News::Microsoft uses 'Minecraft' to teach your kid how to code

You can get kids to do a lot if you promise them Minecraft... just ask parents who've watched their children race through chores to get some building time. And Microsoft knows this, too. It just released a tutorial for Code.org that uses Minecraft to teach the basics of computer programming. Instead of pointing and clicking to smash your way through the landscape, you construct a string of commands using code-like snippets such as "turn left" and "destroy block." This hopefully shows your young ones how programming can be both fun and relevant -- it's not just some boring thing you do to make money. Many students will try this when the next Hour of Code kicks off on December 7th, but you can visit the website today if your kids can't wait to give it a shot.

Via: GeekWire

Source: Code.org, Microsoft in Education Blog

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/1WX6i3q

News::Twitch private messages make their way to mobile

Twitch introduced its private messaging, dubbed Whisper, almost six months ago and now the system is rolling out to mobile. Like normal, a small number of Android users will get the functionality first and Twitch says that once its gathered enough feedback for a full deployment, the feature will hit iOS. If you get the notification to update the app, you're in; otherwise there's nothing else you have to do. The live-streaming service announced some big changes to its video-on-demand section at TwitchCon this year and those are starting to come to fruition, as well. Support for thumbnail editing is live for everyone. Sadly, you can't upload your own images though. Instead, Twitch will auto-generate a quartet of thumbnails for any past broadcasts -- generous! Twitch says that further customization options are coming down the pike. Should you need something to hold you over until then, well, there are always Bob Ross Mondays.

Source: Twitch blog (1), (2)

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/1MOsXZ5

News::Xbox One update brings back Xbox 360's universal controller settings

You don't need to drop $150 on the Xbox One Elite controller to get access to one of its most prominent features: remapping the gamepad's buttons. Tucked away inside the Xbox One's new Windows 10-flavored menus is the app for changing what buttons do what on your standard Xbox One controller as well. Perhaps most notably? You can permanently invert the Y-axis (controlled with the right analog stick by default) to make aiming and moving the camera in third-person and first-person games, respectively, more to your liking. That feature is something that the Xbox 360 had at launch with its "game defaults" options that appeared during initial setup for the system. In terms of how the app works from the Elite to the vanilla controller, it's pretty similar aside from not being able to adjust thumbstick and trigger sensitivity. You'll find the new addition under Settings > Ease of Access > Button Mapping.

Source: Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/1OcFFjw