how anxiety-inducing the H&M is going to be.

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Civilization:Beyond Earth Strategy Game Releasing for PC on October 24

Civilization:Beyond Earth Strategy Game Releasing for PC on October 24

NDTV

by Robin Sinha

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, a science fiction-themed turn-based 4X strategy game, will hit stores for PC starting October 24 this year.

The news comes via an official announcement by 2K Games and Firaxis Games, who also announced that Civilization franchise fans who pre-order the game would receive the Exoplanets Map Pack, which includes six custom maps inspired by real exoplanets.

"Fans who pre-order Civilization: Beyond Earth from participating retailers will receive the Exoplanets Map Pack, which includes six custom maps inspired by real exoplanets, at launch," states the official press release.

The six maps included in the Exoplanets Map Pack includes planets like Kepler 186f, Rigil Khantoris Bb, Tau Ceti d, Mu Arae f, 82 Eridani e, and Eta Vulpeculae b. More information is available on thegame's page.

Priced at $50 (roughly Rs. 3,000), Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth was first demonstrated at theE3 2014 event. The title is set in the future, where amidst the destabilized world, some re-developed nations focus on deep space travel in search of resources and a new beginning for mankind.

The users would get to choose their cultural identity from 8 different sponsors, each with its own benefits. They would have to colonize the planet and build a society taming new forms of life, developing cities and more. The game also gives users the privilege to unlock new upgrades and customize their units. Civilization: Beyond Earth also supports multiplayer gameplay with up to 8 players at a time.

"Civilization: Beyond Earth will propel the development of humanity beyond the traditional timeline of a Civilization game by exploring the future of mankind on an alien world. For the first time, players will lead factions divided by contrasting cultures and evolve their new civilizations to reflect their chosen style of play. Players will experience an array of new gameplay possibilities, including nonlinear technology progression through the new Tech Web, the introduction of a new Orbital Layer, and a new Quest system that will unlock additional details about the alien world in addition to new resources and upgrades," states the press release.

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