Now that Microsoft is offering free games each month to Xbox One owners with Live Gold subscriptions, Sony is in a tough spot — how does it get you to buy a console and sign up for PlayStation Plus? By giving you more games, that’s what. As of June, Plus members get two games per month for every PlayStation platform they use, whether it’s a PS3 , PS4 or Vita . Availability will also be more consistent as of July. From then on, you’ll see the new Plus titles arrive (and old titles phase out) on the first Tuesday of a given month. The usual gotcha for Plus applies. Unlike Microsoft’s program, which lets you hold on to games even after your subscription lapses, Sony’s service requires that you keep shelling out to continue playing any giveaways. It’s not a perfect deal, then, but it’s hard to object to getting additional games at no extra charge. Filed under: Gaming , Sony Comments Source: PlayStation Blog

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Got PlayStation Plus? You’re now getting two games every month

Ever since the rumors first broke that Apple wanted to buy Beats for $3 billion, the masses have uttered one universal word: Why? Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue and Beats CEO and co-founder Jimmy Iovine sat down with Recode’s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the Code Conference to discuss the confirmed news. Not wasting any time, the execs got right into it. According to Cue, there were three overall reasons why the company did it: Talent, great headphones (something many folks will debate) and Beats Music. “It was a no-brainer for us, ” said Cue, outlining the three reasons in more detail. First, Cue says the Beats team is sensational, and will be a perfect fit for Apple; additionally, Dr. Dre is an incredible artist with an incredible ear. Second, Cue notes that Beats has great headphones that do a great job at making music sound good. Finally, he also mentioned that this is the “first music subscription service done right.” To Cue, the magic is in the ability to curate songs and listen to playlists. Developing… Filed under: Cellphones , Wireless , Mobile , Apple Comments

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This is why Apple bought Beats

Few things in this world are as moving as a potent mix of nostalgia and passion. Don’t just take my word for it: just look at the more than 22, 000 people who backed LeVar Burton’s vision of bringing Reading Rainbow to the web on Kickstarter. That’s more than a million dollars raised in less than a day, and it’s all to help kids realize that theeeeeey can be anythiiiiiiiiing . This isn’t the first time Reading Rainbow has been brought back to life since it left public airwaves in 2009 — Burton and company launched a Reading Rainbow iPad app nearly two years ago. The real issue here is access. Wanting to teach kids the joy of reading is a noble goal, but affecting change on a wider scale requires more than just hardware designed in California and assembled in China. Now that the team has shattered its funding goal, they’re going to make the books and “video field trips” from the app available on the web, and craft a version specifically meant for classrooms. Alas, Reading Rainbow’s public television days have long since passed, so you’ll actually have to pay a subscription fee for all that fine content. LeVar’s looking out for the disadvantaged too, though — the team plans to make that web version available for free in underprivileged schools. Perhaps the best part of the entire campaign (erm, besides getting kids excited about books)? All the Star Trek backer goodies Burton has on offer. On the off-chance you’ve got $10, 000 burning a hole in your wallet, you’ll be able to don Burton’s straight-from-the-set VISOR from Star Trek: The Next Generation (and without the risk of being called to Engineering to diagnose a warp core hiccup). Comments Source: Kickstarter

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Backers pledge over $1 million to bring Reading Rainbow to the web