Diablo 3 patch 1.0.3 has arrived

Diablo 3 was down last night for the USA server while patch 1.0.3 - which adjusts loot drop rates at high difficulties and overhauls the cost of crafting - launches. It's already back up right now. The patch doesn't launch in Europe and Asia until later today though. The game will be down from 2am GMT/3am CEST on the 20th until noon GMT/1pm CEST - so if you've got urgent business with the Lords of Hell, get it all sorted out this evening. By 'get it all sorted out', I mean 'click on them until they die'.

2DayBlog.com , Diablo 3 patch 1.0.3 has arrived, Diablo 3 patch 1.0.3 has arrived

Japanese research group concocts 3D restoration magic from regular photos (video)

Reconstructing 3D spacial data has long been possible, but convincing the average consumer of that would be another chore entirely. In the future, however, it may be simpler to believe. A crew of researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology are hard at work developing a new system that "quickly creates 3D spacial data from photos taken with a digital camera." According to Assistant Professor Akihito Torii, the method can use JPEGs from a conventional point-and-shoot camera - no specialized equipment needed - which are then shot over to a PC via a wireless Eye-Fi SD card.

Engadget , Japanese research group concocts 3D restoration magic from regular photos (video), Japanese research group concocts 3D restoration magic from regular photos (video)

Flame cyber weapon was jointly developed by U.S. and Israel, report says

We've written about the diabolical Flame malware that reportedly evaded security programs due to its highly complex programming. According to the Washington Post, officials knowledgeable about the subject said that U.S. and Israel jointly developed the sophisticated computer virus. The officials reportedly added that Flame secretly monitored Iran's computer networks while sending back a stream of intelligence to “prepare for a cyberwarfare campaign”. The publication notes that the cyberwarfare campaign is all about disrupting Iran's nuclear weapon development.

Ubergizmo , Flame cyber weapon was jointly developed by U.S. and Israel, report says, Flame cyber weapon was jointly developed by U.S. and Israel, report says

More than 79 banks breached, 50GB of data stolen, hacker claims

. A hacker known as Reckz0r on Twitter announced that he has illegally accessed servers belonging to dozens of large banks. To prove it, the hacker released data relating to Visa and MasterCard credit cards. The data leaked includes full names, addresses, debit or credit card type, phone numbers and email addresses. Reckz0r claims this is only a portion of the data stolen, and the full amount is “about 50GB or bigger” taken from “over 79 large banks” that he has been targeting over the last three months.

Boy Genius Report , More than 79 banks breached, 50GB of data stolen, hacker claims, More than 79 banks breached, 50GB of data stolen, hacker claims

Air Canada makes its first biofuel flight using 50% cooking oil

Air Canada, the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, has achieved its first feat to conduct a test-flight using 50% biofuel made from cooking oil. Fuel company SkyNRG provided the biofuel for Air Canada. In a press release prior to the flight, the airline said that Flight AC991 from Toronto to Mexico City is expected to generate at least 40 percent fewer emissions by using jet fuel derived from recycled cooking oil and through other fuel-saving measures, making it the most environmentally-friendly flight ever flown by Air Canada.

Ubergizmo , Air Canada makes its first biofuel flight using 50% cooking oil, Air Canada makes its first biofuel flight using 50% cooking oil

Samsung coughs up source code for AT&T and T-Mobile Galaxy S IIIs

We've gotta hand it to Sammy, the company has been pretty good at releasing source code for its handsets in a timely manner. Just a few days ahead of the launch of the SGH-I747M and SGH-T999V (the Galaxy S III on AT&T and T-Mobile, respectively) Samsung Mobile has let the Android 4.0 source for the two devices loose on the web. For the average user, piles of code like this mean very little, but it should make it easier for those crafty devs out there to whip up some top-notch custom ROMs.

Engadget , Samsung coughs up source code for AT&T and T-Mobile Galaxy S IIIs, Samsung coughs up source code for AT&T and T-Mobile Galaxy S IIIs

Facebook warms to subscription billing for devs, backs away from Credits as main currency

Subscriptions. It's the wave of the future, man. It's also the wave that Facebook's now riding, as it has just announced plans to enable developers to offer subscription payment services starting in July. In other words, devs that charge monthly for a premium edition of a title will be able to accept automated payments so long as the user continues their subscription. Without question, it's bound to be attractive to prospective app builders, and moreover, Facebook's about-face on Credits as the primary payment method will be met with praise, too.

Engadget , Facebook warms to subscription billing for devs, backs away from Credits as main currency, Facebook warms to subscription billing for devs, backs away from Credits as main currency