Apple : Don't miss out on the chance to save up to £324 with these Sky TV and broadband deals |
- Don't miss out on the chance to save up to £324 with these Sky TV and broadband deals
- Netflix shuts down all shows due to coronavirus safety, including Stranger Things season 4
- Apex Legends Season 4: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more
- The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors
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| Don't miss out on the chance to save up to £324 with these Sky TV and broadband deals Posted: 15 Mar 2020 01:15 PM PDT To be frank, Sky doesn't always have lowest priced broadband deals. But with the company's latest offers, you can save up to 25% on a duo of Sky TV and broadband deals. With these deals, you can choose between either paying £37 a month for Sky's Superfast TV Bundle or £68 a month to go all out on Superfast, Sports & Cinema. Click here to go to Sky's website and bag any of these amazing deals Whichever one you go for, you'll be connected to Sky's superfast 59Mb (average speed) fibre broadband - which could come in pretty handy if you're expecting to be working from home for the foreseeable future. And the access to the likes of Sky Atlantic, means plenty of binge-worthy series such as Westworld, Avenue 5, Breeders and Chernobyl. Want to find out more? Keep scrolling to read these deals in full - although if you're sold we recommend you bag these bargains quickly as we're not sure when they'll expire. And if neither are the right offer for you, make sure you check out our best broadband and TV deals guide.
The Sky TV and broadband deals in fullWhat else can I get with Sky broadband?Apart from getting superfast average download speeds of 59Mb that are perfectly suited for busy households or streaming, you can customise your package. Sky has several add-ons that you can select as you choose your package, some of which include Netflix, Multiscreen, BT Sport, Kids and many more! And if you're also in the market for a new TV to enjoy all this content on, we can help you save a lot of money and get the best price via our roundup of the latest cheap TV deals. Today's best broadband dealsWant to continue your hunt for your household's perfect broadband deals? Then click the link to head to our dedicated guide, or simply cast you eyes downwards to our broadband comparison... This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Netflix shuts down all shows due to coronavirus safety, including Stranger Things season 4 Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:52 AM PDT Netflix has shut down production on all of its US and Canada-shot shows and movies for at least two weeks, "due to government restrictions and health/safety precautions". That includes Stranger Things season 4, on top of other original shows. Over the last few days, pretty much all Hollywood studios have done the same thing, including movies like The Batman and the live-action Disney version of The Little Mermaid. Right now, of course, safety is paramount. For Stranger Things specifically, production on the show began in February. Any concerns of how it might affect release dates of future Netflix shows isn't worth thinking about, really: for one, we don't know how long coronavirus is going to delay everything right now, including Hollywood productions. And secondly, Netflix doesn't usually reveal return dates for its shows until around a month before release, so the exact effects probably won't be easy to measure in the short term. Not that you'll have a dearth of content to enjoy in the meantime: this past week, Netflix released Elite season 3, Kingdom season 2, On My Block season 3 and Dirty Money season 2. Mark Wahlberg movie Spenser Confidential released earlier in the month, too. Thanks, EW. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apex Legends Season 4: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:48 AM PDT EA surprised many with the sudden announcement of Apex Legends back in February 2019, a free-to-play battle royale shooter that sees the publisher going toe-to-toe with genre mammoths PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite Battle Royale. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing. However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on one of eight classes, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch and you’ll be on the right track.) Apex Legends has now celebrated one year of play and is into its fourth season, Assimilation, which began on February 4 2020. If you're new to Apex Legends and looking to see what you're missing or you've dropped off the map for a while and you'd like to catch up on the latest, we're here to keep you up to date on what's fresh in Apex Legends.
As we said in our full Apex Legends review: "Truth be told, the Battle Royale movement has never quite grabbed me. I dabbled in PUBG and spent a dozen hours or so with Fortnite, yet nothing ever quite stuck the landing. Apex though, has got me hook, line and sinker. Featuring intuitive controls, an outstanding comms system and remarkable rogue’s gallery, Respawn has created what feels like the AAA outing for the genre." Apex Legends update news
First Global Series Major suspended EA has announced that it's suspending its live esports events, including Apex Legends' first Global Series Major, due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. Calling the outbreak "unprecedented" in its official announcement, EA said suspensions will be in place from March 13 until the global "situation improves" in order to protect all of those involved in the esport. EA has said the suspension "includes EA-operated events as well as third-party events run under license from EA. Additionally, this includes all competitive gaming content except for broadcasts that can be individually produced remotely. Online events, where participants and staff are remote and separated will continue." It's important to note, however, that the second Global Series Online Tournament will still go ahead on March 21 and 23. System Override The next Apex Legends event has been announced: System Override. Running from March 3 to March 17, System Override introduces a new limited time mode called Deja Loot. In this mode there's one ring pattern per day and loot spawns will be permanent, so if you find something good in one match, it'll be there the next as long as someone else doesn't get to it before you. This limited time mode should make strategising more interesting and is playable on the World's Edge map for the first week of the event before moving to Kings Canyon for the second week. While playing Deja Loot, there's a chance to find a new shield called the Evo Shield. Initially, it's not particularly powerful but it becomes stronger as you damage other players and there are four levels of strength through which you can build. Respawn is looking to gather player feedback on the Evo Shield to see if and how it might add it to the rest of the game outside of Deja Loot. Like January's Grand Soiree event, System Override has an Exclusive Prize Track through which players can earn rewards. This time, though, it's been improved with more rewards and more frequent challenges to complete. There's up to 1000 points per challenge set up for grabs and the sets will refresh daily. As a Collection Event, System Override also has a set of 24 themed, limited-time cosmetics. All of the items can be purchased directly or found in Event Apex Packs, with each Event Pack containing one event item and two non-event items. Players who unlock all 24 items will also unlock an Octane Heirloom set for free. Apex Legends AssimilationAs of February 4 2020, Apex Legends: Assimilation is underway. So what's new? Well, there's a new Legend, a new weapon, some map changes and an all new Battle Pass to get started on. Read on for a rundown of what to expect. New Legend As with previous seasons, Apex Legends Season 4 has introduced a brand new Legend. This time, things went a little differently. Originally, Forge, a robotically enhanced fighter was introduced as the legend for Season 4. However, he was then murdered and replaced by Revenant (the character fans long-suspected to be the Season 4 legend anyway). Revenant, also known somewhat more tellingly as the "synthetic nightmare" was once human and the "greatest hitman the Mercenary Syndicate ever had". But when his programming failed, he saw what his employers and Hammond Robotics had turned him into: "a walking nightmare of steel and vestigial flesh.” Revenant vowed to get revenge and killed everyone involved in ruining his life. Now, two centuries later Hammond Robotics has returned to the Outlands and he's renewed his vow to take out anyone involved with Hammond Robotics. Those familiar with the Titanfall universe will know Hammond Robotics as the creators of the Titans and it seems that they're going to be playing a bigger role in Apex Legends this season. As far as abilities are concerned, Revenant's tactical ability is "Silence" which allows his to throw a device that deals damage and disables enemy abilities for ten seconds. His passive ability is "Stalker", which makes it possible to crouch-walk faster and climb higher than the other Legends can. Finally, his ultimate ability is "Death Totem" which allows him to drop a totem that protects those who use it from death for a set amount of time. Instead of being killed or downed, a player will be returned to the totem instead. New Weapon The Sentinel has been confirmed as the new weapon in Season 4 of Apex Legends. It's described as a powerful bolt-action sniper rifle which stands apart from other weapons of its ilk as it comes with a charge mechanic. In the dev stream released before the season launch, it was hinted that this mechanic will give players a little more decision making to do when making a shot and could provide some interesting gameplay. Map Changes Season 4 has brought some map changes, the designs for which have been driven by a desire to "get players to make new decisions". The Planet Harvester is a key addition to the World's Edge skyline. Hammond Robotics are using the device to harvest materials from the core of the planet for unknown (but likely nefarious) reasons. The Planet Harvester offers a large, multi-level space in which to play and since there's not been anything like it before, it brings new gameplay options. According to Respawn, fights in this area tend to be "self-contained as squads will tend to enter the fights through the long hallways that lead to the center of the structure." The expectation is that this will make third parties more predictable. As well as being a change, Planet Harvester has wrought some changes of its own: it's split Capitol City in two. Now the city is made up of two zones, Fragment East and Fragment West, with a large fissure of dead space between them. This fissure can only be crossed in two locations by means of a zipline and a fallen skyscraper bridge. If you do happen to fall into the fissure between the zones because of a poorly timed jump or sheer curiosity, you'll find yourself carried slowly back up and allowed to land on the other side you were probably trying to get to. The downside is you'll take 25 damage for the fall and, as you float up, you run the risk of being a sitting target for enemies. A smaller addition is the Survey Camp. This area will have Weapon Racks which will have guaranteed weapons up for grabs, making it a tempting place to visit. Anniversary Event As Season 4 is launching on the one year anniversary of Apex Legends, there's going to be a special event. According to Respawn, those who log into the game in the first week of Season 4 (that's February 4 to February 11) will receive an Anniversary Gift. this includes a Year 1 Origami Flyer charm, a Year 1 loyalty badge and 10k XP for your first match of the day for every day the event is running. Battle Pass It wouldn't be a new season of Apex Legends without a brand new Battle Pass. For 950 Apex Coins you can pick up this pass which offers 110 levels to climb by completing daily and weekly challenges, with more than 100 exclusive items including Legendary Skins, Apex Packs, Loading Screens and Music Packs to earn. Players who pick up the battle pass immediately unlock the Legendary R99: Zero Point skin and three new Epic Legends skins. Getting through the rest of the levels could see you earn Rare and Legendary rewards like the Health Drain Lifeline, Blue Steel Crypto, Cyber Punked Wattson and Heat Sink Flatline. Ranked League Series 3
Alongside Season 4, Ranked League Series 3 has also launched. Ranked League Series 3 brings a few changes, including Splits and a new tier: Master Tier. As Respawn is seeing more players move into the upper echelons of the rankings to become Apex Predators, it's finding that it's getting harder to "showcase the skill between any two Apex Predators this season." As a result, a new tier, Master Tier, has been added between Diamond and Apex Predator. Players will need to reach 10,000 RP to make it to Master Tier as was the case with Apex Predator. The Apex Predator Tier will now be exclusive to the top 500 players per platform, so players who reach Apex Predator Tier could find that they drop down to Master Tier if other players earn more RP than them. Respawn has said "We feel this should give more prestige to making and keeping your Apex Predator rank, while still keeping the tiers above Diamond very exclusive." As far as Splits are concerned, after looking at the lengths of previous Ranked Series, Respawn has decided that Series 3 will be three months long, like Series 1, but that it will be divided into two Splits. This means that Ranked Series 3 essentially comes in two parts, with Split 1 taking place on World’s Edge, while Split 2 will freshen things up by taking place back at King’s Canyon. Split 1 is to take place between February 3 and March 23, and Split 2 will follow on from March 24 to May 5. Soft resets will take place between each Split and Respawn has confirmed that "ranked rewards will be granted for the highest tier achieved in either split of the series, but exclusive animated badges will be granted if you can make it to the same tier both splits." There are also some new party restrictions as the game moves into the new Ranked Series. Players will find that once they get to Platinum Tier or higher, they'll only be able to party with players who have 1 Tier of difference from them. It's hoped this will keep matches more tight when it comes to higher skill levels. As far as what's staying the same, players will still see soft resets take place going into the new series. So, "at the start of Series 3 everyone will be soft reset on their ranked position by 1.5 Tiers down. That means if you ended Season 3 in Gold II, you’ll be reset to Silver IV. Players in Platinum IV will be reset to Silver II, and Apex Predators will be reset to Platinum II." As previously said, the soft reset will also now take place at the beginning of each Split. Entry RP cost to Ranked Series is also the same and there won't be any further changes to the scoring system.
Apex Legends tips and tricksApex Legends can be difficult to get to grips with. There are a lot of different characters each with their own abilities and skills, plus this battle royale arguably leans more heavily on strategy and teamwork than some of its competitors. Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Apex Legends guides, designed to help you become a champion.
How to download Apex LegendsApex Legends can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Origin Store or Apex Legends website. Simply search for the title, download the game and enjoy! But do keep in mind that a good internet connect and subscription to either PS Plus, Xbox Live or Origin Access is required to play. The good news is that Apex Legends is also coming to mobile in the future, following in the footsteps of Fortnite and PUBG.
Apex Legends roadmap - what's next?Respawn Entertainment has shared the season roadmap for Apex Legends. Apex Legends Battle Pass seasons run for approximately three months. Currently four seasons have officially been announced:
Now that Season 4's launch date has been confirmed for February 2020, we're reaching the end of the known world for Apex Legends. No doubt, in the coming months, Respawn will establish and reveal its new goals for the game's second year. Is Apex Legends coming to mobile?Yes. In EA’s quarterly earnings report, the publisher announced that it’s looking at bringing the Respawn Entertainment-developed game to mobile platforms and to both South Korea and China. “We’re in advanced negotiations to China and mobile”, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgenson stated, before later mentioning South Korea as another expansion point. We shouldn't expect to see Apex Legends on mobile for at least a year, though. According to EA Chief Executive, Andrew Wilson, the game won't launch until the fiscal year 2021.
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| The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:35 AM PDT There are only a few months left to wait until we can all finally get our hands on The Last of Us 2 - and we're getting excited. The ending of The Last of Us was pretty conclusive. But as it turns out, that hasn't stopped developer Naughty Dog from cranking out a sequel in the form of The Last of Us 2 – or, The Last of Us: Part 2 if we're using its proper name. Given the first game was hailed by players and critics alike as a masterpiece with excellent, emotional storytelling and engaging, realistic characters, we have to admit that the decision to release a follow-up isn't particularly shocking. We'd probably have been more surprised if there wasn't one. And yet, when The Last of Us 2 was first announced, we'd be lying if we said our hearts didn't skip a beat. The Last of Us 2 was first announced by Naughty Dog at PlayStation Experience in 2016 alongside a teaser trailer, but it wasn't until September 2019 that we were finally told the game's initial release date of February 2020 during a State of Play livestream. However, Naughty Dog later announced that the release date has been delayed by a few months, and we now know we'll be joining Ellie and Joel again in May 2020. Now we're into 2020 there's not long to wait, so let's break down everything we know about the highly-anticipated The Last of Us 2 so far. [UPDATE: The Last of Us 2 is facing a crunch controversy. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
The Last of Us 2 release dateThe Last of Us 2 was initially due to release on February 21, 2020. However, Naughty Dog later announced that the game's release date was being pushed back to May 29, 2020. The game's director, Neil Druckmann, apologized in a blog post and explained that the developer wanted to prioritize game quality over a punctual launch. "We realized we simply didn’t have enough time to bring the entire game up to a level of polish we would call Naughty Dog quality," Druckmann wrote. It seems The Last of Us 2 is still on track for this new release date and it's been confirmed the game will launch on PS4. However, it's possible we will see The Last of Us 2 as a cross-generation title, launching on PS5 also. Although, neither PlayStation nor Naughty Dog have confirmed if this is the case yet. The Last of Us 2 trailersThe most recent trailer for The Last of Us 2 is also its (initial) release date announcement trailer. Shown during the September 2019 State of Play stream, it revealed the game's initial release date and shows Ellie in action as well as a glimpse at Joel. Check it out below: Probably the most emotion-evoking Last of Us 2 trailer was shown during E3 2018. This trailer finally gave us a look at Ellie in an intimate scene before cutting away to some of the brutal but stealth-based combat we can expect to see in the game when it's launched. The gameplay sequence gives us a look at Ellie fighting for her life in the wild. Success in a fight appears to require the right balance between stealth and all out attack as damage seems to have a more realistic impact. Ellie can move quietly between areas, taking weapons from bodies and crafting, before bursting out and taking down her enemies. It's a different creature in many ways to the original The Last of Us but it looks like something to look forward to, with more advanced enemies to challenge us and more complex gameplay to thrill us. See the gameplay for yourself below: The Last of Us Part 2 had another trailer drop during PSX 2017. During a panel it was confirmed that the game will be set in the city of Seattle and the darker themes we know are coming were touched upon. You can watch the panel for yourself below: Another trailer for the game was shown at Sony's press conference during the 2017 Paris Games Week. This trailer is around 5 minutes long, focusing on conflicts between the human factions in the game. It shows that part 2 is going to have a dark story, perhaps even darker than the first, and the trailer is fairly harrowing to watch. Visually impressive though it is, do note that it's gory before you watch it for yourself below: The first look at The Last of Us 2 came with its announcement at PlayStation Experience in 2016. Despite the fact that the game was early in development, the trailer showed a full (non-gameplay) scene that features both Ellie and Joel. You can watch it below: The Last of Us 2 news and rumorsCrunch Controversy A recent report from Kotaku's Jason Schreier has opened up discussion over crunch practices at The Last of Us 2 developer, Naughty Dog. According to Schreier's development sources, despite best efforts to avoid it, crunch is still happening at the studio and that the game's delay hasn't alleviated overlong working hours. Schreier states that, for some, being on the team means "working upwards of 12-hour days and even weekends when the studio is in crunch mode, sacrificing their health, relationships, and personal lives at the altar of the game." Following the publication of the report a former animator for the developer, Jonathan Cooper, posted his own experience of crunch practices to Twitter, adding that one of his friends was hospitalised due to overwork. Sony and Naughty Dog are yet to make an official comment on the report, though Naughty Dog VP, Neil Druckmann, posted praise for the studio's animators on Twitter. Schreier's report is an interesting deep-dive into Naughty Dog's reputation and asks important questions about just how sustainable crunch practices (which are believed to be a problem throughout the industry, not just with Naughty Dog) actually are. European Steelbook In a thrilling sign that the release date of The Last of Us 2 really is drawing closer, images of the European steelbook cover of the game have appeared on Reddit. The covers don't give much away about the game's still-closely-guarded plot but they do offer fantastic watercolor portraits of our protagonists Ellie and Joel looking far more mature than they did in the first game. These covers are likely to be a must-have for big fans. Coming to TV The Last of Us franchise has been confirmed as coming to TV following an announcement on Twitter from HBO. The series is being led by Craig Mazin, who previously worked with HBO on the highly-acclaimed Chernobyl series, and Neil Druckmann, co-director and writer of the games, will be writing the series with an executive producer credit too. This is to be the first production from Sony Interactive Entertainment's film and TV arm, PlayStation Productions and at the moment it only has a release date of "coming soon". TLOU 2 will "redefine triple-A" An update and a PAX East demo - canceled In addition to that tantalizing bit of information, the developer announced that The Last of Us 2 would getting a playable demo at PAX East. However, PlayStation has since canceled its PAX East appearance over concerns about coronavirus - meaning the demo won't be available. Members of the public would have had the chance to play an early area of the game called "Patrol" that features Ellie and Dina. The demo was due to be around an hour long and was apparently just a "small glimpse" of what the full game will offer. Guess we'll just have to wait a few more months... Ashley Johnson has been honing her archery skills We've already seen Ellie wielding a bow in trailers for the game, but perhaps we'll be relying on it as a primary weapon in the upcoming sequel. Although, Johnson did point out that her desire to learn archery isn't indicative of how heavily a bow and arrow will feature in the game.
Much more violent and sexually explicit The game's website now features an ESRB rating of 'M' for Mature (via DualShockers) which, in itself, isn't a surprise as it's the same rating awarded to its predecessor. However, the content warning describes 'blood and gore', 'intense violence', 'nudity', 'sexual content', 'strong language' and 'use of drugs'. And, while The Last of Us's rating warned of 'blood and gore', 'intense violence', 'sexual themes' and 'strong language', it seems that Naughty Dog is upping the nudity and sexual content in the game's sequel. While we're not surprised that The Last of Us 2 is going to be extremely violent (the trailers have suggested that), this will be the first Naughty Dog game to feature nudity. But what does that mean we can expect? Well, as GameSpot points out, the ESRB defines 'nudity' as "graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity", while 'sexual content' is defined as "non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity". That means we'll be seeing a lot more nudity and sexual scenes than we did with The Last of Us, which had a "sexual themes" descriptor that warns about "references to sex or sexuality." We're not sure exactly what form this will take, and the ESRB hasn't published the rating publicly, but it looks like things are about to get much sexier in The Last of Us. Pointing out Parallels It's a teasing comment that's left many fans asking for more information and some are theorising that there could be narrative and visual parallels between the games. Regardless, those who enjoyed the original game are likely going to be happy to see any nod of acknowledgement which will tie the titles together in a more meaningful way. New job listings Last year, Naughty Dog confirmed that The Last of Us 2 won't launch with an online mode due to a wish to completely focus on the game's substantial single-player story. However, it was added that something would be coming eventually and separately from the main game. We won't know for certain what game this online project is related to but it's exciting to see that something is in the works. There's been another job-listing recently that also hints at some exciting news: could The Last of Us 2 be coming to a PC near you?. There's been a lot of online speculation recently thanks to a LinkedIn job posting, which specifies some interesting skills for a graphics programmer to be part of the team working on The Last of Us 2 - including PC programming chops. Halley Gross Interview In the interview, Gross praised her colleagues at Naughty Dog as "wizards" and said that they're working together to "make the most complex, nuanced character in a videogame". This character is undoubtedly Ellie who Gross touches on later in the interview. Ellie, Gross explains, is a traumatized character on a "mission for justice" who is, overall, "driven by love" for other characters like Joel and Dina. According to Gross, the narrative is about seeing who Ellie "can become when she grows up in such a hostile environment." This, unfortunately, means putting Ellie in difficult situations which will test her values and her drive: "while we love Ellie, and we’re really excited to see her grow up, we’re certainly not going to coddle her".
Neil Druckmann Interview Rather than throw in new enemies just because they can, Druckmann says that the studio has carefully considered new Infected additions like the Shamblers. These new enemies emit clouds of burning acid and will force players to consider how they approach combat in a different way, especially when they’re appearing alongside the fast Runners and powerful Clickers. Human enemies are also more dynamic. According to Druckmann, every human enemy in the game will have a unique name so that when they die their comrades might scream out their name in grief. Human enemies can become emotional and unpredictable, making combat more dynamic and realistic. Fans of visuals will also be happy to know that The Last of Us 2 will be making the most of the power of the PS4 like The Last of Us did with the PS3 before it. This means, according to Druckmann, that the game is “able to have much wider environments, sequences with a horde of infected, several squads of enemies looking for you in big spaces.” Similarly, this has made it possible to give Ellie and all of the other characters a new animation system called motion mapping making their movements more responsive and more realistic: “The fidelity we can get in the faces and the motion capture — we can better translate what the actors are doing on stage into the game, and get these nuances so we can rely more on the way someone blinks or the way they squint instead of lines of dialogue. It allows the writing to be much more nuanced than it’s been before.” Two Discs Allies “In the past in almost all of our games, the allies have done kind of fake damage, where you see them shoot enemies and it's a little bit theatrical—like their bullets are clearly doing way less damage than yours,” Newman said. For The Last of Us 2, however, ally bullet “do exactly as much damage as yours do" so players can count on the AI to help them. Multiplayer Story At the moment we know The Last of Us 2 will take place in the city of Seattle, five years after the end of the original game, with a 19 year old Ellie taking the starring playable role. Joel will still appear in the game but if the teaser trailer is anything to go by, he could be a much more passive presence. This time around, Ellie is extremely angry about...something. From what we saw from the teaser trailer she wants revenge, which to her appears to be a dish best served deadly. She does, after all, promise to “kill every last one of them.” It’s not clear who “them” is but it could signal that the Fireflies, the first game's well-meaning but morally grey antagonists, will make a return. Anger, hate and revenge are going to be key themes this time around so expect to be in for an emotionally heavy ride. In the trailer for the game shown at Paris Games Week in 2017, we got a look at how dark the game is likely to be. The trailer focuses on the opposing relationships between human characters in the game and features some seriously cringe-inducing violence. It doesn't tell us much about any new characters of how they'll relate to one another but it does confirm that we're going into a dark game world in The Last of Us part 2. In a recent panel at PSX both Druckmann and Gross said that though the game's story will indeed be dark and there'll be a focus on the theme of hate, "there is hope" and there will be "lighthearted moments." We can't pretend we're not relieved to hear this after the game's controversial Paris Games Week trailer which, Druckmann said, was intended to highlight the game's exploration of the pursuit of justice. Ellie is one of the most real and refreshing characters we’ve seen in gaming so it’s exciting that Naughty Dog are going to take her story further and put her in center stage. The creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann has said that the story will be about Ellie and Joel’s relationship and that though the story would be complementary to the story of the first game, it would be much larger.
When asked at a PSX panel whether or not Joel or Ellie may die, Druckmann responded that "no one is safe" highlighting that the game's story really could go anywhere. Hopes are particularly high for this larger story as it’s been revealed that one of the writers of Westworld, Halley Gross, will be co-writing the game’s story. Having someone who’s written scripts for such an incredibly popular and successful show should be a boon for the game's story. Gameplay Ellie will have some moves similar to Joel but there are some things she'll be able to do that are completely different. For one thing she can jump - the new jump button should make the world of The Last of Us Part 2 more complex and more enjoyable to traverse. It also has the potential to make combat more interesting. Speaking of combat, Ellie doesn't really throw punches as her first form of attack, she has a stealthy knife. Melee combat generally appears to offer a little more than the original game, with evasions and an environment that can help as well as hinder your fighting. Not only has Ellie matured as a character, the enemies she faces have developed and they're more realistic than ever. The Infected in The Last of Us Part 2 are smarter and more reactive than their predecessors, making them a tougher foe to face. AI has improved, allowing enemies to communicate with one another and to look for Ellie when she's hiding. Expect some tense moments to arise from this.
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| Google Pixel 4a release date, price, news and leaks Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:23 AM PDT Google surprised everyone in 2019 by releasing the Pixel 3a and 3a XL, affordable versions of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL that brought some of the hardware and software of the premium devices, but offered them at a more appealing price tag. It looks like Google will follow a similar strategy in 2020 with the Pixel 4a and 4a XL presenting some of the features from the Pixel 4 and 4 XL in a more affordable body. Leaks have started flowing in since the beginning of 2020, so it looks like a budget Google Pixel 4a could be coming at some point soon - although perhaps it'll come alone, without its XL sibling. The Pixel 4 and 4 XL were popular devices, but didn't land with quite the fanfare of the Pixel 3 handsets so the upcoming phones could be Google's opportunity to win back buyers. Below we've put together everything we know so far about the upcoming phones including details on when to expect it and the first images of the upcoming handsets. Latest story: Google IO - the event where we expected to see these phones introduced - has been cancelled due to coronavirus. You can find out more about it in the release date section below:
The Google Pixel 4 Cut to the chase
Google Pixel 4a release date and priceOriginally, we had expected to see Google introduce its next affordable devices at Google IO 2020 but that event has now been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. That event was expected to be taking place between May 12-14, and the company could now continue with the event but make it an online gathering. If that's the case, we may still see the Google Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL for the first time there. Google introduced the Pixel 3a and 3a XL at IO 2019 on May 8 that year so it would make sense for the company to introduce these newer handsets a whole year later than that. The Pixel 3a cost $399 / £399 / AU$649 at launch, while the Pixel 3a XL cost $479 / £469 / AU$799. In terms of how much you'll pay, the Google Pixel 4a price could actually be lower than the Pixel 3a price. We say that because the Pixel 4 cost less than the Pixel 3 (when directly comparing release prices), and we could see that pattern repeat here. The above is all guess work in terms of pricing right now, but once we hear anything more concrete we'll be sure to share it here. Google Pixel 4a news and leaks
The Google Pixel 3a XL We're going to start with a rumor that might disappoint some of you: word is that Google might not put out a Pixel 4a XL, only focusing on the smaller device. Apparently this is so people looking for a bigger phone stick with the Pixel 4 XL, as supposedly the Pixel 3a XL stole sales from the Pixel 3 XL. While that rumor is seemingly backed up by the relative lack of Pixel 4a XL rumors, we've heard there could be three Pixel 4a devices, including a 5G model. This comes from Android code which refers to three different devices, presumably consisting of a main device as well as an XL and 5G phone, although they aren't named as such. Those devices have appeared again in subsequent Google code, and this time two of them were alongside the phrase ‘pixel_20_mid_range’, all but confirming that they're unannounced mid-range Pixel phones, though the source speculates that the third code name might refer to a circuit board rather than a device. As such, we'd say there probably will be a Pixel 4a XL, but either way there's almost certainly at least going to be a Pixel 4a. So what will the base Pixel 4a look like? We think it'll be like the below, which we don't believe are hands on shots of the phone and are instead doctored image of the original Pixel. We've left these images here though as they show what other sources believe the device may look like. It may have a punch-hole selfie camera in the top left of the screen, which would be a first for a Pixel phone. Some unofficial renders of the device as well as a leaked case render show a similar design to the fake photos above too, and it's likely these were where the design was taken from. We're uncertain on the camera spec to expect on the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 4 had two cameras on the rear, so we had expected the Pixel 4a to follow suit but this leak suggests otherwise. If those last two leaks are to be believed, the device will have a 3.5mm headphone jack. That, alongside the fingerprint scanner, is missing from the Pixel 4 so some had suspected it'd be dropped from the affordable phone too. There's also said to be no Soli chip, which allowed you to navigate the Pixel 4 hands-free (well, in theory). This is unlikely to be available on the Pixel 4a in order to keep the price as low as possible. What is powering the Google Pixel 4a? That's currently a little uncertain as an investigation run by XDA Developers dug up prototypes of the phone that run both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 and the Snapdragon 765. The Snapdragon 765 prototype may be a 5G-ready version of the phone as that chipset is designed to power 5G hardware. We've heard conflicting rumors on whether there will be a next-gen internet version of the Pixel 4a, but consistent rumors suggest it may be a reality. Based on a leaked image posted to the web, we're looking at 6GB of RAM and faster UFS 2.1 flash storage when the Pixel 4a finally appears, with 64GB one of the storage options (or maybe the only one). When we say faster, it's an upgrade on the flash storage used in the Pixel 3a. We don't currently know much else about the Google Pixel 4a, but we'll be updating this article more and more in the run up to the launch of the next Google handset. What we want to see in the Google Pixel 4aThe Google Pixel 4 was an innovative flagship feature, but when it comes to adapting this feature to a budget price tag, there are a few things we'd like it to consider. Here's what we want to see: 1. Bring back the fingerprint scanner
The Google Pixel 4 has no rear-mounted fingerprint scanner like the Pixel 3, not does it have an in-screen one like many premium smartphones around. Instead, it relies on facial recognition unlocking for you to access your phone. For some, this is a useful feature to help them get into their phone quickly and easily; others find this an unsecured and frustrating experience. For the Pixel 4a, we'd like Google to drop this feature, and instead have a physical or screen-mounted fingerprint sensor. It's likely Google will make this change, as the tech involved in efficient face unlocking adds quite a bit of price to the phone, so if the company wants to slash the price of the new device, it'd make sense to remove face recognition first. 2. Improved battery life
A recurring problem with Google Pixel smartphones is that their battery lives always leave a lot to be desired, and plummet quicker than competing devices. Saying that, the Pixel 3a solved that problem with a bigger battery capacity and a weaker processor, which meant it drained battery less. Since most normal people need smartphone batteries that'll last them a day, even in a pinch, the more affordable and accessible Pixel 4a needs a battery that'll last it this long, which means a bigger capacity than the 4 as well as tools in place to keep it going longer, like canny optimizations. 3. Drop the 90Hz screen
This is bound to be a pretty controversial suggestion, but if Google is looking for features to cut to keep the Pixel 4a price down, we'd argue the 90Hz screen is an unnecessary luxury that could be lost without making the device worse. While some people really love 90Hz screens in phones like the Pixel 4, as it makes the viewing experience a little smoother, many more people struggle to notice the difference, especially people who aren't huge tech fans who don't know the feature is in place. That means it's not a vital feature, and when there are aspects of the Pixel 4 that we would like to see in the 4a, we'd say the 90Hz screens are expendable. 4. Keep the telephoto camera
The Google Pixel 4 smartphones bumped the number of cameras on Google's devices from one to two, adding a telephoto snapper for optical zoom. The Pixel 3a devices saw the cameras slightly downgraded from the Pixel 3 line, but that was purely in terms of software post-processing, and the hardware was exactly the same. A telephoto lens in a camera is really useful, so you can take better pictures of a subject without dropping the quality dramatically, and we'd love to see it kept in the Pixel 4a. We'd be surprised if this wasn't the case, as the telephoto lens really ties the rear design together. And talking of Pixel 4a design... 5. Stick with the weird design
The Google Pixel 4 smartphones are weird looking devices, there's no getting around that. They're bare on the back except for a pretty sizeable camera bump (no fingerprint sensor, like in previous Pixels), with a glass back but a rubber frame around the edges. Yep, you read that right, rubber in a smartphone! On the front, there's a notch the likes of which you barely see in modern smartphones, with a sizeable chin at the bottom of the screen. All in all, the Pixel 4 devices are far from 'conventional' Android phones, for better or worse. Well, we kind of like the design. It's unique, and the Pixel 4 feels distinct in hand when you're using it. We'd like to see the Pixel 4a retain the 'weird' design, especially the rubber frame, as we found it great for protecting the phone.
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| Overwatch 2 release news, rumors, modes and trailers Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:11 AM PDT After months of speculation, Overwatch 2 made its official debut at BlizzCon 2019. The sequel to Blizzard's team-based shooter was revealed by creative director Jeff Kaplan at the annual event, accompanied by an emotional cinematic trailer (which you can find below). Overwatch 2 is a bit of a deviation from the series' usual format. The sequel will feature new PvP modes, with Push being the staple of competitive play, as well as new maps, cosmetic items and characters – including Sojourn, who was unveiled during the event. While these new PvP modes are expected, new for the series is the addition of story and hero missions that allow for cooperative play – a first for the Overwatch series. In these "highly-replayable" missions, you and five friends will attempt to complete objectives together against the AI, which should serve as a welcome reprieve from the intense online PvP modes the series is known for. There's quite a lot to wrap your head around – but don't worry, as we've gathered together everything we know about Overwatch 2 so far below for your perusal. [Update: Overwatch's lead writer, Michael Chu, has left Blizzard. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Overwatch 2 release dateBlizzard officially unveiled Overwatch 2 at BlizzCon 2019. Apparently the sequel is still in early development and Blizzard doesn't know when it will release. "I don't know. I have no idea," creative director Jeff Kaplan said during the Overwatch 2 reveal panel. "Like, just let us make it great, that's what we care about more than anything. We don't have a date in mind." In January 2020, the official PlayStation Brazil Twitter account caused some excitement when it tweeted that "2020 will be the year Overwatch 2 comes to PS4" before deleting the tweet (naturally now preserved in screenshot form by Voxel). This was then followed up a matter of days later by a tweet from the official account of the Overwatch League team Vancouver Titans (via Dexerto) which also mentioned a 2020 release date before being deleted. But with no official comment from Blizzard this should be taken with a pinch of salt. It might be a simple mistake rather than a leak.
Overwatch 2 trailersOverwatch 2 was officially revealed by Jeff Kaplan at BlizzCon 2019, alongside an eight-minute cinematic trailer titled "Zero Hour". Check it out below (but have some tissues at the ready): During BlizzCon 2019, Blizzard also dropped a three-minute gameplay trailer for Overwatch 2 which showcases the sequel's new look. Watch it below: Overwatch 2 news, rumors and confirmed featuresWe've gathered together all the news and rumors surrounding Overwatch 2 below, alongside the confirmed features so far: Michael Chu leaves Blizzard Overwatch's lead writer Michael Chu has announced his departure from Blizzard after 20 years of working there. Chu, responsible for much of the game's lore and character back stories, posted the news to his blog and on Twitter. Chu hasn't revealed what his next steps are but has said he hopes "to continue to tell these stories and build worlds that unite people through games." Overwatch fans, naturally, will want to know how this departure might impact the development of Overwatch 2, especially since it seems to be putting an emphasis on Story and Hero missions. According to Blizzard in a statement (via PCGamer), the game shouldn't be affected. "We’re incredibly grateful to Michael for his contributions, and his presence at Blizzard will be missed. We’re not anticipating an impact to our plans for Overwatch 2. The game’s development is a massive collaborative effort involving talented people across multiple teams, all with a shared commitment to the values of Overwatch and the vision for Overwatch 2. We’re working hard to create an epic, story-driven experience for players, and we can’t wait to share more." Another release date tweet Not long after the official Twitter account for PlayStation Brazil tweeted about a 2020 release date for Overwatch 2, the official Twitter of the Overwatch League team, the Vancouver Titans, has done the same thing. Like the tweet made by PlayStation, this latest tweet has since been deleted but it's been captured by Dexerto. The tweet says "Overwatch 2 is coming out this year" before going on to express excitement about "all the new game modes". As before, Blizzard hasn't made any official comment so it remains possible that this is just another mistake from an official Twitter account. Though it's now a touch more suspicious that two groups who potentially have close ties to Overwatch 2 have made this error. Regardless, we won't know the truth of the matter until we hear from the developer itself. Release date leak? The official Twitter account for PlayStation Brazil has caused some excitement amongst Overwatch fans after tweeting out that "2020 will be the year Overwatch 2 comes to PS4". The tweet has since been deleted but a screenshot has been captured by Voxel. There's been no official comment from Blizzard on the matter but it's quite possible this was a simple mistake on the part of the PlayStation Brazil Twitter team. We won't know for sure until we get an official comment; previously Jeff Kaplan has flat out said he doesn't know when the game will launch as it's still in its early stages. Teasing another hero? Blizzard has been fairly tight-lipped when it comes to the hero roster for Overwatch 2 but fans who tuned into Jeff Kaplan's Yule Log livestream have been left wondering if the director was teasing a new hero for the next release (via ComicBook). During the course of Kaplan's livestream, while building an Overwatch Lego set at around the 6 hour and 11 minute mark, he mentions established Overwatch character Junker Queen and threw out some questions on whether or not she's "ever going to be a hero" and what role she might take if she was one. It was far from a confirmation of anything but it's been enough in an otherwise quiet livestream to grab the attention of Overwatch fans. We imagine if Junker Queen is going to be a hero in Overwatch 2 we'll get a confirmation closer to the game's release whenever that may be. Larger maps and more heroes In a recent interview, Overwatch 2's assistant director, Aaron Keller, and lead writer, Michael Chu have expanded a little on the team's ambitions for PvE play. According to Keller, there are "lots of heroes" in the work for the game and that its PvE maps are "2x larger than regular Overwatch maps." This increased scale is all in the service of telling more story in the Overwatch world and that the new co-op story missions will allow for “a more traditional way to tell a story in the Overwatch universe.”. A story which, Chu said, will have a "beginning, middle, and end". Naturally, as stated before, PvP is still a focus for the team and progression in PvP will be "entirely separate" from PvE. According to Keller, “we don’t want gameplay changing talents and abilities to give an unfair advantage in PvP. We’re still exploring what players can earn in PvE and building out the progression system for that. Our goal is to make a robust meaningful progression system that feeds into our Hero Missions where players can play and replay for many hours or as their main mode of play after they complete the Overwatch 2 story.” Narrative focus PvP is still a focus In fact, according to Kaplan, a huge focus for the Overwatch 2 team is making PvP as good as it possibly can be – which includes new maps, new modes and new characters further down the line. Cosmetic items will cross over Hero missions
Overwatch and Overwatch 2 are compatible Co-op missions Overwatch 2 Play Story missions
New engine upgrades BlizzCon 2019 Overwatch 2 will feature new PvP modes, with tug-of-war Push being the staple of competitive play, as well as new maps, cosmetic items and characters, including Sojourn. While the new PVP modes are expected, new for the series is the addition of story and hero missions that allow for cooperative play – a first for the series.
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| Call of Duty: Warzone should have been a mobile game Posted: 15 Mar 2020 09:30 AM PDT Call of Duty: Warzone just landed; it’s a new free-to-play battle royale game from Activision that’s set to take on genre stalwarts like Fortnite, PUBG and Apex Legends. Combining the big-name franchise, tight gameplay and some interesting new features, it’s certainly got what it takes to topple the best in the biz, so much so that we just gave it five stars in our review. However, Call of Duty: Warzone is still missing something big – a feature that elevated Fortnite and PUBG from popular battle royale games to huge cultural icons in their own rights. We're talking about mobile compatibility. Not only would Call of Duty: Warzone make for a fantastic mobile experience, but the ability to play the game on the go and away from the console is a necessary experience if Activision wants its game to topple competitors’. Here's why.
A perfect game for mobile
PUBG being played on a phone Some battle royale games, like Apex Legends, are fast-paced and hectic, and therefore wouldn’t translate too well to mobile, where the controls don’t lend themselves well to fast gameplay. Call of Duty: Warzone, however, is far from a fast-paced game. With players dropped into an absolutely massive map, the majority of each Warzone game is spend creeping around abandoned buildings, finding loot and hoping you don’t bump into other squads. It’s slow, with tension replacing Call of Duty’s typical frenetic atmosphere, as encounters are fairly rare. This is the kind of game which works perfectly on mobile – a game of PUBG Mobile, which is similar, consists of plenty of sneaking around towns and outposts, picking up the scant guns and ammo found, with the occasional terse and slow firefight taking place over long distance. Accuracy and timing is more important than spraying bullets and dashing about, that’s for sure. If you were to play Call of Duty: Warzone on mobile, then, the gameplay wouldn’t be too different from on PC or consoles. In fact, in some cases it may be better: Warzone’s iffy ping system would be greatly improved by the versatility of a touch-screen, for example. It’s possible that Activision is exploring the possibility of a mobile version of Warzone at some point in the future. If so, there are actually some pretty compelling reasons why it should hurry up. All the competition is mobile
Fortnite on the iPad Fortnite is by far the most popular battle royale game, and it secured its victory over competitors when it launched its mobile app, which gave players access to the game wherever they were. The app isn’t even available to download on the Google Play Store, as you have to download it from a website and install the APK, but it’s still incredibly popular – while Apex Legends has plans to come to mobile in the near future too. Epic won a big victory with the Fornite app, and Activision isn’t going to pose proper competition with Call of Duty: Warzone until we can play that on as many devices, in as many ways, as Fortnite. Given the ubiquity of smartphones, it’s generally a more accessible and affordable way of playing games than a console or PC. Fortnite is one of the only games to service this crowd, but it’s a big audience that Call of Duty: Warzone could easily jump on. Don’t forget, some similar games that didn’t get apps died undignified deaths. No-one remembers, after all, Battlefield V’s Firestorm mode, which is probably the closest thing to Warzone in terms of mechanics and scale. It’s worth pointing out Activision actually already has the fantastic Call of Duty: Mobile, which includes the Blackout battle royale mode from Black Ops 4. This is an okay mode, and it works well on mobile phones, but it’s not nearly as fleshed-out as Warzone. T his does show, though, that a Call of Duty battle royale game would work well on mobile, and also that Activision already has an engine and assets that are mobile-ready. That’s not to say the making the game mobile-friendly would necessarily be easy, though. Things would have to change
That's a lot to render on a phone If you download Call of Duty: Warzone without owning Modern Warfare, the install file size is roughly 100GB. Few smartphones have that much memory to spare. While 128GB is the ‘standard’ space you’ll find in your mid-range handset, you'll rarely have 100GB left over after installing your main apps and taking a few photos or videos. A mobile port of Call of Duty: Warzone, then, would need to be a bit smaller – but that’s totally feasible, given you’re not going to expect all the models and graphics to be high-res on your small smartphone screen. More intriguing would be the fate of the Blackout mode in Call of Duty: Mobile, as Activision surely wouldn’t want to risk competing with itself by having two battle royale modes available on phones at the same time. It’d be likely Blackout would be axed to give way to the superior Warzone, although it’s possible the latter could replace the former in the app completely. Given the popularity of mobile gaming, and the fact that all its major competitors have smartphones apps – or will do soon – we’d expect Call of Duty: Warzone to be playable on phones at some point. It’s a shame the game wasn’t there from the beginning – but I guess we can keep playing Fortnite or PUBG Mobile for a little longer while we wait. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| I'm still annoyed by Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, three months later Posted: 15 Mar 2020 09:22 AM PDT Spoilers follow. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is three months old this week, and it's starting to appear on home video. Back in December, I called JJ Abrams' film reheated nostalgia and little more. Months later, I think of Episode 9 as a movie that haphazardly tried to please everyone, but ended up leaving a lot of people unsatisfied. It lost me as soon as Palpatine appeared on screen and explained he was the big bad behind everything from the past two movies. It lost me again when Rey seemingly killed Chewbacca by using Force Lightning to bring down a spaceship, which was clearly a fake-out. And then it made me swear under my breath when the film rowed back The Last Jedi's best decision – that Rey was the child of some nobodies – in favor of her being Palpatine's granddaughter, forcing the audience to consider the idea that the wrinkly Emperor once had sex (it turns out Rey's father was a failed clone, one of many things this movie fails to explain). The Rise of Skywalker's attempts to course-correct elements of The Last Jedi didn't seem to make everyone happy, though. It's got the lowest critical rating of any Star Wars movie on Rotten Tomatoes at 51% – not that this is scientifically representative of how good or bad a movie is. It got a B+ Cinemascore from attendees in the US, which is the lowest of the series, but far from terrible (Joker got the same score on its opening night). To be honest, though, I don't have a point to make about how everyone else feels about Episode 9 – if you like it, that's cool. Our reviewer, Nick Pino, did enjoy the movie, and I thought his excellent piece offered some interesting observations about how the movie bends the lore of Star Wars to clever effect.
Most of my problems with The Rise of Skywalker come from the way it undermines The Last Jedi, without having any better ideas of its own. Rey being related to Palpatine is one example of that, but it also comes in the way that the movie abandons the idea of Kylo Ren as the main, irredeemable villain. Bringing Palpatine back at all was a massive cop out – and a shortcut to arbitrarily declaring the nine movies as one big story. They also gave Hux a boss in the form of Richard E Grant's General Pryde, which was pointless, and at odds with the clear Hux/Kylo power dynamic established at the end of The Last Jedi. Star destroyers are powerful enough to blow up planets. These were all bad storytelling decisions. The filmmakers feel like they're pandering to a vague hive mind of Star Wars fans, rather than making decisions for the good of the story. The way the movie sidelines the character Rose Tico, too, was a bad look. And it was made more egregious by Abrams' bizarre decision to introduce new characters of little consequence to a trilogy that already had enough of them: in this film we got Keri Russell's Zorii Bliss, an unnecessary love interest for Poe Dameron, and Naomi Ackie's Jannah, neither of which needed to be in the movie. Why not spend more time focusing on the cast that's already there?
I know The Last Jedi is a contentious movie, and not just among angry internet boys – it's a flawed but fascinating film, with some parts that don't work as well as others (the entire plot on the casino planet is usually on the receiving end of criticism). But The Rise of Skywalker simply doesn't have the ambition of that film. The relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey is steered into a total dead end – an empty kiss, and redemption for the villain that he simply doesn't deserve. Kylo is a non-threat in this movie. Their showdown on the wreckage of the second Death Star is a total bore. Would Colin Trevorrow's version of Episode 9 actually have been better?Anyway, without revisiting every problem the film has, I'll simply say that I hope you enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker more than I did. What's changed in the intervening months is that more and more irritating details about Episode 9 have leaked out: that the Palpatine in this film was actually a clone, and that his son was a failed clone. Finn was apparently Force sensitive, but everyone forgot to mention it in the movie. Some of Rose Tico's scenes were a casualty of the movie's attempts to use archive footage of Carrie Fisher, which was not an easy problem for the filmmakers to solve, but they did choose to leave Rose out of the main plot and keep her on the Resistance base. I still don't know what the point of the Knights of Ren was. We've also heard about the abandoned version of Episode 9 in the last few months, called Duel of the Fates, which filmmaker Colin Trevorrow was working on until he departed the project and JJ Abrams was brought in as director. Trevorrow then confirmed the script leak and subsequent dump of concept art were for real. In retrospect, it's not exactly fair to compare this unproduced film to The Rise of the Skywalker. Some details of the script sound better – Kylo Ren is the villain right until the end, Hux kills himself with a lightsaber when the tide of the war turns and there's no Palpatine at all – but it's not a finished movie. Abrams' movie is, as rushed as it feels in places. And of course Duel of the Fates looks amazing in concept art form: all official Star Wars art looks incredible, because Lucasfilm employs some of the best artists in the world. Pick up the art of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and you'll be blown away by the level of imagination on the page from artists like Doug Chiang. Ultimately, this is the film we're stuck with, for better or worse. What do Star Wars fans actually want now?
The Phantom Menace represented the first major post-internet backlash against a movie – and Star Wars has persistently suffered with this ever since. Fans have very polarized opinions of what these movies should be, probably because the nostalgia factor on them is so high. But that said, the Disney Plus series The Mandalorian did seem to make everyone happy. And that might be because it has none of the baggage that comes with legacy characters or Jedi (Baby Yoda excepted). It was ultimately very simple in the stories it chose to tell, perfect for 30-minute episodes. And fans were left wanting more. To me, The Rise of Skywalker just isn't what it could've been – a truly great final entry in that trilogy would've made the sequel films feel like they really had a purpose, to continue the story but have their own complete character arcs. The Last Jedi is a subversive look at the Jedi and the pitfalls of hero worship, as well as the importance of making your own legacy, rather than being indebted to previous generations. The Rise of Skywalker continues that point with Rey in some ways, but the Palpatine element suffocates the individual greatness of that character which was evident in The Last Jedi, to no real benefit. The competing answers to the question of Rey's parentage mirrors the conflict Star Wars has with itself: should we redefine the rules of what Star Wars can be, or are we just telling the same stories from four decades ago over and over again? Now the Skywalker Saga is over, hopefully the rules of Star Wars can be rewritten. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Laptops armed with 10th-generation CPUs and Nvidia Super GPUs are coming Posted: 15 Mar 2020 08:12 AM PDT We’d hold off on buying your next gaming laptop until April, as the next generation laptops are coming soon. And, they’re coming with pretty impressive power under the hood. In an exclusive by Wccftech, it says that a new breed of laptops are hitting the streets in Q2, touting Intel’s 10th-generation processors and Nvidia’s Super line of graphics cards for laptops, both of which are slated to launch on March 31. These portables will be launched on April 2 and made available for purchase on April 15th. That’s, of course, if all goes according to plan, and this whole coronavirus scare doesn’t stall their release. These gaming notebooks should give many gamers out there more powerful options if they want the latest and greatest, whether they’re looking to upgrade their aging laptops or invest in their first portable gaming machine. It should also give economical buyers more choices, as older models with less powerful yet still fairly fresh specs should have lower price tags.
New Intel CPUs and Nvidia mobile graphics cards launching soonWccftech also got the exclusive on the details surrounding the new Intel Comet Lake-H CPUs for laptops and Nvidia’s next generation of mobile graphics cards. According to the website, at least six new variants of graphics cards for laptops are coming: GeForce GTX 1650, GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, GeForce RTX 2060, GeForce RTX 2070 and the GeForce RTX 2070 Super. These cards should hit the shelves in April around the same time as the gaming laptops, and may be sold at the same price points as their predecessors, only more powerful and with better memory. Similarly, we should see Intel unleash at least three new Comet Lake-H CPUs based on the 14nm architecture: Core i5-10300H, Core i7-10750H and the Core i7-10875H. The rumored higher end Core i9-10880H and Core i9-10980HK chips might also get the same release date. The combination of these internals in laptops should give us better performing gaming portables. You have until April to start saving. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New MacBook Air laptops could appear as early as next week Posted: 15 Mar 2020 07:30 AM PDT While the coronavirus might be shutting Apple Stores for the time being, the hardware product cycle goes on – and it seems we might be in line for a MacBook Air refresh as early as next week. The tip comes courtesy of a source speaking to MacRumors – a source who has been accurate in the past – so take this as a possibility rather than a certainty for the time being. Apple analysts have been busy predicting MacBook refreshes for some point during 2020, which are being tipped to switch over to Apple-made processors rather than relying on Intel chipsets.
There has also been speculation that the smaller MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air would get a minor update before then, with the new keyboard seen on the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro. That refresh has been predicted for Q2 2020, which starts in April. Mark your calendarsIf the MacRumors source is accurate, Apple could announce the MacBook Air refresh at some point next week and then start shipping the laptops in April. Whether the ongoing coronavirus outbreak would affect production remains to be seen. The most recent MacBook Air design and spec was launched near the end of 2018, with a minor refresh in July 2019. Another update now would be on the early side, but it's not completely beyond the bounds of reason. Unfortunately the anonymous tipster behind this new rumor doesn't tell us what we can expect from the updated MacBook Air line, beyond a better keyboard. If the rumors are to be believed, Apple had been planning a March event to launch a follow-up to the iPhone SE and some new iPad Pros, before coronavirus came along. It may be that the new and updated MacBook Air was due to be shown off then too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Galatasaray vs Besiktas live stream: how to watch the Turkish Süper Lig 2019-20 from anywhere Posted: 15 Mar 2020 07:00 AM PDT Sunday's Istanbul derby brings together two teams that are battling to stay in the Süper Lig title race - don't miss a kick of what looks set to be a key match in the title race by following our Galatasaray vs Besiktas live stream guide. Galatasaray currently find themselves third in the league table, with just three points separating them from joint leaders Trabzonspor and Istanbul Başakşehir. The home side are on a run of six consecutive wins at the Turk Telekom Stadium. However without their notoriously impassioned home support to get behind them thanks to covid-19 precautions, a less hostile atmosphere awaits Besiktas. Besiktas find themselves nine points adrift of the league leaders, meaning a win is essential for keeping their faint hopes of a title alive. The black and whites come into the game in good form having recorded back-to-back wins over Alanyaspor and Ankaragucu in their previous two league outings and look set to be welcoming back Serbia international midfielderAdem Ljajic to the starting eleven. Make sure you know how to watch every second of the action by following our Galatasaray vs Besiktas live stream guide.
How to watch the football from outside your countryScroll down to find out your football viewing options for today's crucial Galatasaray vs Besiktas match in countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do.
Watch Galatasaray vs Besiktas: live stream the match in Turkey
How to stream Galatasaray vs Besiktas live in the UK
How to live stream Galatasaray vs Besiktas in the US
Watch Galatasaray vs Besiktas: live stream the match in Canada
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| Moto G Stylus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10 vs LG Stylo 5: The stylus phone showdown Posted: 15 Mar 2020 06:00 AM PDT With the upcoming launch of the Moto G Stylus, it only becomes more apparent that there are very few phones on the market with styluses built into them for more precise inputs. As it stands, the frontrunners are LG’s ongoing line of stylus-packed phones, capped off by the LG Stylo 5, and Samsung’s Galaxy Note series most recently led by the Galaxy Note 10. If you’re looking for a smartphone packing a stylus, your options are truly limited. So, we’re here to make sure it’s clear what is actually on offer by comparing the budget-friendly LG Stylo 5, the mid-tier Moto G Stylus, and the premium Galaxy Note 10.
PriceOf course, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 easily take the lead in every category, that’s because it’s a premium phone with a $949 (£869, AU$1,499) price tag. That’s an astronomical leap from the prices of the Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo 5. LG’s device is the cheapest of the bunch at $249 (around £190, AU$375), while the Moto G Stylus comes at just a 20% uptick to $299 (around £230, AU$440) - or it will, when the Moto G Stylus goes on sale at an undisclosed date. This leaves the Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo 5 in a similar ballpark price-wise, but a $50 (about £40, AU$75) difference isn’t negligible on a tight budget.
DesignThe LG Stylo 5 shows its budget status in its design. It has the thickest bezels above and below the display. There’s no fancy glass black, and the single camera on the rear doesn’t stand out as much. That said, it does offer a touch of premium with its aluminum frame. It also has thankfully kept with the times by opting for a USB-C port for charging instead of a micro USB port, which some budget handsets still feature. At 160mm tall and 77.7mm wide, it’s the largest of the three phones, but it’s not the thickest at 8.4mm and not the heaviest at 179 grams. The Moto G Stylus steps things up on the design front. That’s thanks in large part to its extended display, which nearly does away with bezels altogether. Nearly. It does that with a hole-punch camera in the top left corner of the display. This phone also has a glass front and plastic back with an aluminum frame sandwiched between the two.
The rear has a little more flair with the column of camera sensors in the corner. Like the LG Stylo 5, the Moto G Stylus has a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. The chassis is the thickest of all three phones at 9.2m, and it’s the heaviest phone at 192 grams. It does at least offer splash resistance to keep water out. The Galaxy Note 10 takes things to the premium levels. Unfortunately, following flagship phone trends, it’s the only one of these phones that doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. It has Gorilla Glass on both sides and an aluminum frame.
The Note 10 is also the only phone to offer serious water protection with an IP68 rating, making it capable of going 1.5 meters underwater for up to 30 minutes. It also hides its fingerprint sensor inside the screen, so you simply put your finger on the display to unlock. Samsung goes the furthest with its reduction to bezels, offering a screen that covers more space on the front of the phone. This helps the Note 10 stay smaller than both the Moto and LG phone, and it’s even lighter. Like the LG Stylo 5, the Moto G Stylus and Galaxy Note 10 both use a USB-C port., but the Galaxy Note 10 has a USB 3.1 connection enabling more functionality and fast data transfer over the connection.
StylusAll three phones include a stylus that slots into the bottom of the phone. The stylus for the Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo 5 is a simple, capacitive type that works just like a finger and requires no power. LG’s implementation gives you some special functionality, like the ability to take notes or sketch onto the phone even while the screen is off. Pulling out the stylus with the display off will automatically pull up a blank memo pad, while pulling out the stylus with the display on will pop up a list of apps that work with the Stylus. You can also add extra apps to that quick-launch menu for the stylus. Motorola’s stylus works much in the same way as that in the LG Stylo 5. The Moto G Stylus will automatically pop up some quick-launch apps when the stylus is pulled out. These include a sketch pad, a screenshot tool, and Google Keep. As with LG, you can also add other quick-launch apps.
The Galaxy Note 10’s stylus is powered, and automatically recharges when it’s inside the phone. That power enables pressure sensitivity and wireless capabilities like a remote camera shutter button, as well as gesture controls. You can also use it to take notes while the display is off. While the Galaxy Note 10 might have the edge in terms of stylus functionality, the extra features aren’t exactly must-have. It is a more precise drawing implement than the styluses on the LG Stylo 5 and the Moto G Stylus, but that’s to be expected from the Note 10’s premium pricetag. The Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo 5 effectively tie in this category, as their stylus functionality is nearly identical.
DisplayAll three phones are close to the same size when it comes to their displays. The LG Stylo 5 has a 6.2 inch display. The next largest is the Galaxy Note 10 with a 6.3-inch display, followed by the 6.4-inch display on the Moto G Stylus. They also follow a similar trend when it comes to resolution. Each has a Full HD+ display. For the LG Stylo 5, that means a 1080 x 2160 resolution. The Note 10 stretches that to 1080 x 2280 (though it expands to QHD+. or 1440 x 3040, on the Note 10 Plus), and the Moto G Stylus goes to 1080 x 2300.
But, where they’re all fairly similar in terms of screen size and resolution, the Galaxy Note 10 dramatically sets itself apart when it comes to screen quality with Samsung’s signature flagship polish. The LG Stylo 5 and Moto G Stylus use IPS displays. We haven’t tested the LG Stylo 5’s, but we know the Moto G Stylus display at least gets decently bright. The Galaxy Note 10, meanwhile, has a Super AMOLED display. That gives it pure blacks that make for an incredible contrast ratio. It also can get incredibly bright, making it easy to see even outside on bright days. For video content, it can support HDR10+ playback as well. Of course, this is just a part of it being an ultra-premium smartphone and not a budget device.
OS and performanceThis is where the three phones start to grow even further apart. The LG Stylo 5’s budget status is apparent from the specs. It runs Android 9 Pie on a Snapdragon 450 octa-core chipset. It has 3GB of RAM and just a 32GB storage capacity. That can fortunately be expanded with a microSD card up to 2TB. The Moto G Stylus steps that up in nearly every respect. It runs Android 10 on a Snapdragon 665 octa-core chipset with 4GB of RAM. It goes a lot further with 128GB of storage topped off with microSD support.
Naturally, the Galaxy Note 10 goes much further. It has a Snapdragon 855 octa-core chipset, or an Exynos 9825 depending on the market, which has dramatically faster speeds than its competition. It also gets 8GB of RAM to run on. While the Note 10 comes with Android 9 out of the box, an update to Android 10 is available. The Note 10 also has 256GB of storage, though it lacks a microSD slot. It’s worth noting that the Note 10’s storage is also faster UFS 3.0, whereas the Moto and LG appear to have eMMC 5.1 according to GSMArena. The phones differentiate on wireless connections as well. The LG and Moto connect to 802.11ac wireless, AKA Wi-Fi 5, while the Note 10 has made the shift to the newer Wi-Fi 6 and also offers NFC. LG doesn’t mention NFC in its specs, but the owner’s manual for the Stylo 5 suggests it, too, has NFC. The Moto G Stylus has the largest battery of the bunch at 4,000mAh, and it supports 10W rapid charging. Both the LG Stylo 5 and Galaxy Note 10, meanwhile, have 3,500mAh batteries. However, the Note 10 supports 25W fast-charging, wireless charging, and even reverse wireless charging to deliver power to other phones and devices.
CamerasWhen it comes to cameras, the LG Stylo 5 starts to look a little hohum. It has a single, 13MP camera on the back – no flashy features like depth-sensing and no mention of stabilization. It only records 1080p video at 30fps. The front-facing camera is a 5MP wide-angle sensor, and it has the same video limitations. The Moto G Stylus has a lot more on offer. The front-facing camera offers a 16MP resolution for sharp selfies, though it can also only record 1080p/30fps video. The rear gets more interesting with 4K/30fps video and electronic video stabilization. There’s also a combination of sensors from 48MP wide-angle camera to a 16MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro. This gives it much more versatility and decent quality in our experience.
The Galaxy Note 10 offers a triple camera sensor on the back as well. It has one 16MP ultra-wide sensor and a 12MP wide-angle sensor with a dual-aperture mode that can let in extra light. The third is a 12MP telephoto camera with a 2x optical zoom. With the exception of the ultra-wide camera, Samsung uses optical images stabilization. Samsung also has more capability in terms of video with 4K/60fps, digital stabilization, and even HDR10+ recording. It also has slow-mo modes for up to 960fps at HD resolution of 240fps at 1080p. Its selfie camera offers a 10MP resolution and 4K/30fps video recording. While the Moto G Stylus and Note 10 cameras may seem well matched on paper given just the specs, Samsung’s delivery on quality with the Note 10 cameras will be hard to beat. We have only had some hands-on time with the Moto G Stylus, but its cameras were far from as impressive as the Note 10’s. TakeawayThere’s little room to doubt that the Galaxy Note 10 is far and away the best of the stylus phones. It has more polish, more performance, and more capability. It’s even packed all of that into a smaller chassis. But, it hasn’t done it at a small price, and that makes it a tough sell for anyone on some semblance of a budget. Carrier incentives can make it more affordable, though, so it may be worth seeing what Galaxy Note 10 deals are available. When it comes to the two budget smartphones, the Moto G Stylus takes the lead in enough regards that we feel comfortable calling it the winner - though again, it’s not certain when that phone will be released. Motorola’s polish on budget phones is commendable, as is its Android implementations, which avoid bloatware. The extra camera features and screen space are a big plus, and well worth the extra money. The LG Stylus 5 may have the lowest price, but it feels like it should be even cheaper given what it lacks in the face of Motorola. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Trabzonspor vs Istanbul Başakşehir live stream: watch the Turkish Süper Lig anywhere today Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:01 AM PDT This massive match pits the joint Turkish Süper Lig leaders against each other - don't miss a second of what looks set to be a pivotal match in the title race by following our Trabzonspor vs Istanbul Başakşehir live stream guide. Only goal difference separates the two teams in the Turkish Süper Lig table, with both sides on 52 points. Hosts Trabzonspor currently enjoy the top spot thanks to goal difference, following their 3-1 away win at Malatyaspor. Whilst perhaps less known than teams such as Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, Trabzonspor are one of the most decorated clubs in Turkish football, having won the Süper Lig on seven occasions. Istanbul Başakşehir, on the other hand, are very much in uncharted territory here and are in the hunt for what would be their first ever top-tier title. This huge match should provide a perfect indication as to whether Okan Buruk's side have the composure for what looks set to be a nail-bitingly close finish to the Süper Lig season in Turkey. Make sure you know how to watch a Trabzonspor vs Istanbul Başakşehir live stream by following our guide.
How to watch Turkish Süper Lig football: live stream Trabzonspor vs Istanbul Başakşehirthe from abroadScroll down to find out your football viewing options for today's crucial Trabzonspor vs Istanbul Başakşehir match in countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do.
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| Will there be a PS5 Pro in 2020? We don't think so Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:00 AM PDT We already know that the PlayStation 5 is due to launch in late 2020, however rumors have been cropping up which suggest that it won't be the only next-gen console to launch in that window. Rumors of this second console first cropped up in 2019 when Japanese games journalist, Zenji Nishikawa, claimed that PlayStation 5 Pro will launch at the same time as its base-model PS5. Nishikawa made the claim in a video on his YouTube channel, and while that kind of thing wouldn't normally be considered a rock-solid lead, Nishikawa has been proven correct in the past with his predictions about the PS4 Pro and Switch Lite. These rumors then resurfaced in February 2020, when NeoGaf user FXVeteran added fuel to the fire by (also) claiming that Sony plans to release two PlayStation 5 models at the same time: a PS5 Pro and a PS5. According to the poster, the PS5 will be 9 teraflops, while the PS5 pro will be "top of the line" to compete with the Xbox Series X. Now, while a PlayStation 5 Pro is likely on the cards, we aren't convinced by these rumors which claim it will release alongside the PS5 - and here's why.
It's meant to be a mid-cycle refresh
The most obvious reason we likely won't see a PS5 Pro release alongside the PlayStation 5 is because typically hardware upgrades like this are introduced in the middle of the console generation as a way of giving the console a bit of a refresh - and offering players a more premium option to upgrade to. Take the PlayStation 4 for example. The PS4 Pro released three years after the PlayStation 4, bringing with it a larger hard drive, 4K gaming and a price tag to match. This gave PS4 owners the option to upgrade, while reducing the price of the original console and giving players more incentive to jump into PlayStation. Microsoft did something similar with the Xbox One X. A 'pro' console is essentially a half-way mark between the current generation and the next generation, with the manufacturers acknowledging some advances in tech but without rolling out a whole new shiny console. So what would likely happen if Sony released a PS5 Pro alongside its base PS5? It's likely a PS5 Pro would be pretty expensive, so we would likely see players split into two camps: those who spent more and got the 'premium' console, and those who paid less for a base console. Immediately disparities would appear, games would be built to look their best, which would be on PS5 Pro - so those with a base PS5 may feel somewhat left behind, perhaps unable to afford the higher-end option. And the start of a new generation is not when you want to split your player base - if at all. But that's not the most glaring issue. As mentioned, the point of a 'pro' console is to give the hardware a mid-gen refresh. So if Sony jumps the gun and releases a PS5 Pro alongside the PS5, that means there will either be no mid-gen refresh or they'll have to make yet another console. And, in my opinion, that's not Sony's style. While Microsoft is planning a family of Xbox consoles for the next-generation, similar to the Xbox One's of the current generation, Sony has always kept things simple by following a formula that sees it offering the normal console, a slim version and then a pro (harware upgrade). It's a tried and tested system that has seen them succeed until now. So why change? But...
While we don't think Sony will release the PS5 Pro this year, it is worth noting that the next generation is pretty unpredictable. One of the biggest mysteries right now is the PS5's price. Sony hasn't decided on a price for the PS5 but, considering the hardware the next-gen console seems to be boasting, we're not expecting it to be cheap. That's where the slim possibility of a PS5 pro at launch could come in. If the PS5 is looking like it's going to be prohibitively expensive, Sony could opt to offer two consoles: a premium PS5 and a cheaper base PS5. The premium PS5 could boast everything Sony wanted to put in the next PlayStation, but at a higher cost, while the base PS5 could be a stripped back version with less bells and whistles - but more affordable. However, as I've always mentioned, it doesn't seem like a smart move for Sony to split its player base right out of the gate. In my opinion, it's more likely that Sony will wait around three years before giving the console an upgrade - meaning we would likely see a PS5 Pro in 2023 as the console's lifecycle is estimated to be around six to seven years. But until Sony officially reveals the PS5, and clues us in on what it's got cooking, we can only speculate.
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| Leaked Pixel 4a image reveals it's going to be packing faster storage Posted: 15 Mar 2020 03:30 AM PDT If Google follows the expected path, the next phone we see from it should be the Pixel 4a around May time. Another leaked image has appeared online, purportedly showing off some of the mid-range handset's specs via a bootloader screen. The picture, posted at XDA Developers, shows that the Pixel 4a is indeed going to come with 6GB of RAM – that's on a par with the 6GB inside the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, and up from the 4GB inside the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. We previously heard about the 6GB of RAM thanks to a hands-on video posted by the same source, and that video also referred to 64GB of internal storage, which is again shown in this new image.
What the bootloader picture reveals for the first time is that the 64GB of storage will be using an upgraded UFS 2.1 flash storage chip: that means the storage chip speed matches the Pixel 4 phones and is a step up from the Pixel 3a phones. Expected upgradesThe speed of your phone storage matters more than you might think, with your handset constantly having to load up apps and files from its internal memory. The Pixel 4a should in theory be noticeably snappier than the Pixel 3a as a result. However, this is all still unconfirmed – the Pixel 4a shown in this leaked image is believed to be a prototype, and the specific details of the phone might change between now and the launch date. Still, it is encouraging to see that the Pixel 4a is likely to come with a few internal upgrades over its Pixel 3a predecessor. Based on what we know so far, the Pixel 4a will go on sale for the same original $399 price as the Pixel 3a in the US. We don't yet know if the Pixel 4a will be available in a 128GB model as well as a 64GB version though, and it would appear that Google has ditched the idea of putting out a larger XL model this time around. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Acer expects laptops and gaming PCs to fuel 9% increase in Middle East revenues Posted: 15 Mar 2020 03:13 AM PDT Acer Middle East is expecting a 9% increase in revenues this year, similar to last year, despite Coronavirus outbreak due to strong intake of educational Chromebooks, increase in gaming PCs and the end of life support for Windows 7 OS. “We had a great 2019 and all the three categories – thin and light laptops, Chromebooks and gaming devices - had double-digit growth across the region,” Paul Collins, General Manager for Middle East at Acer, told TechRadar Middle East. He said that Acer grew 29% in revenues in the UAE and 64% in Kuwait and 94% in the gaming sector across the Middle East. The gaming market, in general, grew about 25%, he said and added that there is a big move from consoles to PCs and from smartphones to PCs even though mobile is still the biggest gaming device globally. “We have also seen a shift from people building their own gaming PCs to buying desktops and laptops. Cloud gaming is also gaining traction in the region. We have seen a decrease in ASPs of gaming desktops and laptops and we are seeing an uptake in entry-level gaming PCs despite growth in mid-range and high-end gaming PCs,” he said. Moreover, he said that its Planet9, next-gen esports gaming community platform, which will be launched by the end of the second quarter in the Middle East will also increase its gaming PC sales. The cloud service has been launched in the Far East but it is in the beta phase for the rest of the world. “It [Planet9] was launched last year and has moved into the second beta space. The platform will grow very strong globally and will become a university database for gamers and provide players of all levels with in-depth statistics, regardless of skill level.
"We had a great 2019 and all the three categories – thin and light laptops, Chromebooks and gaming devices - had double-digit growth across the region," Paul Collins, General Manager for Middle East at Acer,said. Improve gaming skills“It will allow gamers to pick their level and improve their gaming skills by tying up with teachers and mentors and offer more ambitious players an environment where they can prepare for the pro scene. Acer was the first to do this and I am sure there will be many copycats from others,” Collins said. Quoting research firm GfK’s stats, he said that Acer’s retail PC market share grew from 9% in 2018 to 14% in 2019 in key markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia despite a tough market. Acer does not have a PC server business in the region. “We had a good business in January but we do not know how long the impact of Coronavirus outbreak will last. People had moved their buying behaviour from stores to online in the last four weeks and there will be a lag but we do believe that we can maintain the growth,” Collins said. As people work from home and distant learning is gaining traction, he said that there will be a strong uptake for Chromebooks and gaming PCs and it will play into Acer’s hands. Moreover, Collins said that the increase in sales last year was due to the expiry of Windows 7 OS support from corporates and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). “We will continue to see upgrades of devices from corporates and SMBs but upgrades from the consumer sector are going to be slow unless they realise the benefits of latest OS,” Collins said. The support for Windows 7 OS ended on January 14 this year. When asked about the PC trends in the near term, he said that the move to the cloud will change the face of the PCs in the next three to four years as PCs will need less internal power, processor and hardware capacity. However, he expects to see a demand for thin and light laptops, in the interim space, with more than 15 hours of battery life and with very good speakers and graphics. For the Taiwanese firm, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait are the established markets while Egypt and Iraq are the developing markets. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Horizon Zero Dawn will look glorious on PC with ultrawide monitor support Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:51 AM PDT Horizon Zero Dawn has only recently been officially announced as coming to the PC (following previous rumors), and it’s now been confirmed that the port will support ultrawide monitors. The news comes after a 21:9 aspect ratio screenshot was spotted on the game’s Steam page, and when folks started talking about it on the community forum, one of the development team stepped in to confirm support.
Anne van der Zanden, Community Manager at Guerilla Games, commented: “We will support ultra-wide! As others in this thread already pointed out, the first screenshot on the Store Page is taken from the PC port.” Steam trimmingsSteam achievements will also be supported by Horizon Zero Dawn on the PC. But obviously it’s the extra screen real-estate offered with ultrawide monitors which has generated the most excitement, with the added peripheral vision bound to help in the quest to down those robot dinosaurs. As will the use of the mouse and keyboard for aiming that bow, no doubt… Of course, ultrawide monitor support is becoming more common in PC games, and Horizon Zero Dawn isn’t the only big-name port which will include it. We also recently heard that Death Stranding will go 21:9, for both cut-scenes and in-game graphics. Horizon Zero Dawn is set to land on PC in the summer, and it will arrive with The Frozen Wilds expansion bolted on.
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| Apple restricting apps around COVID-19 on the App Store Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:35 AM PDT Apple has posted guidelines for developers working on apps that relate to COVID-19. Apple will only allow apps it considers that are from credible sources, which include government organizations, health-focused NGOs, companies deeply credentialed in health issues, and medical or educational institutions. Apple is recommending that only developers from one of these recognized entities submit an app related to COVID-19. Games or entertainment related apps with COVID-19 as their theme will not be allowed. According to Apple: The App Store should always be a safe and trusted place for users to download apps. Now more than ever that commitment takes on special significance as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. Communities around the world are depending on apps to be credible news sources — helping users understand the latest health innovations, find out where they can get help if needed or provide assistance to their neighbors. Further, Apple recommends that developers use the "time-sensitive event” option on the expedite request form to ensure prioritized review when submitting a COVID-19 related app to the App Store. The above doesn't come as a surprise, as Apple has always swayed towards an overly protective stance when it comes to dealing with controversial topics. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Huawei Mate Xs is already sold out in the UAE Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:21 AM PDT It's official- we love foldable phones in the UAE. Huawei made it's foldable phone, the Mate Xs, available for pre-orders on the 11th of March and, just four days later, the phone has already been sold out. Priced at AED 9,999 the Huawei Mate Xs is easily the most expensive phone we've come across but that doesn't seem to drive consumers away. In our review of the Mate Xs, we mentioned that it has the best design we've seen for folable phones. Huawei hasn't released the number of phones that were made available for pre-odering, and if you were looking to pick one up, you'll have to wait a bit longer. We don't currently have any information on when the second batch of phones will be made available for pre-ordering but we will update this article when we find out. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Your next security camera could record videos only machines can understand Posted: 14 Mar 2020 09:17 PM PDT Video is the biggest consumer of cloud storage, compute and bandwidth in the world. So anything that can reduce its gargantuan appetite for resources could save a significant amount of both time and money. Enter Fujitsu with a new compression algorithm that, it says, can reduce the size of a video by 90%. The not-so-insignificant caveat is that the resulting video can only be interpreted by artificial intelligence (AI) because of the level of degradation. The key aspect of the new technology - developed by scientists at the Japanese firm - is that it automatically analyzes areas within an image that AI prioritizes and compresses data to the minimum size that AI can recognize.
Great for the cloudThis, Fujitsu added, “will allow users to analyze more advanced video data by combining multiple video data stored in the cloud, sensor data, and performance data such as sales data”, all without any increased data transmission demands. In practice, compression will be conducted at the edge (on the device itself) using a specialist chip, and recognition performed in the cloud - the two are joined up in a continuous feedback loop. The rise of ultra high resolution cameras on smartphones (the Samsung S20 Ultra has a 108 megapixel camera) and 4K security CCTV cameras has made such technologies a necessity. Fujitsu will make the technology available to third parties by the end of fiscal 2020, and introduce it into a variety of applications for different industries.
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