Apple : ATSC 3.0: here’s how to get free over-the-air 4K channels with NextGen TV |
- ATSC 3.0: here’s how to get free over-the-air 4K channels with NextGen TV
- If your Samsung Blu-ray player is endlessly rebooting, you're not alone
- The Last of Us 2 ending explained: what it all means
- Do Star Wars games suddenly have a more hopeful future?
- Xbox Series X release date, specs, design and launch titles for the new Xbox
- Motorola’s Moto G8 line is confusing: here’s how the nine phones compare
- Horizon Forbidden West PS5 release date, trailer and everything we know so far
- Apple HomePod 2: will WWDC 2020 bring Apple back into the smart speaker race?
- Apex Legends Mobile: what we want to see
- Spotify could be working to add music videos to its app
- The fitness tracker of tomorrow
- What is blue light? Glasses, filters, night shift, and dark mode explained
- Here’s the cheapest way to store a huge 1000TB of data online
| ATSC 3.0: here’s how to get free over-the-air 4K channels with NextGen TV Posted: 21 Jun 2020 07:00 AM PDT If you’re a cord-cutter, you need to know about ATSC 3.0 or, as it’s more creatively referred to on TV boxes, NextGen TV. Similar to what bunny ears and HD antennas offered a few years ago, ATSC 3.0 is a system of broadcasting 4K channels to your TV free of charge. When it’s fully developed some time... well, in the next decade, ATSC 3.0 will offer 4K video with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio from your favorite over-the-air cable stations for free with closed captioning in a number of different languages. It will even reach more areas than HD broadcasts.
That would be a huge upgrade in and of itself, but because it also taps into IP-based services through your home network, it might also be able to offer you shows and movies on demand from those cable channels both on your TV and through a mobile device and, unfortunately, collect data on your viewing habits, too. That last part isn't wonderful, but for the most part ATSC 3.0 is truly the next revolution in broadcasting. Although the full roll out with every show being broadcast in 4K with Dolby Atmos audio is still years away, it’s available in its earliest stages right now in a few select cities across the US. More regions will be available before the end of the year, which means that, before long, you’ll be able to get a glimpse of it in your own home. Ready to take your TV to the next level? Here’s what you need to know. What is ATSC 3.0 and where did it come from?If you attach an HD antenna to your TV right now, you'd be using ATSC 1.0 – the set of standards agreed upon and setup over a decade ago that transitioned terrestrial broadcasters away from an analog signal and into the digital age. ATSC 3.0 is the next step in ATSC's evolution and comes from the Advanced Television Systems Committee which has been responsible for the TV broadcasting standards in America for the last 40 years. In more or less words, ATSC 3.0 describes the whole system that needs to be in place before we can watch over-the-air 4K content. It’s the technology broadcasters will need to use in order to transmit 4K shows and the tuners we’ll need to receive that content, similar to how ATSC 1.0 works now. The IP-based interactions are still a bit hazy at the moment while the technology is still being fleshed out, but more functionality is sure to come later. What happened to ATSC 2.0 you might ask? Well, basically all the framework was built for it, but it never came to fruition. That's what lead some people to be skeptical of ATSC 3.0 but, so far, things have been going according to plan. When does it start rolling out?Unlike other technology that has a set release date, ATSC 3.0 is like 5G in the sense that it's coming to different areas at different times. That said, there are currently around a half-dozen cities with access to ATSC 3.0 channels with another three dozen coming online in the next year. You can find a complete list of the supported markets on the ATSC 3.0 website but here's a list of all the markets with current ATSC 3.0 service areas marked in bold:
There's a big caveat here, though, the cities that have ATSC 3.0 now aren’t necessarily seeing 4K content, instead they’re mostly getting HD channels with some 5.1 surround sound. So don’t feel like you’re missing out. What do I need to watch it?The bad news is that ATSC 3.0 isn’t compatible with TVs with ATSC 1.0 tuners – i.e. you’ll have to eventually upgrade to a new TV if you want ATSC 3.0 signals. In fact, because the transition to ATSC 3.0 isn't government mandated like the transition to digital broadcasts were 10 years ago, neither broadcasters or TV makers are required to make any changes or admissions in the roll out. It can happen at their leisure because they're the ones paying for the equipment. That said, LG, Samsung and Sony have all begun putting ATSC 3.0 tuners inside their high-end models, and pretty much any 2020 8K TV or high-end OLED will have the tuners, which means the TV is more or less futureproof. It's not affordable by any means, but the Samsung Q950T does support NextGen TV. What will the end experience be like? Should you upgrade right now?The promised experience sounds almost too good to be true: free 4K shows from your favorite American TV channels like NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS with Dolby Atmos sound on your TV or phone, plus on-demand content without a streaming box. The reality is that we're still probably a few years away from that and the technology still needs to be fleshed out a bit more. Not only are some of these shows not produced in 4K, but many local stations simply don't have the equipment necessary to broadcast 4K signal. The fact that almost no one out there has an ATSC 3.0 tuner means that there's few people able to get this in their own homes, which reinforces the idea to broadcasters that no one wants it. For all those reasons and more, we don't recommend being an early adopter on this technology. You'd certainly be helping the transition to 4K broadcasts if you went out and bought an external ATSC 3.0 tuner and started watching the content that's out there in those select areas, but more than likely broadcasters are going to adopt it at Instead, our recommendation is to make your next TV ATSC 3.0-compatible by buying one of the latest TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony listed below when you're ready to upgrade. That way, when ATSC 3.0 goes on air in earnest with 4K broadcasts and Dolby Atmos audio, you'll be ready and waiting. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| If your Samsung Blu-ray player is endlessly rebooting, you're not alone Posted: 21 Jun 2020 06:30 AM PDT A somewhat serious software snag seems to have hit a range of Samsung Blu-ray players in recent days, with owners complaining that their disc-playing devices are stuck in an endless reboot loop. With reports from Reddit, Samsung support forums, ZDNet and elsewhere flooding in, it looks as though the issue affects a variety of different models – and at the time of writing there's no explanation or fix. Users say their Blu-ray players are cycling through various screens with no way to get out of the loop, leaving the devices pretty much useless. That's not ideal when you've paid good prices to watch your high-resolution Blu-ray discs in the comfort of your home.
According to what we've read online, restarting the Blu-ray players doesn't solve the problem, and nor does performing a hard reset to make the devices start up fully again from scratch. Borked Blu-ray bluesFrom the user reports posted online, it sounds as though Samsung is aware of the problem, though it hasn't yet made an official statement about it or offered anything in the way of a fix. Hopefully, a new software update might be enough to get all of these Blu-ray players working again. If not, it's possible that those with affected machines will have to send them back to Samsung to be repaired in-house. While no one knows for sure what's causing these issues, the most likely culprit is an expired security certificate that means the players can't properly connect to the web. A botched firmware update might also be to blame. Not everyone experiencing problems is seeing their devices stuck in a loop – some players are staying on, but won't respond to button pushes. If an expired security certificate is to blame, then it wouldn't be the first time. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Last of Us 2 ending explained: what it all means Posted: 21 Jun 2020 06:07 AM PDT The Last of Us 2 is a triumph in emotive storytelling, exploring the darker side of Ellie and forcing us to face some uncomfortable situations as a result. But all that build up would be worth very little if Naughty Dog didn't stick the landing when it came to The Last of Us 2 - fortunately, it absolutely did. The Last of Us 2 gave us the closure we needed after embarking on a 30-hour adventure full of twists, turns and plenty of bloody violence, but the ending has many threads to dissect. So we're going to take a look at how the phenomenal sequel ended, what it means for the characters involved and the questions that have gone unanswered. Be warned, there are major spoilers for The Last of Us 2 ahead. So proceed with caution.
The Last of Us 2 ending: what happenedThe ending sequence of The Last of Us 2 really begins following Ellie and Abbey's fight in the theatre. Abbey, having overpowered a vengeful Ellie, leaves her counterpart alive but tells her that she never wants to see her face again. We then cut to 18 months later. Ellie and Dina reside in the big country house they had always dreamed of, complete with vegetable allotments and a flock of sheep. Dina has given birth to a baby boy called JJ (named after Joel and Jesse) and the pair are raising him in what appears on the surface to be the perfect family dynamic given the post-apocalyptic state of the world. However, it becomes evident that Ellie is suffering from PTSD in the aftermath of Joel's death. Despite appearing to have moved on, Ellie can't sleep and suffers flashbacks to her ordeal. After all, she never truly got her revenge. Things come to a head when Joel's brother Tommy shows up at the house, telling Ellie and Dina that he has located Abbey, and berating Ellie when the couple tell him that they've moved on. But Ellie hasn't moved on and she later decides to follow the lead, in a final attempt to avenge Joel's death. Despite Dina telling her that she won't put herself or JJ through this ordeal again, Ellie sets off for Santa Barbara, where Abbey is apparently living on an abandoned ship on the shore. Meanwhile Abbey and Lev who, following the lead given to them by Owen before his death, are in search of the Fireflies in a suburb in Santa Barbara. The pair have now developed a relationship akin to that of Ellie and Joel's: the grizzled adult and the smart-mouthed teen. While Ellie seems haunted by what happened years before, Abbey and Lev have let go, in search of a better future. However, while it seems that Fireflies have been residing in the house that Abbey's tip has led them to, they're long gone, and the pair are captured by a group called the Rattlers and taken hostage. We then cut back to Ellie, who has arrived in sun-kissed Santa Barbara several months later. Hot on the heels of Abbey and Lev, Ellie is soon caught in a Rattler trap, before breaking free and forcing her captors to tell her where Abbey is. Despite being badly wounded, she breaks into the Rattlers compound, picking them off one-by-one, in search of Abbey only to discover that, following an escape attempt, the pair have been strung up on some pillars on the beach - left to die. Ellie makes her way to the beach and finds a much weaker Abbey than she previously encountered. Gone is Abbey's long plait and muscley figure, and instead we see a thinner woman with all her hair cut off. She's almost unrecognisable from the warrior we once knew. Feeling empathy for her nemesis, and perhaps wanting to be the one who is responsible for Abbey's death, Ellie frees Lev and Abbey, escorting them to some nearby boats. But, as Abbey and Lev are about to make their escape, Ellie decides she's not going to let her closure go that easily and forces Abbey into a final fight. It's an uncomfortable and violent affair, both Abbey and Ellie are broken by their desire for revenge - their vendettas have taken over their lives and and cost them those that they love. Eventually, Ellie gets the upperhand on Abbey and begins to drown her, before a flashback of Joel sees her letting go - of both Abbey and the revenge mission that has cost her everything. As Ellie breaks down in tears on the beach, Abbey sails off with Lev. When Ellie finally returns home, she finds that Dina and JJ are gone. All that is left in their family home is Ellie's artwork, some records and the guitar Joel gave her - which she can no longer play as Abbey bit off some of her fingers during their final fight. Ellie grabs her backpack, leaves behind the guitar and her other possessions, and heads leaves. The Last of Us 2 ending: what does it mean?The Last of Us 2's ending is a hard pill to swallow. Throughout the game, our perception of Ellie shifts somewhat as we begin to empathize more with Abbey. After all, the parallels between the two characters become increasingly clearer and both women are simply fighting to avenge someone they love. However, Abbey grows throughout the game, developing a bond with Lev despite their tribal differences, refusing to let Owen make her his mistress and showing mercy to Ellie. Abbey lets go of her revenge mission and gains more than she ever had previously - her power is in her ability to let go. On the other hand, Ellie is blinded by her vendetta, and feels she will never truly get closer until her avenges Joel's death. She is wrapped up in her own guilt about how her relationship with Joel ended, the part she played in his death and the sheer grief of the traumatic situation she endured. But, despite having built a somewhat idyllic life that was paving the way for a brighter future, she didn't know when to let go. As a result, Ellie lost everything. Not only did she lose her own sense of self, she lost the family she had built in Jackson and the picture-perfect life she had built with Dina. She even lost the ability to play guitar, something which helps her feel connected with Joel. The Last of Us 2 ending: unanswered questionsThe Last of Us 2's ending is heartbreaking and poignant. But while many loose ends are tied up in a neat little bow, we still have some questions. For a start, where is Ellie heading off to? And what's her plan next? We could see our broken protagonist heading back to Jackson to try and rebuild or perhaps even sentencing herself to a lonesome life on the road. We're hoping she's going to track down Dina and JJ to beg forgiveness. Dina could have headed back to Jackson but that seems a bit too easy - we're just hoping they'll be reunited once more. However, given that a lot of the game is played as Abbey, have we perhaps seen the last of Ellie? It could be that future The Last of Us games focus on Abbey from here on. After all, we don't know where Abbey and Lev are heading to following their escape. The assumption is that the pair are going to hunt down the reformed Fireflies, wherever they may be. Because, despite the Rattlers disrupting their communication, it seems like Owen's tip was legit. Regardless of who we will be playing, it looks like a potential The Last of Us 3 will focus on the reformed Fireflies. But don't expect any news on that anytime soon as Naughty Dog hasn't confirmed if there will be another entry in the series - plus we all need time to recover from the sequel...
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| Do Star Wars games suddenly have a more hopeful future? Posted: 21 Jun 2020 06:00 AM PDT Why didn't EA make another Knights of the Old Republic game? Yes, I know EA has a nine year-old MMO called The Old Republic that features a ton of Star Wars-related content set in the same timeframe. But why didn't it make a new KOTOR game on consoles and PC? Why would you acquire the Star Wars license and not make that game, when you own BioWare, the series' original developer? I'm sure there are lots of real-world, practical reasons why: various BioWare teams were focused on developing Anthem, Mass Effect: Andromeda and continuing a frustratingly long road to finally making Dragon Age 4. And, yes, that MMO has had significant updates in the meantime, even as the genre itself has declined in popularity. Still, I can't think of a game that would make more sense in our current age of The Witcher and Skyrim selling endless copies than a high-fidelity Star Wars RPG. Really, though, KOTOR 3 feels like just one of many opportunities EA has left on the table in the seven years since it landed the Star Wars license. Now, though, I'm starting to wonder if EA has finally turned a corner with the Star Wars universe. The future doesn't look that bright – reports say three Star Wars games have been canceled in the last few years, most notably Project Ragtag, a story-driven third-person game from Uncharted's Amy Hennig and the long-defunct Visceral Games. But recent form from the massive publisher does suggest things are moving in the right direction. According to an earlier Kotaku report, EA is following up last year's smash hit Jedi Fallen Order with a sequel, which isn't unexpected. And this week, EA announced Star Wars: Squadrons, a game that seems completely against type: a 5v5 first-person space combat game that'll be released at a budget price, with full VR support. This follows more than two years of well-received Star Wars: Battlefront 2 updates, after a famously bad launch. I don't think that's a particularly good shooter, personally, but it's a very good Star Wars experience, and it's packed with characters and worlds from across the series' history. DICE and EA turned that game around, and its availability on PS Plus should keep the player base healthy for years to come. Has EA finally cracked Star Wars?Jedi Fallen Order tells a surprisingly powerful story of trauma in the Star Wars universe. EA has four console/PC games to show for seven years of owning the licence, then. It's not loads, but it's not too bad either: as many Battlefield games have been released in that period, but that includes Battlefield 4, which EA was working on for several years before it acquired the Star Wars licence, as well as the spin-off Hardline. Still, it feels like EA didn't quite capitalize on the peak of interest in Star Wars that occurred around 2015-2017, when The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi came out. There probably wasn't enough time for EA to do much more than release its two Battlefront games in that time period, to be fair. It's telling, though, that when Jedi Fallen Order arrived in 2019, there was enormous appetite for a (mostly) great singleplayer Star Wars game, even in a year when the worst Star Wars film of the Disney age hit the big screen. Squadrons, meanwhile, almost directly recalls the golden age of Star Wars games. The Lucasarts X-Wing vs TIE Fighter games come to mind, when we're talking about a meticulous space combat game that even supports flight sticks on PC. I really hope it's as good as it looks, because it's too specific a choice of project to feel like a cash-in. EA's Star Wars agreement with Disney apparently lasts for ten years, but if the next three years deliver a selection of great games that tell compelling Star Wars stories, maybe EA's time with the license will be remembered for much more than just missed opportunities. If it doesn't, maybe it's time to see what another big publisher can do with Star Wars. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Xbox Series X release date, specs, design and launch titles for the new Xbox Posted: 21 Jun 2020 05:17 AM PDT Xbox Series X is the new Xbox that is due for release in late 2020. So far we know when the next-gen Xbox will release, its official name, some of the games we'll be playing, as well as information on backwards compatibility, and how cross-gen game ownership will work under the new Smart Delivery feature. We also know that it will have a slightly redesigned controller that should be more accessible, and offer 1TB SSD upgrades from Seagate. From what we've seen so far, it looks like the Xbox Series X will sport a blockier style that's similar to that of a small gaming PC. More importantly, we now know what's inside the console, thanks to Microsoft giving us the Series X's full specs, and we can say for sure that the new Xbox is going to be an absolute powerhouse. But the Xbox Series X won't be the only next-generation hardware on offer from Microsoft. The company has confirmed that the next-generation family of consoles will be called 'Xbox' and that 'Series X' is just one of the consoles within that family, which is likely to include a cheaper disc-drive free version as well. So what exactly has Microsoft got to offer with the new Xbox? And how will it compare to the PS5? Let's break down everything we know about the Xbox Series X. [UPDATE: Xbox Smart Delivery will carry your save data over to Xbox Series X – and back again. Read on to find out more.]
Microsoft has given the release window of "Holiday 2020" - which means we'll likely see the Xbox Series X release worldwide between October and December this year. That's right, the new Xbox will release worldwide in this window, including in Japan where the Xbox brand has previously had poor sales. We're expecting the Xbox Series X to release sometime in November as, historically, that's when Microsoft has released its consoles. It's possible that the release date will be November 26, 2020 (AKA Thanksgiving in the US). An image stating the Xbox Series X is "coming Thanksgiving 2020" (shown above) appeared on a number of product pages around the world briefly before being reverted back to to the previously announced Holiday 2020 release window. A Microsoft spokesperson responded to TechRadar to clarify, saying: "An Xbox product page in some regions inaccurately listed the launch date for Xbox Series X as Thanksgiving 2020. We are committed to launching Holiday 2020.” Despite concerns that the Xbox Series X will be delayed due to Covid-19, Microsoft is still citing the same release window and Xbox boss Phil Spencer told IGN: "We have nothing right now that says that we're not going to make the dates that we've been planning."
Microsoft won't be pinned down on an Xbox Series X price point quite yet – unsurprisingly, given what a sore spot the price of the Xbox One was for fans. At launch, the original Xbox One cost a whopping $499 / £429 / AU$599, which was quickly reduced when Microsoft realized people weren't forking out. Microsoft has at the very least promised that it's learned from this pricing mistake, with Phil Spencer stating that this time "we will not be out of position on power or price.” That doesn't mean that the new Xbox will be cheap, mind you, it just means the price point will be better aligned with the console's power and the price points of the competition. After all, Jason Ronald, director of the Xbox platform, gave only a vague reassurance when speaking to Windows Central, saying that Microsoft knew "what reasonable price points are for a console and kind of what customers expect about that". Price will at least in part be determined by the cost of the components going into the console: Xbox Series X is going to be a lot more powerful than either the Xbox One S or Xbox One X, and that will likely mean we're looking at an even higher price tag on any bundles and Xbox Series X pre-orders. It could be a while before we get confirmation of the Xbox Series X price - possibly months. Historically we've seen both Microsoft and Sony reveal their console pricing around June or July, but this time things are a bit different. The hot topic of pricing has many on the edge of their seats, as we see just how powerful the PS5 and Xbox Series are, and wonder how expensive the technology will be. However, it does look like the Xbox Series X could be cheaper than the PS5. Sony Interactive Entertainment's president and CEO Jim Ryan has hinted that the PS5 might not have the 'lowest price' in battle against Xbox Series X In a wide-ranging interview with GamesIndustryBiz, Ryan addressed speculation around the PS5 cost. While not revealing the price, Ryan suggested the PS5 price could be a significant hit on gamers' savings, and certainly not committing to beating the Xbox Series X on price. Speaking on whether the potential for a Covid-19-related recession will affect sales of the PS5, a high-value gadget, Ryan said: "I think the best way that we can address this is by providing the best possible value proposition that we can. I don't necessarily mean lowest price. Value is a combination of many things. In our area it means games, it means number of games, depth of games, breadth of games, quality of games, price of games... all of these things and how they avail themselves of the feature set of the platform." It seems like we're currently in something of a standoff, with both companies waiting to see what the other will price its next-gen hardware at - possibly so they can undercut each other. It looks like Sony and Microsoft will be waiting until the last possible moment to set their pricing, with plenty of time before then to make adjustments. Still, enough time will need to be set aside before the consoles release between October and December for people to get those pre-orders in.
We now know what Xbox Series X looks like and what it's packing under the hood, and it's going to be an absolute beast of a console. The new Xbox's gaming PC design is pretty apt, considering the next-gen console's internal hardware is comparable to one - so make sure you check out our Xbox Series X spec analysis. The folks over at Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry got a close look at the hardware, and alongside Microsoft have announced the hardware that will be powering the Xbox Series X. According to Digital Foundry, the specs confirm that the Xbox Series X will indeed be twice as powerful as the Xbox Once X… in practise. Digital Foundry saw an unoptimized version of Gears 5 running on the Xbox Series X running at the equivalent of ‘Ultra’ graphics settings on PC, and it comes with enhanced shadows and ray tracing. Where the cut scenes ran at 30FPS on the Xbox One X, Digital Foundry reported that on the Xbox Series X, it runs at a ‘flawless’ 60FPS. Also, this is an early port – on release we should see even better results. As expected, the Xbox Series X processor is built into a custom Project Scarlett SoC (System on Chip), which uses an enhanced version of TSMC’s 7nm process. That seven nanometers is important. The smaller the process, the more efficient the chip can be. That means it can provide more performance for less power. Making sure the chip inside a games console can perform well without using lots of power (and getting hot) is incredibly important. Based on the prototype hardware Digital Foundry seen, the Xbox Series X reportedly ships with a 315W power supply - delivered internally but the console is also equipped with parallel cooling architecture, allowing cool air in and letting that cool air stream through separate areas of the console. The processor is a customized AMD Zen 2 CPU with eight cores and 16 threads, with a peak speed of 3.8GHz, and a base speed of 3.6GHz. As Digital Foundry reveals, these frequencies aren’t completely locked, which suggests the Xbox Series X could adjust the power of the CPU based on workload and thermals. So, if you’re playing a game that needs a lot of processing power, the Xbox Series X can give its CPU a boost, and then slow it down when you don’t need it. Meanwhile, the GPU of the Xbox Series X is revealed as a custom design with 12 teraflops of compute performance, with 3328 shaders allocated to 52 compute units, and runs at a locked 1,825 MHz. Interestingly, there’s no boost clocks for the GPU. It will always run at that speed. The Xbox Series X also uses AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, and offers ray tracing for photo-realistic lighting. What does this mean in the real world? It seems the Xbox Series X will have the graphical power acquirement to a gaming PC with an Nvidia RTX 2080 graphics card. So, a very capable device indeed, but maybe not able to compete with the most powerful gaming PCs. The Xbox Series X also gets 16GB of GDDR6 memory – an upgrade from the Xbox One X’s 12GB GDDR5. That won’t all be used in games, however. Games will get a total of 13.5GB – 10GB of GPU optimal memory and 3.5GB of standard memory, while the remaining 2.5GB is reserved for the operating system. The faster GDDR6 memory should also offer a big leap in performance. Match that with a super-fast NVMe SSD, and the Xbox Series X should feel very spritely when used. There’s still a lot of questions over what kind of performance we can expect from the Xbox Series X, but this is by far the best look at the hardware we’ve seen. But what else do we know about the Xbox Series X's specs? Well, Microsoft is aiming to get Xbox Series X games to run at 60 FPS in 4K, calling the challenge a "design goal". The console will support up to 120 FPS too. Despite 4K being the aim, Microsoft has said the Xbox Series X has 8K capability. Phil Spencer even changed his Twitter profile photo to (what appeared to be) a picture of the next-gen Xbox Series X's processor. It said 'Project Scarlett' on it, and was marked with '8K' (pictured above), suggesting Microsoft plans on doing more than simply talking the talk when it comes to 8K. The Xbox Series X will also feature Variable Rate Shading, which prioritizes effects on different in-game characters and objects for a "more stable frame rate and higher resolution", according to Microsoft. Not only will games look better, they could be bigger. In an interview with PCGamesN, Samsung revealed that it's talking with Microsoft and pushing the gaming behemoth to adopt ultrawide support for the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X will make good use of having an SSD – a 'Quick Resume' feature for the console will let you "almost instantly" continue with multiple games, without the need to sit through load screens. Microsoft also aims to improve latency through features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). According to Microsoft, "ALLM allows Xbox One and Xbox Series X to automatically set the connected display to its lowest latency mode". While "VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate, maintaining smooth visuals without tearing". These features aim to minimize lag and make gaming more responsive. However, don't expect video to do the Xbox Series X's power justice. Xbox boss Phil Spencer believes that it’s been challenging to demonstrate just how much of a leap Xbox Series X will be over Xbox One, as faster and more stable frame rates aren’t something that really comes across in videos. Speaking to ex-Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-aime on his new podcast (thanks, GameSpot), Spencer lamented the fact that gamers might not appreciate the power of Xbox Series X just yet. "One of the things I've talked about publicly ... but it's hard to come across, is the way it feels to play games on a box where frame rates are higher, frame rates are more stable," Spencer explained. "The fluidity of it, showing that in video form, is just impossible. How do you show how something feels?" If you're less bothered about the specs and more concerned about whether you can still play physical games on the next Xbox, then you'll be pleased to know that Xbox Series X has a physical disc drive. Microsoft has also confirmed that all your current Xbox One accessories will work with Xbox Series X, including existing controllers and headsets. But we'd doubt that also includes the ill-fated Kinect motion tracker. That means that the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 will be forward compatible with Series X, but Microsoft is also launching a next-generation wireless controller to accompany the new console. But don't expect the Xbox Series X to launch with VR support as, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, Microsoft is waiting until VR on Xbox becomes a "no brainer". However, right now, the company doesn't see the feature as "so important" on its next-gen hardware.
Xbox Series X has a completely different design to its predecessors. For a start, the next-gen console has an upright tower design - similar to that of a gaming PC. However, Microsoft has confirmed Series X can sit horizontally or vertically. From what we've seen in the Series X reveal trailer, the console is black with slightly indented cooling vents on the top (with what seems to be a green light inside). The Xbox logo sits small on the top left hand corner of the console and there's still a disc drive - which is placed vertically on the left hand side also. The Xbox Series X has the following ports: HDMI 2.1 output port, three USB 3.2 ports, one networking port, an expanded storage slot and a power input port. The console reportedly measures 15.1cm x 15.1cm x 30.1cm and weighs 4.45kg/9.8lbs. While these images have been circling for a while now, we still weren't entirely sure what that mystery port was - until now. Thurrott claims that sources "familiar with the company's plans" have identified the port as being for storage expansion. Microsoft hasn't confirmed it this is the case, but we wouldn't be surprised if it was seeing as external storage was supported with the Xbox One - but whether we see it included in the final Series X product is still uncertain. In addition to the console design, we also know what the new Xbox logo will look like. Spotted on Reddit by Windows Central, an official trademark listing for the Xbox Series X logo was filed on April 16, 2020, showing a very different look to what we've seen for Microsoft's consoles to date. The logo shows the word 'Series' in a vertical formation, next to a stylized 'X'. It's a more mature and minimalist design for Xbox, but it's somewhat simplistic and – in our opinion – looks more suited to a sports brand. According to the patent, this is the Xbox Series X logo we'll see on everything from the console itself to clothing, keychains, toys and even kitchen utensils. Although, we think Microsoft is just trying to cover all bases and it's unlikely we'll see an Xbox Series X spatula anytime soon. Microsoft is releasing an Xbox Series X controller to accompany its next generation console. The new Xbox Wireless Controller will apparently be more accessible to everyone, as Microsoft has made an effort to refine the size and shape. This shouldn't be too surprising to anyone that's been following the tech giant, as it's been making waves for accessibility in gaming for a while now with products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Along with enhanced accessibility, we'll also be getting a dedicated share button (finally) that will let you share screenshots and videos with your friends. Microsoft has also revealed that it is optimizing latency in the "player-to-console pipeline" starting with our Xbox Wireless Controller, through a new feature called Dynamic Latency input. According to the company, this feature "synchronizes input immediately with what is displayed", making controls "more precise and responsive".
We got our best look yet at the upcoming Xbox Series X games lineup during the Xbox Series X gameplay reveal on May 7, with Microsoft revealing a roster of third-party games coming to the new Xbox including Dirt 5, Scorn Madden 21 and more. We also got to see gameplay for Assassin's Creed Valhalla for the first time. All of the games shown are optimized for the Xbox Series X (and will therefore make the most of its powerful specs). For a full look at the dozens of Xbox Series X games that have been confirmed so far, check out our full Xbox Series X games round-up. But what else do we know about Xbox Series X games so far? During the Xbox Series X's official reveal, Phil Spencer said Series X games will be "more lifelike, immersive and surprising" and that the Xbox Series X will "lead us into the future of gaming". He also stated that 15 Xbox Game Studios are building a huge next-generation library that includes Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga and Halo Infinite. Not a Halo fan? Don't worry, Xbox Series X will be capable of four generations of backwards compatibility - with the feature available from launch. That means the Series X will be able to play existing Xbox One games like Destiny 2 as well as backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Not only that, but these games will "play better than ever before" thanks to Microsoft's new HDR reconstruction technique and the Xbox Series X's Quick Resume feature - without requiring additional work from developers. In addition, the Xbox Series X's powerful specs will enable select backwards-compatible titles to run at higher resolutions or double the frame rate. Not only is Microsoft doubling down on backwards compatibility, but the company is also introducing a new system called Smart Delivery to the Series X that, in some respects, could be seen as forwards compatibility. With the Xbox Series X, Smart Delivery will seemingly ensure that you have the right version of a game, no matter which Xbox console you’ve bought it on, allowing users to upgrade compatible games to next-gen versions for free through the program. Not only that but save data will be able to be carried backwards and forwards between the Xbox Series X and Xbox One, allowing players to pick up and play on both current-gen and next-gen consoles. We already know some of the games which will utilize this feature, including Cyberpunk 2077. In addition, Microsoft will avoid siloing by taking a cross-generation approach to its first-party games. Talking to Stevivor, Phil Spencer said Microsoft wants to create a console that utilizes Xbox Play Anywhere so you can move seamlessly between devices: "Our goal for our first-party games is that your entitlements will be cross-generation and your Achievements will move effectively with your save game because that’s where they stand.” We're also expecting Microsoft's game-streaming service Project xCloud to be out of public testing by the time Xbox Series X releases (with a launch date slated for this year) so we should hopefully be able to enjoy Series X games on-the-go. For those who aren't quite sold on upgrading to Series X quite yet, but still want to check out the best upcoming games, Microsoft has stated that there won't be Xbox Series X exclusive games for at least a year and, for the foreseeable future, new games are planned to work across the Xbox family of devices. That means you'll still be able to play them on Xbox One.
We knew what the Xbox Series X will look like, a few of the features on offer, and a good deal about specs the next Xbox is boasting. But May 7 was when we first saw Xbox Series X gameplay revealed. According to Microsoft, this event would see us fans getting a first look at next-gen gameplay, trailers and sneak peeks from Xbox's third-party partners, an update on how devs are utilizing the Xbox Series X and, finally, confirmation of the Xbox Series X games that will use Smart Delivery. With no look at the console itself, or its interface features, this was all about third-party titles – and ultimately we felt it was a little underwhelming, with no standout titles to shout about. However, this May 7 event is only the start of Microsoft's next-gen reveal plans. According to the company, this event will kick off Xbox 20/20, a stream which will take place each month throughout the rest of the year in the lead-up to the launch of the next-gen console. "Starting with the May 7 episode of Inside Xbox, we will be showcasing what happens next in the world of Xbox, every month, which is why we’re calling it 'Xbox 20/20'," Jerret West, CVP of gaming marketing at Xbox wrote on Xbox Wire. "These monthly moments will take place throughout the rest of the year and will be a way for us to engage, connect and celebrate with you about what’s in store for the next generation of gaming, including what’s next for Xbox Series X, Xbox Game Studios, Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud. Every month will bring something different." Microsoft has already confirmed we'll be seeing more of Xbox Series X first-party games at Xbox 20/20 in July, including Halo Infinite. We expect that these streams will entirely replace the Xbox's presence at E3 2020, which Microsoft was confirmed to be attending until it was cancelled – given the circumstances right now, a remote event makes a lot of sense. The Xbox Series X will not be the only new Xbox in Microsoft's next-generation lineup. While we were all pretty excited when Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox at the Game Awards 2019, it appears that the upcoming console's name isn't quite what we thought - and it will belong to a family. While we assumed that the new Xbox is called 'Xbox Series X', Microsoft has clarified that, in fact, the family of consoles will be called 'Xbox' and that 'Series X' is just one of the consoles within the family. This clarification from Microsoft serves to further fuel rumors that another new Xbox console is on the way. Rumors have circulated for some time about a lower-cost next-gen Xbox console that would sit just below the high-end Xbox Series X - codenamed 'Project Lockhart'. Project Lockhart will allegedly be disc-less console - a trait that it will carry forward from the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition - but Kotaku's sources believe it will be substantially more powerful than Microsoft’s current disc-less box, and will come with both a solid-state hard drive and a faster CPU than any current game console. The report goes on to say that Microsoft told developers to shoot for a 1440p resolution and 60 frames-per-second frame rate with Project Lockhart and 4K/60 with Xbox Series X, and those same developers have likened the performance of the lower-end console to the PS4 Pro.
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| Motorola’s Moto G8 line is confusing: here’s how the nine phones compare Posted: 21 Jun 2020 05:00 AM PDT There are nine phones in the Moto G8 line - that’s a huge step up over the four of the Moto G7 contingent or the three of the Moto G6, and as a result it can be easy to confuse the phones or struggle to work out which handset is the best for you. Well, there are nine named Moto G8 phones, but we’d argue the number is actually slightly lower. That’s because while different assortments of the handsets have been released in different countries, some of them are just the same phone re-named. However, that’s not always the case... it’s all a bit confusing really. We’ve called these phones the Moto G8 devices, but bear in mind in the US Motorola is releasing them under the name ‘Moto G’. This is part of the reason of the confusion, because if you’re not well versed in phone names it can be hard to know if this is the most recent line, but thankfully elsewhere the company has stuck to ‘G8’. To help you get your head around them, we’ve come up with this explainer guide to help you understand the phone you’ve been considering, and how it slots into the Moto G8 phone line hierarchy. To the right we’ve compiled a list of all the different names of Moto G8 phones - click it and it’ll take you to an explainer on the phone. Generally, this list is ranked from least powerful (and cheapest) and most powerful (and priciest) so you can see how the handsets compare. To be clear, this isn’t a list telling you which is the best overall Motorola phone, as we’ve got our best Motorola phone guide for that, which includes other lines as well like the Edge, Z and One devices. This is just a way to help you understand what Motorola is currently doing with the G line of handsets in 2020. Moto G8 PlayThe lowest-end phone in the line is the Moto G8 Play, which you probably haven’t seen for sale in many places. This is because the Moto G8 Play was announced with little fanfare, and was only released in a few countries in Latin America. You can’t pick the phone up in the US, UK or Australia from carriers or Motorola’s website, although you can import it if you really want. The Moto G8 Play has a 6.2-inch HD screen, MediaTek Helio P70M chipset paired with 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, a 4,000mAh battery, three rear cameras including a 13MP main snapper, and has an old-school microUSB port as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. We found the Moto G8 Play listed on Amazon US for $200 (roughly £160, AU$290), although this is for an international version which was presumably imported from another region. We’d expect it to be more affordable in regions it was released in. Moto G8 Power LiteThe Moto G8 Power Lite is a specced-down version of the Power, which is listed further on, though the phone it has most in common with is the aforementioned G8 Play. It has a microUSB port, and a notch instead of a ‘punch-hole’ cut-out like most the rest of the devices on this list, which shows its budget roots. The Moto G8 Power Lite has a large 6.5-inch HD display, Mediatek Helio P35 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, a large 5,000mAh power pack (hence the name), and three rear cameras with a 16MP main snapper. The Moto G8 Power Lite launched for £150 / AU$279 (roughly $190) though at time of writing it hasn’t been released in the US yet. In Australia it’s one of only three of the Moto G8 line available, alongside the ‘base’ device and the Plus model. Moto G8 / G FastThis is the ‘main’ Moto G8 phone, and it’s probably the first handset in the line most would consider buying, due to the lack of suffixes. It’s also the only device in the line available in the US, UK and Australia, though in the first it was released under a different name (more on that later). The Moto G8 has a 6.4-inch HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, a 4,000mAh battery and three rear cameras lead by a 16MP snapper, with an 8MP ultra-wide as well. In the US, the Moto G8 is actually called the Moto G Fast, and it’s the same in every respect except it has 3GB RAM and 32GB storage - the flash module on the back is in a slightly different place too. This phone costs $200 / £180 / $329, so it’s only a small step up from the Power Lite, and the real trade-off is that you’re getting a better processor and USB-C port in exchange for a smaller battery. If you want the best of both worlds, the next phone is best for you.
Moto G8 Power / G PowerThe Moto G8 Power was released as the Moto G Power in the US, although it’s exactly the same phone. When the Moto G8 series phones started being released, this naming convention indicated the whole series was just rebranded in the US, but since that some Moto G phones have been released elsewhere. The Moto G8 Power is named for its big battery which, like the Lite, is 5,000mAh, although in the Power you’ve got a USB-C port to charge it up quicker. The phone has a 6.4-inch FHD screen, Snapdragon 665 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and four rear cameras with a 16MP main snapper. This is the most affordable device in the line to have a telephoto lens for zoomed pictures, as while the Moto G8 and G8 Play have ultra-wide cameras, the rest just have depth sensing or macro shooters. The Moto G8 Power or G Power costs $250 / £220 (roughly AU$370), so again it’s a step up from its predecessor. It’s still a budget phone, but not as much so as its aforementioned siblings.
Moto G8 PlusThe Moto G8 Plus was the first phone in the series to be launched, all the way back in late 2019, and it didn’t come to as many regions as we expected given, at the time, we thought it’d be the top-end phone in the line. The Moto G8 Plus has a 6.3-inch FHD display, Snapdragon 665 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, a 4,000mAh battery and three rear cameras lead by a 48MP main snapper, with one of the other snappers being a 16MP ‘action cam’ video snapper pinched from the Motorola One Action. You could pick up the Moto G8 Plus for £240 (roughly $300, AU$435), so it’s a touch pricier than the Power, but it doesn’t differentiate itself in price that much from its predecessor. The phone does have a few features we’d expect from a 2019 phone that feel a touch out of place in a 2020 phone. There's both a physical notch and just Android 9 pre-installed, but they’re just effects of the release date.
Moto G Pro / G StylusThe final phone in the Moto G8 series doesn’t hold the numerical name, but the release date suggests it’s an honorable member anyway, and that’s the Moto G Stylus. This was launched in the US in February alongside the Moto G Power, and later another version was released elsewhere called the Moto G Pro - the only difference in this model is slightly faster charging. The highlight of the Moto G Stylus is that it has... well, a stylus, which you can use to control the phone. Other than that it has a 6.4-inch FHD display, Snapdragon 665 chipset with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, a 4,000mAh battery and three rear cameras with a 48MP main shooter. It’s not too different from the G8 Plus, then, but the storage space and stylus may sway some. The Moto G Stylus or G Pro costs $300 / £290 (roughly AU$500), so it’s pricier than the G8 Plus in the one region both are available, and indeed it’s the top-end device in the Moto G8 line. It’s not a pricey device by any account, but if you want a new Motorola phone and it has to be a G8 device, this is the most specced-up.
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| Horizon Forbidden West PS5 release date, trailer and everything we know so far Posted: 21 Jun 2020 04:17 AM PDT Horizon Forbidden West is the long-awaited sequel to the critically-acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn and was confirmed during Sony's PS5 games reveal in June. Coming exclusively to PS5, Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy's story, and takes her to America's wild frontier, with a trailer that heavily suggests we'll be spending a good portion of the game underwater. After Horizon Zero Dawn sold over 10 million copies on PS4, a sequel always seemed like a dead cert. Now, Guerrilla Games is returning to this fictional universe to give us another fancy technical showcase on PS5. Ashley Burch will return as Aloy in this entry, while the trailer also teases the return of Sylens (Lance Reddick) from the first game. Here's what we know about Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 so far, including its release date, trailer and more. [UPDATE: Guerrilla Games has confirmed Horizon Forbidden West will release for PS5 in 2021. Read on to find out more.]
Cut to the chase
Horizon Forbidden West release dateWhile the Horizon Forbidden West release date was notably absent from its announcement trailer, developer Guerrilla Games has since released a dev diary video (which you can watch above) confirming that the Horizon Zero Dawn sequel will release exclusively for PS5 in 2021. Horizon Forbidden West trailer: first look at the PS5 exclusiveSony and Guerrilla Games revealed the first Horizon Forbidden West trailer at the PS5 games reveal event on June 11. The above trailer offers a three-minute glimpse at the kinds of varied landscapes you'll explore in the second game, and which machines you can expect to fight (mammoths and alligators, by the looks of it). We also get the sense that Horizon Forbidden West will be heavy on underwater gameplay, based on how much of a big deal the trailer makes of Aloy using her scuba gear at the 1:40 mark above, and the shots of underwater ruined cities. The Horizon sequel looks amazing, though it's hard to tell just how much of what's above is gameplay. Horizon Forbidden West screenshots: here's what the game looks likeWe've put every official Horizon Forbidden West screenshot into the gallery below, so you can see what the game looks like outside of the trailer. Horizon Forbidden West story: what do we know?The trailer hints a lot at the kinds of enemies Aloy will be facing in the next game, but not much else is known about the game's overarching story apart from the American setting. Still, this is the official description of the game from the Horizon Forbidden West trailer. "Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s story as she moves west to a far-future America to brave a majestic, but dangerous frontier where she’ll face awe-inspiring machines and mysterious new threats." Horizon Forbidden West news and rumorsWe've compiled all the latest Horizon Fordbiden West news and rumors below for your perusal: Virtually no loading screens "With the PS5's SSD, there will be virtually no loading screens," Jonge said in the video. "In an open-world game like Horizon Forbidden West, if you open up the map and fast travel from one end to the other, or restart from a checkpoint, it will be super fast. When you boot up the game, you're right there in the action."
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| Apple HomePod 2: will WWDC 2020 bring Apple back into the smart speaker race? Posted: 21 Jun 2020 04:00 AM PDT Apple is undeniably a technological trailblazer, innovating in the worlds of smartphones, laptops, true wireless earbuds, and more – but when it comes to smart speakers, the tech giant has been left behind by the competition. Rumor has it that Apple is on the verge of launching the follow-up to its first smart speaker, the Apple HomePod. The Apple HomePod 2 – or HomePod Mini, as some are calling it – is said to be a smaller, cheaper version of the brand’s Siri-powered speaker, and it could launch as soon as July 22, at Apple’s WWDC 2020 event. That’s when we’re expecting to see the iOS 14 update in detail, along with upgrades in the form of iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16 and watchOS 7 – and possibly the Apple AirPods Studio, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro Lite. However, if the new HomePod is to be a success, Apple will need to address some key issues that prevented the original speaker from enjoying the same success that the Amazon Echo and Google Nest (née Home) devices have garnered. A limited ecosystemThe original Apple HomePod was launched in 2018 to mixed reviews and underwhelming sales. While the HomePod was praised for its audio performance, its capabilities as a smart home hub were distinctly lacking compared to the likes of the Amazon Echo and the Google Home. That’s because Siri simply can’t compete with the smarts that Alexa and Google Assistant offer, and the HomePod’s reliance on the Apple ecosystem means that the smart home devices it works with are limited. Called HomeKit, Apple’s smart home ecosystem is controlled primarily through the Home app on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. There are some great aspects to HomeKit. Setting up something like a smart plug or smart light is as simple as scanning the code on the device from your phone or tablet and having it added into the mix – once that's done, you're able to control it with your voice. It's undeniably cool to be able to walk through the door, say 'Hey Siri, I'm home!' and all the lights you've set up blink up because your lamps have smart plugs.
Still, compared to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Siri is rather limited in what it can do for you as a smart home hub – and with no voice training capabilities, you can’t personalize Siri like you can with other assistants, which means you lose out on both the security of your smart speaker being able to distinguish between different voices in your household and a tailored experience. This isn’t great considering it’s one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and Siri is your main means of controlling it. With that in mind, we’d love to see better Siri performance in a new HomePod iteration when it comes to enacting commands quickly and allowing for greater personalization in its performance . Great sound, so-so connectivityThe original Apple HomePod is still one of the best-sounding smart speakers on the market – but when it comes to actually playing your music, it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of connectivity. Sure, voice control is the calling card of the smart speaker, but sometimes Bluetooth connectivity is more convenient – and that’s something the original HomePod is lacking, which is particularly frustrating when you can’t find a track on Apple’s own streaming service. Apple Music is the only streaming service that can be controlled with Siri, and you won’t find native support for Spotify or Tidal – so if you want to listen to Hi-Res Audio files, you’ll be disappointed. If you buy one of the current Apple HomePod speakers, you’re essentially locking yourself into Apple’s audio ecosystem. The Apple HomePod 2 could rectify this by either adding support for these services, or by allowing for Bluetooth connectivity, letting you stream tracks from your smartphone from whichever platform you choose. By letting other services have a look in, the Apple HomePod 2 could entice a host of new users who would have otherwise opted for models like the Sonos One. All in all, for the Apple HomePod 2 to make a real impact in the world of smart speakers, the company needs to introduce a little flexibility to its rigid way of thinking. Apple should really give users the option to stream music from multiple services, and open Siri’s capabilities up to those who aren’t already invested in the Apple ecosystem – and if Apple offers incentives like cheaper Apple Music subscriptions to those who make the switch, it could build a loyal fanbase of smart home enthusiasts. There are rumors that Siri will be cut from the device entirely to save on cost, making the new Apple HomePod a regular wireless speaker – which is totally feasible given the HomePod’s strong audio performance and multi-room capabilities. However, we’d rather see some improvements – after all, if Apple can get Siri up to scratch, it could dominate the smart speaker market in the same way it has propelled the true wireless earbuds market with the AirPods and AirPods Pro.
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| Apex Legends Mobile: what we want to see Posted: 21 Jun 2020 03:00 AM PDT Apex Legends was one of the hottest games of 2019, and it continues to prove successful over a year after its launch. We'd say a mobile port seems likely, but for the fact publisher EA has directly confirmed Apex Legends will come to mobile at some time in the future. In late 2019, EA confirmed that Apex Legends Mobile could be released around the end of 2020. Although we've heard nothing about it since then, and we don't know much in the way of how it'll play. Now the game is confirmed to be launching on Nintendo Switch later this year, we thought this would be a great time to talk about the potential mobile release. Most popular multiplayer games have seen big changes when they've been ported over to mobile. PUBG Mobile has a tweaked map and added AI players compared to the main game, and Call of Duty: Mobile is its own separate entity based on maps, weapons and guns from the popular series. It's not clear, then, if Apex Legends Mobile will be a faithful port of the online battle royale game or if it'll be different in some ways. We don't know what it'll be called either, though 'Apex Legends Mobile' seems the most obvious choice. In addition we don't know whether the developers will opt to use the 'standard' controls shooting games use on mobile phones, or possibly try out some new features like Call of Duty: Mobile did with its automatic aim-down-sights. To help you understand what Apex Legends Mobile is shaping up to be before its release, we've compiled everything you need to know as well as a wish-list of what we'd like to see in Apex Legends mobile. Cut to the chase
Apex Legends Mobile release date and priceLet's start with the price: we'd very much expect Apex Legends Mobile to be free. Apex Legends was a free download on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, with the option to buy cosmetics on the side, so it'd be curious for that to be different for a mobile port. In addition most similar mobile ports like Fortnite, PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile are free, with micro-transactions instead of an up-front payment, so to stay competitive Apex Legends Mobile would probably want to do the same. As for a release date, that's the real question mark over Apex Legends Mobile, but we're expecting it to be after October 1. That's because EA's chief executive has previously said it'd be coming in the 2021 fiscal year, which starts in October. So an Apex Legends Mobile release date might be a way off, and although we could be surprised with an earlier release, it's probably best not to get our hopes up. Apex Legends Mobile: what we want to seeHere are some of the features of Apex Legends Mobile we'd like to see, including changes (or lack thereof) from the base game, and ways it'd work on a mobile phone. 1. Cross-play for mobile devicesThis is an easy one, and something we expect you'll be able to do when it launches. We'd love for cross-play to be supported by Apex Legends Mobile, but just across mobile devices. It wouldn't be fair to be competing against those on console or PC, but it'd be great if Android players could be mixed in the same matches as those on iOS. That's especially the case as the people you want to meet up with and play online may have differing devices. 2. 120Hz support across all devicesFortnite Mobile is capable of running at 120Hz on the iPad Pro, but that's all for now and we'd like to see Apex go above and beyond that for its mobile iteration. With a lot of top-end mobile devices now sporting 120Hz frame rate displays, we'd hope this would soon become the norm in games like Apex Legends, at least for phones that can support it. This is unlikely to happen at launch, but it'd be a big benefit and make the gameplay even smoother than other mobile titles. 3. A reworked mapWe don't want to say goodbye to Kings Canyon, but that may be a necessity for a mobile version of Apex. Traversing that map may be difficult in a short mobile game, so maybe Respawn could work on a smaller map for this edition? It could still be a mobile version of Kings Canyon, but considering how long it takes to travel from one side of the map to the other this may be a difficult thing to do in the Kings Canyon or World's Edge we know and love. 4. Easy to downloadThis is another simple one; we'd like Apex Legends Mobile to be easy to download and install to your phone. Epic Games decided not to host its version of Fortnite Mobile in the Google Play Store at launch, so you had to download it in a roundabout way with an APK and that was a bit of a pain. We'd like to see EA make a big song and dance about its Apex Legends mobile release, and launching that on the App Store and Google's alternative would be a good way to do that. 5. A solo modeMobile connectivity can be unreliable at the best of times, so perhaps it's time to have a single player mode of Apex Legends in the mobile title so you don't have to rely on the connection of those around you. By this we mean, we'd like to see you play as a team of one, so your game plans won't be scuppered if another player disconnects (in fact, that might be advantageous for you). This won't be anywhere near as fun as working as a team, but it may be a good addition for those with poorer connectivity or those who want to avoid working with others. 6. Support for plug-and-play controllersPlug-and-play controllers are great ways to play mobile games, as they imitate the console controller experience and stop you becoming reliant on the often-fiddly on-screen controls. However, some games like Fortnite, PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile don't work on all - we tested the Razer Kishi recently and these games weren't supported, so we couldn't use it on them. We'd like to see Apex Legends Mobile launch with a bespoke control scheme for mobile game pads, so we have the option of using the controllers if we so wish. 7. An offline modeSometimes you just can't get online to play games, and we'd like Apex Legends to have an offline mode so we can still enjoy the experience without needing to be connected to the internet. One option for this is to bring over the Story Mode from the main version which lets you play linear levels with select equipment and enemies based on areas from the map. These are short, but are a fun alternative to the online battle royale. Another option is to offer a version of the battle royale game where you only play against AI opponents. Of course the AI would need to be pretty good, so you don't feel like you're fighting lifeless robots (as that would be no fun) but it could be a good training mode for the actual game. 8. Variable frame-rate and other battery featuresMobile gaming can be a huge battery drain, but some titles have ways to mitigate this issue to an extent, and we'd like Apex Legends to bring some into play. For example, Old School RuneScape lets you set a frame-rate cap if you like, which reduces battery drain (and makes the game easier to play on older phones), and that'd work well here for people who don't have 120Hz phones as mentioned above. Good optimization in the game would also stop it draining power as much, and possibly shorter match lengths as well so each individual one doesn't take as much off your phone's battery life. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Spotify could be working to add music videos to its app Posted: 21 Jun 2020 02:30 AM PDT While Spotify has dabbled with video before, it's hardly an integral part of the music streaming app at the moment. That might be about to change, based on code hidden inside the current version of the mobile app. As revealed by serial hidden-feature-revealer Jane Wong on Twitter, Spotify engineers are experimenting with a new Video tab on the now playing screen, to go alongside Album Art and Canvas tabs. There's nothing there yet though – only a message that reads: "Thanks for your interest in video. We're still exploring what could happen here." Music videos would seem to be the obvious choice.
If you're unfamiliar with Canvas by the way, it shows short, looping animations provided by the artist for selected songs. It's more visual art than an actual music video, and in the current apps you get to (if it doesn't start playing automatically) it by tapping on the album art. The easy comparison to make here is with Google's up-and-coming YouTube Music, which has music videos front and center – you can switch between video and audio for tracks that have videos with a single tap, for example. YouTube has been a fantastic music resource for years, way before YouTube Music launched. Besides having just about every music video of recent years, Google's video sharing platform also has a ton of rare audio, live recordings, and music uploaded by fans. Now it seems that Spotify is keen to get in on the music video action. It would most likely have to tap up YouTube for access to the videos, which might pose a problem – though YouTube is usually okay with its content getting embedded, as long as it means more views for the clips. As yet Spotify hasn't said anything official about the feature being tested, which comes with the usual caveat: it might end up getting abandoned even before it reaches users. Even if Spotify is only playing around with the idea of music video, it shows how it's thinking about ways to keep users in its apps. Via 9to5Google This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The fitness tracker of tomorrow Posted: 21 Jun 2020 01:20 AM PDT What will the fitness tracker of the future look like, and what new features will it offer when strapped around your wrist? We've already seen some exciting new activity bands this year that hint at things to come. We've had the heavy-duty Polar Grit X and accessible Fitbit Charge 4, plus several new entries in the luxe Garmin MARQ range (including a watch with maps for 4,000 golf courses). There are many more on the horizon too, including the Amaxfit X, with its strangely curved screen, and (hopefully) the Garmin Fenix 7. We wouldn't be at all surprised to see some new entries from the likes of Suunto as well. But what about further in the future? Here are the features we'd most like to see hitting the mainstream over the next couple of years – and why we don't think they're a pipe dream. 5G5G has the potential to revolutionize smartwatches and fitness trackers alike, taking the weight of computing off the device itself and shifting it to the cloud. For example, it could make a dramatic improvement to voice controls. Previously, when we’ve used an Alexa-enabled smartwatch (like the Fitbit Versa 2) we’ve been disappointed by how long it takes to respond to queries as our questions are sent to our phone, then to Amazon’s servers, and all the way back again. It’s the last thing you want when you’re on the move. With 5G, responses would be almost instant, making voice controls far more practical and useful. It would also make music streaming a breeze – no need to rely on your fitness tracker’s on-board storage, or simply use it as a remote to control the music app on your phone. In fact, 5G connectivity could almost eliminate the need to download and install apps using your phone. The Garmin Quatix 6X Solar can last almost a month between charges, but at an eye-watering price Month-long battery life – or moreThe newly launched Garmin Quatix 6X Solar is specially designed for life at sea, without ready access to an electrical outlet, and boasts remarkable battery life of up to 24 days. That’s achieved thanks to the watch’s photovoltaic face, which keeps it topped up when you’re off messing about in boats. There’s only one drawback: the Quatic 6X solar costs $1,149.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,799. That’s not entirely due to the solar charging – this is a fitness tracker that can also control a yacht – but we’d love to see that kind of battery life in fitness trackers that don’t cost hundreds of dollars, letting us go weeks without a charge (which would be wireless, naturally). A flexible displayWe’ve seen foldable phones and rollable TVs, so a fitness tracker with a bendable display seems like a natural next step. The forthcoming Amazfit X will have a curved display to give you more space for notifications, but a truly flexible display would give you more still. A wrap-around watch wouldn’t have to take the same snapping force of a snap-shut smartphone, which would hopefully make it more robust than devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, whose launch was marred by reports of broken screens. Such a smartwatch wouldn’t come cheap (the Galaxy Fold’s launch price was twice that of a typical flagship smartphone), but hopefully the price will drop as the technology matures. The Amazfit X has a long, curved screen to display more data, but what if it was flexible too? Improved incident detectionFall detection is already making its way into higher-end fitness trackers, but we want to see it become mainstream. Not only that, we’d like to be able to trigger it manually by holding a single button. Episodes like a hypoglycemic attack or epileptic seizure are often preceded by a specific feeling, but if you’re confused and dizzy, you might not have the ability or presence of mind to remember a complicated series of taps and swipes. Virtual group workoutsThrough its running and cycling apps, Zwift lets you join a virtual run or ride on a treadmill or exercise bike – but what if you could do the same thing outdoors? There’d be no need for a separate cadence sensor thanks to your watch’s GPS, which would help you keep pace with the pack remotely. With Bluetooth headphones connected to your tracker (forget the phone), you could chat with your friends in real time during a long run, or take part in a HIIT together with audio alerts. You could even get Peloton-style real-time coaching from a professional instructor anywhere in the world. Tomorrow's fitness tracker could provide full, interactive support for a much wider variety of workouts More activitiesMost fitness trackers are mainly designed with cardio in mind – swimming, running, cycling and walking being the order of the day – why stop there? If your new tracker came with a set of sensors similar to those used by Yoganotch, it could provide interactive classes for not just yoga, but activities like dance and pilates through your headphones, giving you instructions and correcting you if your posture is less than perfect. And what about getting live guidance when using your connected smart dumbbells? An HD cameraThe camera apps on smartwatches like the Apple Watch function as remote controls for your phone, and although some smartwatches with their own built-in cameras do exist, we've yet to see an activity band with a built-in snapper. It looks like that will soon change though, and Fitbit even seems to be preparing a kid's fitness tracker capable of making video calls, but why should they get all the fun? A fitness tracker with a built-in HD camera (or even 4K if you want to dream big) would not only let you join Zoom chats from your wrist, it would also help show off your most picturesque runs and rides on Strava. Just hold up your hand and capture the scene in its fully glory, or stream live video to your platform of choice. That wrap-around screen mentioned earlier could double as a handy viewfinder so you aren’t shooting blind. There would be no need to store the resulting snaps or footage locally – the data could be sent off to a cloud server instantly (or just cached temporarily if you’re out of 5G range) then deleted to conserve internal storage.
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| What is blue light? Glasses, filters, night shift, and dark mode explained Posted: 21 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT What is blue light? Those two simple words may well be causing you grief, in a screen-heavy society intent on getting you to work at a laptop, take breaks by scrolling through social media on your phone, and rest at the end of the day by… turning on the television. In its simplest form, blue light is simply part of the light spectrum from infrared to UV (ultraviolet light). The reason you’re hearing so much about it these days, though, is that LCD screens emit a substantial amount – and our proximity to so many of them, for both our work and leisure, means we’re getting an awful lot of it. Blue light has become something of a bugbear these days, with many claims around the impact of blue light on the quality of our sleep or even our eye health. Studies certainly suggest that blue light can suppress the release of melatonin at night, making it harder to get to sleep or reach deep sleep states needed to fully rest. But when we end the day with the television or head to our smartphones to final-check our messages or set our morning alarms, it can be hard to break the routines keeping us in constant thrall to blue light. That’s led to the creation of a host of blue light filter technologies, which aim to stop blue light reaching your eyes (through specialized spectacles) or possibly even leaving the screen at all (through protective screen filters). This guide will run you through the science around blue light, why some concerns are more valid than others, and the aids currently available to help you out. Blue light FAQ
OLED smartphones emit a lot less blue light than LED displays Blue light: the scienceWe wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t come armed with some good, hard facts. The important thing to remember is that blue light is a natural part of sunlight, and helps to keep us alert. The issue is when that blue light comes at times – say, late in the day – that mess with your circadian rhythm, telling your brain that it isn’t yet time to shut down for bed. This is great for keeping you active in the late hours for a big project deadline, or if you’re trying to stay awake, but it’s not as great when you’re trying to sleep. Harvard Health cites numerous medical studies making a strong case for melatonin suppression by blue light – and specifically recommends people “avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed.” The issue is fuzzier around eye health, though (more on this further down). Lots of uninterrupted screen time can absolutely irritate your eyes, though the issue may simply be because you’re focusing your attention at a fixed distance for hours on end, and therefore straining your vision. As ever, it’s good advice to take regular breaks from your screen, look out the window (if you have one), and walk about when you can to vary the distance your eyes are focusing on. It's worth noting that OLED screens – like those used in the iPhone 11 Pro, or OLED TVs like the LG CX – emit far less blue light than traditional LED lighting technologies too (via FlatPanelsHD). Other studies have suggested positive benefits to limiting blue light exposure or using filters, like this one (via GoodHousekeeping). The proximity of LED screens to our eyes means we're getting a lot of blue light Blue light: night shift, dark mode, and f.luxYou may already be aware of software fixes for blue light, such as Apple’s Night Shift setting, which reduces levels of blue light, according to the time in your region, to reduce the intensity of the display: “Night Shift automatically adjusts the colours of your display to the warmer end of the spectrum – making the display easier on your eyes.” f.lux is a similar program available for Mac, PC, iOS and Android. The issue with both Night Shift and f.lux is that they give screens a reddish or orange tint towards the end of the day – which isn’t ideal for watching Netflix shows or enjoying pretty much anything in its original colors. The much-discussed dark mode, too, is something available on a host of different devices and apps. Dark mode generally turns automatically white backgrounds to black (or a dark color) to reduce the amount of light being emitted, hopefully reducing eye strain.
Get some amber light before you go to sleep Blue light filtersThere’s now a burgeoning market in blue light filters: effectively screen protectors that help to block out blue light on your most commonly-used devices. Ocushield is one company making blue light filters for computer screens or smartphones. The options are a bit limited to certain models and sizes – you’ll have better luck getting the right fit with an iPhone or Macbook – but we got to test out a few ourselves, and were impressed. The filters clearly block out blue wavelengths without overtly affecting the color palette on your screen, meaning you’re not left with off-tone images. We’re told by Ocushield founder Dhruvin Patel that users of the filter are “limiting blue light while maintaining a crystal clear picture,” while also noting that software such as f.lux – designed largely for evening use – doesn’t address exposure to blue light throughout the rest of the day. “Cumulative exposure to blue light during the day also causes visual stress in the form of eye strain and headaches which a lot of people are unaware of.” “Ocushield has been specially developed to reduce the spikes in blue light while maintaining a clear image,” said Patel. “Through research studies done on blue light, simply reducing blue light by 19% has been shown to have positive impacts on users. Ocushield filters limit blue light exposure by up to 40%, double the researched amount. Ocushield screen protectors are registered to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK.” Patel advises us to turn down the brightness on our devices, too: “The brightness on digital device screens also correlates to the intensity of blue light being emitted, if you decrease the brightness of your screen you will again reduce the impact at hand.” Ray-Ban now stocks blue light protection lenses Blue light glasses: should you buy them?A new twist on UV-protective glasses in the past few years has been prescription glasses with a blue light filter overlaid on the lenses, which help to block out blue light instead of ultraviolet light. Even Ray-Ban includes a Blue Light Filter option for its prescription glasses, claiming “17% protection” for blue light wavelengths. In recent news, a Manchester-based eyewear company Arlo Wolf is giving out free blue-light lenses to NHS staff too. A study by the US National Institutes of Health writes that "More than one-third of wearers found that a clear lens with a blue-filtering coating (BT lens, which all limit blue light up to 20%) provided better anti-glare performance and improved their vision for computer and mobile digital screens." However, the UK's College of Optometrists states that "There is no strong evidence that blue-blocking spectacle lenses will improve visual performance, alleviate symptoms of eye strain or improve sleep quality. It is also unclear whether blue-light filtering lenses preserve macular health or alter the risks associated with the development or progression of AMD [age-related macular degeneration]." The FDA doesn’t view blue light glasses as medical devices, either, and it may be too early to claim certain benefits or harm prevention conclusively. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here’s the cheapest way to store a huge 1000TB of data online Posted: 20 Jun 2020 08:00 PM PDT Remember when tape was en vogue, back in the days before it was displaced by compact discs and then vanished from the consumer market? Well, turns out it's still very much in fashion in the corporate world, where demand for data storage is fast outstripping supply. Fujifilm has announced it will offer its tape-based Object Archive solution as a service (you could call it TaaS) for a transparent, one-off fee. You can store up to one Petabyte (that’s one million GB) in a datacenter for up to five years for a mere $46,100. That’s $0.77 cents per TB per month, without the additional egress costs, and there’s even an S3 API for Amazon’s popular cloud storage service.
Compared to Backblaze, one of the cheapest online cloud backup services around, Fujifilm’s offering is about 85% cheaper over five years. Data is stored in the newly developed OTF (Open Tape Format) on two copies, in a way that mimics RAID-0; 180 LTO-8 and 350 LTO-7 tapes are provided. For added security, the archived data is also air-gapped. “The customer can request the latest LTO generation (ie. LTO-9) upon renewal of their subscription. The customer is required to upgrade to the latest tape drive technology (LTO-9 drives if the customer is requesting LTO-9 media) prior to the shipment of media,” Fujifilm told TechRadar Pro. A shorter 3-year subscription is also available for $35,940, which is slightly more expensive in the long run at $1 per TB per month. Just bear in mind, this is a cold storage solution, similar to Amazon’s Glacier, and as such is unlikely to suit scenarios where data needs to be moved to and from the storage tier on a regular basis.
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