Category Archives: Technology

Deino Community Day Texts and Hisuian Pokémon Discovered in Datamine

Hello Trainers! Niantic has pushed the Deino Community day Texts, including the special research texts, and the categories and descriptions for all of the Hisuian Pokémon and Hisuian variants!!

💡 Disclaimer: You know the drill by now, everything in this article is data mined, and therefore subject to change or not even being released at all. Keep that in mind as we go through his. All of this information is publicly provided by the PokéMiners and includes some of my commentary.

** Spoiler warning **

This article contains the texts that are potentially the entire special research line for Deino Community Day.  If you don’t want that spoiled, click away now!  You’ve been warned!  

Deino Community Day

RESOURCE ID: community_day_deino_event_name
TEXT: Community Day: Deino

Deino Community Day

Ticket

RESOURCE ID: general1.ticket.2_deino_title
TEXT: Field Notes: Deino

RESOURCE ID: general1.ticket.2_deino_description
TEXT: A ticket to access the Field Notes: Deino Special Research on June 25, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time, wherever you are. Details can be found in the in-game News.

YOU MUST PLAY DURING THE SPECIFIED TIME TO RECEIVE ALL THE SPECIAL EVENT BONUSES.

RESOURCE ID: item_event_ticket_pink_desc
TEXT: A ticket to access Special Research on June 25, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time, wherever you are.

RESOURCE ID: item_event_ticket_pink_details
TEXT: This ticket will automatically activate to give you access to Special Research on June 25, 2022, wherever you are.

Texts for the ticket, it’s interesting that it’s been pushed as “Field Notes: Deino Special Research” instead of something clever.  This is due to Willow still being missing, and Rhi will be leading us on this adventure.

Bonuses Unlocked!

RESOURCE ID: bonus_not_active
TEXT: Bonus not currently active

RESOURCE ID: bonus_unlocked
TEXT: Bonus unlocked!

RESOURCE ID: bonus_active
TEXT: Bonus currently active!

Texts for the bonuses, and their various states.

Today View Texts

RESOURCE ID: bonus_1/4_hatch_dist_deino
TEXT: 1/4 Hatch Distance

RESOURCE ID: bonus_2x_xl_candy_chance_deino
TEXT: 2× chance to get Deino Candy XL from catching Deino

RESOURCE ID: bonus_cd_move_deino
TEXT: Evolve Zweilous to get a Hydreigon that knows the Charged Attack Brutal Swing

RESOURCE ID: photobomb_five_deino
TEXT: 5 surprise encounters with Deino in GO Snapshot

RESOURCE ID: spawn_deino
TEXT: More Deino are appearing in the wild

RESOURCE ID: ticket_deino
TEXT: Ticket for the Field Notes: Deino Special Research story available in the shop

Texts for the today tab, don’t forget those snapshots!

Catch and Raid Challenges

RESOURCE ID: challenge_available
TEXT: A new challenge is available!

RESOURCE ID: bonus_implicit_social_deino_lure_title
TEXT: Community Day Challenge: Catch

RESOURCE ID: bonus_implicit_social_deino_lure
TEXT: If enough Pokémon are caught with help from a single Lure Module, Zweilous will appear near the Lured PokéStop for 30 minutes.

RESOURCE ID: bonus_implicit_social_deino_raid_title
TEXT: Community Day Challenge: Raid

RESOURCE ID: bonus_implicit_social_deino_raid
TEXT: If Trainers work together to win a Zweilous raid, large numbers of Deino will appear in the area for 30 minutes.

Texts for a catch challenge, the bonus raid challenge, and a note that Zweilous will appear if enough Pokémon are caught near a lure.

Tasks

RESOURCE ID: quest_deino_catch
TEXT: Catch {0} Deino

RESOURCE ID: quest_deino_evolve_a
TEXT: Evolve {0} Deino

RESOURCE ID: quest_deino_evolve_b
TEXT: Evolve {0} Deino or Zweilous

RESOURCE ID: quest_deino_snap
TEXT: Take {0} snapshots of Deino

RESOURCE ID: quest_power_up_dragon_plural
TEXT: Power up Dragon-type Pokémon {0} times

Tasks for the day

Field Notes: Deino Special Research

Step 1/4

RESOURCE ID: quest_title_deino_0
TEXT: Field Notes: Deino (1/4)

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_0_0
+TEXT: It appears their aggression is primarily fueled by necessity...

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_0_1
+TEXT: Ah! Greetings again, Pokémon Trainer. You have found me mid-observation. An astounding amount of these Pokémon are present today—Deino, is it?

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_0_2
+TEXT: Bereft of sight, their first instinct is to bite. I have experienced this firsthand—but do not fret. The pain was minimal.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_0_3
+TEXT: This world is replete with unique Pokémon. Though I wish to study them all, today’s focus will be on Deino alone.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_0_4
+TEXT: May I borrow some moments from you, Pokémon Trainer? I would welcome your expertise in this endeavor.

Rhi will guide us along our adventure and not Willow.

Step 2/4

RESOURCE ID: quest_title_deino_1
TEXT: Field Notes: Deino (2/4)

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_0
+TEXT: Thank you for your assistance, Pokémon Trainer.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_1
+TEXT: Deino tackle and bite at their surroundings. Even in darkness, they find novel ways to navigate the world...

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_2
+TEXT: ......

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_3
+TEXT: Ahem. Do you think the Deino seek anything in particular? Sustenance, perhaps?

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_4
+TEXT: I see. It is normal in your world to feed Berries to Pokémon when attempting to catch them. Hmm... Deino may not be able to see, but I wonder how well they can smell and taste.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_1_5
+TEXT: I wish to investigate the acuity of these senses by seeing how Deino respond to Berries. Will you assist me, Pokémon Trainer?

Step 3/4

RESOURCE ID: quest_title_deino_2
TEXT: Field Notes: Deino (3/4)

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_2_0
+TEXT: How dee, Pokémon Trainer. I have observed you sending Gifts to your friends affixed with charming decorations. Stuckums, is it? No? Ah—stickers. What is the function of these adornments?

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_2_1
+TEXT: I see... So they are primarily decorative, but can also communicate certain sentiments. There seems to be much comradery among the Pokémon Trainers in this world.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_2_2
+TEXT: Deino may bite and tackle each other, but perhaps what appears aggressive and unfriendly is simply an interaction we do not understand. Putting yourself in the mind of a Pokémon can illuminate new perspectives, do you not think?

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_2_3
+TEXT: Hm? Your Professor Willow would also share his observations of the Pokémon you encountered? I hope you find my musings equally helpful.

+RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_2_4
+TEXT: If I may muse further: I am eager to observe Deino’s Evolution. Its physical changes may inform its behavior.

Step 4/4

RESOURCE ID: quest_title_deino_3
TEXT: Field Notes: Deino (4/4)

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_0
TEXT: Astounding. You have shown me yet another wonder of this world, Pokémon Trainer.

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_1
TEXT: I did not anticipate Deino would gain an additional head when it evolved to Zweilous—though I cannot discern if either head can see.

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_2
TEXT: The two heads appear quite quarrelsome—particularly regarding food. Ah—be calm! There are Berries for all mouths!

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_3
TEXT: Zweilous could learn much from the friendship you and I share. Perhaps it will do so as you travel together.

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_4
TEXT: I have learned recently that Zweilous can evolve into a Pokémon called Hydreigon. Will it gain yet more heads? Will it trade quarrels for kindness?

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_5
TEXT: Thank you for accompanying me in my investigation today, Pokémon Trainer.

RESOURCE ID: quest_special_dialogue_deino_3_6
TEXT: I presumed the mysteries of the Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Beasts would be my primary focus here—but the Pokémon of your world hold many mysteries of their own.

Hisui Region

Badge

RESOURCE ID: badge_pokedex_entries_gen8a
TEXT: Register {0} Pokémon first discovered in the Hisui region to the Pokédex.

RESOURCE ID: badge_pokedex_entries_gen8a_singular
TEXT: Register {0} Pokémon first discovered in the Hisui region to the Pokédex.

RESOURCE ID: badge_pokedex_entries_gen8a_title
TEXT: Hisui

RESOURCE ID: badge_pokedex_entries_gen8a_value_format
TEXT: N0

The badge that the PokéMiners have previously discovered.  Hisuian Pokémon are officially Gen8a.

Filter

RESOURCE ID: filter_key_hisui 
TEXT: hisui

Filter for Hisuian Pokémon

Original Hisuian Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0899
TEXT: Wyrdeer

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0900
TEXT: Kleavor

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0901
TEXT: Ursaluna

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0902
TEXT: Basculegion

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0903
TEXT: Sneasler

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0904
TEXT: Overqwil

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_name_0905
TEXT: Enamorus

The Original Hisuian Pokémon have been added.  Kleavor!!

White-Striped Form Basculin

RESOURCE ID: form_white_striped
TEXT: White-Striped Form

The White-Striped form of Basculin

Pokémon Categories and Descriptions

Growlithe

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0058_2792
TEXT: Scout Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0058_2792
TEXT: They patrol their territory in pairs. I believe the igneous rock components in the fur of this species are the result of volcanic activity in its habitat.

Arcanine

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0059_2793
TEXT: Legendary Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0059_2793
TEXT: Snaps at its foes with fangs cloaked in blazing flame. Despite its bulk, it deftly feints every which way, leading opponents on a deceptively merry chase as it all but dances around them.

Typhlosion

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0157_2786
TEXT: Ghost Flame Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0157_2786
TEXT: Said to purify lost, forsaken souls with its flames and guide them to the afterlife. I believe its form has been influenced by the energy of the sacred mountain towering at Hisui’s center.

Qwilfish

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0211_2788
TEXT: Balloon Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0211_2788
TEXT: Fishers detest this troublesome Pokémon because it sprays poison from its spines, getting it everywhere. A different form of Qwilfish lives in other regions.

Sneasel

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0215_2794
TEXT: Sharp Claw Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0215_2794
TEXT: Its sturdy, curved claws are ideal for traversing precipitous cliffs. From the tips of these claws drips a venom that infiltrates the nerves of any prey caught in Sneasel’s grasp.

Samurott

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0503_2787
TEXT: Formidable Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0503_2787
TEXT: Hard of heart and deft of blade, this rare form of Samurott is a product of the Pokémon’s evolution in the region of Hisui. Its turbulent blows crash into foes like ceaseless pounding waves.

Lilligant

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0549_2789
TEXT: Spinning Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0549_2789
TEXT: I suspect that its well-developed legs are the result of a life spent on mountains covered in deep snow. The scent it exudes from its flower crown heartens those in proximity.

Zorua

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0570_2796
TEXT: Spiteful Fox Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0570_2796
TEXT: A once-departed soul, returned to life in Hisui. Derives power from resentment, which rises as energy atop its head and takes on the forms of foes. In this way, Zorua vents lingering malice.

Zoroark

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0571_2797
TEXT: Baneful Fox Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0571_2797
TEXT: With its disheveled white fur, it looks like an embodiment of death. Heedless of its own safety, Zoroark attacks its nemeses with a bitter energy so intense, it lacerates Zoroark’s own body.

Braviary

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0628_2798
TEXT: Battle Cry Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0628_2798
TEXT: Screaming a bloodcurdling battle cry, this huge and ferocious bird Pokémon goes out on the hunt. It blasts lakes with shock waves, then scoops up any prey that float to the water’s surface.

Sliggoo

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0705_2790
TEXT: Snail Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0705_2790
TEXT: A creature given to melancholy. I suspect its metallic shell developed as a result of the mucus on its skin reacting with the iron in Hisui’s water.

Goodra

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0706_2791
TEXT: Shell Bunker Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0706_2791
TEXT: Able to freely control the hardness of its metallic shell. It loathes solitude and is extremely clingy—it will fume and run riot if those dearest to it ever leave its side.

Avalugg

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0713_2795
TEXT: Iceberg Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0713_2795
TEXT: The armor of ice covering its lower jaw puts steel to shame and can shatter rocks with ease. This Pokémon barrels along steep mountain paths, cleaving through the deep snow.

Decidueye

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0724_2785
TEXT: Arrow Quill Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0724_2785
TEXT: The air stored inside the rachises of Decidueye’s feathers insulates the Pokémon against Hisui’s extreme cold. This is firm proof that evolution can be influenced by environment.

Wyrdeer

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0899
TEXT: Big Horn Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0899
TEXT: The black orbs shine with an uncanny light when the Pokémon is erecting invisible barriers. The fur shed from its beard retains heat well and is a highly useful material for winter clothing.

Kleavor

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0900
TEXT: Axe Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0900
TEXT: A violent creature that fells towering trees with its crude axes and shields itself with hard stone. If one should chance upon this Pokémon in the wilds, one’s only recourse is to flee.

Ursaluna

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0901
TEXT: Peat Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0901
TEXT: I believe it was Hisui’s swampy terrain that gave Ursaluna its burly physique and newfound capacity to manipulate peat at will.

Basculegion

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0902
TEXT: Big Fish Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0902
TEXT: Clads itself in the souls of comrades that perished before fulfilling their goals of journeying upstream. No other species throughout all Hisui’s rivers is Basculegion’s equal.

Sneasler

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0903
TEXT: Free Climb Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0903
TEXT: Because of Sneasler’s virulent poison and daunting physical prowess, no other species could hope to best it on the frozen highlands. Preferring solitude, this species does not form packs.

Overqwil

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0904
TEXT: Pin Cluster Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0904
TEXT: Its lancelike spikes and savage temperament have earned it the nickname “sea fiend.” It slurps up poison to nourish itself.

Enamorus

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_category_0905
TEXT: Love-Hate Pokémon

RESOURCE ID: pokemon_desc_0905
TEXT: When it flies to this land from across the sea, the bitter winter comes to an end. According to legend, this Pokémon’s love gives rise to the budding of fresh life across Hisui.

Text Update – Last Pokéball Used

RESOURCE ID: settings_remember_last_pokeball
Removed TEXT: Remember Last Poké Ball
Added TEXT: Remember Last-Used Poké Ball

RESOURCE ID: settings_remember_last_pokeball_tip
Removed TEXT: The last ball type chosen will show in your next Pokémon encounter.
Added TEXT: The type of Poké Ball you last used will be automatically selected at the beginning of your next Pokémon encounter.

The texts for the last Poké Ball feature were updated from the Last Poké Ball to the Last Poké Ball used instead of just selected.

That’s all for now trainers, stay safe out there!

Read original article here

Nothing Phone 1 pre-order reservations start today

You can finally put money toward the Nothing Phone 1 — provided you can join an exclusive club. Nothing has opened pre-order reservations for its first smartphone using an invitation code system. Private community members go first, and will have 48 hours to use their code, place a £20 (roughly $25) non-refundable deposit and secure an order opportunity on July 12th. Everyone else can sign up for a waiting list that will deliver invitations in batches.

If you do go ahead with an order, Nothing will deduct the deposit from the purchase and supply a further £20 credit to use toward either a Phone 1 accessory or Ear 1 earbuds. The company hasn’t yet revealed the price of the phone itself. As Nothing warned earlier, the Phone 1 won’t officially come to North America outside of a closed beta for a handful of private community investors. The device should work, but won’t have full support.

If the pre-order strategy sounds familiar, it should. Nothing founder Carl Pei’s former outfit OnePlus used an invitation system for years. The effect may be similar. Invitation-based orders help manage tight supply (by controlling sales and improving demand estimates) while creating a cachet that might spur demand. It’s not clear when you’ll get to order a Phone 1 on a whim, but don’t be surprised if you end up waiting awhile.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Read original article here

BMW M Confirms There Is Another Special Car Launching This Year


BMW M recently revealed the M4 CSL and the M3 Touring, while teasing the upcoming XM flagship performance SUV, but the celebrations for its 50th anniversary are not over yet. Following the latest rumors, BMW has officially confirmed that a new special M model is coming later this year.

As reported by BMW Blog, the news came during the public debut of the M3 Touring at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Timo Resch, VP of Marketing at BMW M, confirmed they are working on “one more special M car which will be unveiled later this year”.

Read Also: BMW M Boss Explains Why We Got A Bulky SUV Instead Of A Low-Slung Sportscar

The high-ranking official didn’t reveal more details about the mysterious model but the report strongly suggests it will be the rumored BMW 3.0 CSL. The spiritual successor to the E9 CSL “Batmobile” from the ‘70s will be based on the M4 CSL but feature a fully redesigned body, likely borrowing styling cues from the gorgeous 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept.

Unlike the all-wheel-drive M4 CSL that is exclusively available with an automatic gearbox, the latest information claim that the 3.0 CSL will come with a manual transmission, sending power to the rear axle. Furthermore, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine could be tuned to produce around 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS), combined with a lower weight and a more aggressive suspension setup.

It is reported that production of the BMW 3.0 CSL will be limited to 50 units. Each model was believed to cost around €600,000 ($632,343), but new information suggests a more premium €750,000 ($790,496) price tag. At the moment it is not clear when we are going to see the new “Batmobile” but judging from BMW M’s strategy, a teaser campaign should be considered a given.

Read original article here

6 great Samsung Galaxy S22 features you can find on Samsung’s cheaper phones

Samsung makes a big song and dance about its top-end phones like the new Galaxy S22, showing off all the fun and useful features that these devices have. However if you can’t afford one of these premium mobiles, you might assume that you don’t get to enjoy these tools.

That’s not the case though, as plenty of the more affordable Samsung phones also bring lots of the great features shown off on the Galaxy S devices. So if you buy a Galaxy A mobile, like the mid-range Samsung Galaxy A53 or even the budget Galaxy A13, you can use lots of these functions.

To give you an idea of some of the great Samsung Galaxy S22 features you can use on cheaper Samsung phones, we’ll run you through six of our favorites right now.

1. Single Take mode

(Image credit: Future)

With the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, we saw the launch of Single Take, a mode that makes photography much easier, and it’s remained a big feature of subsequent Galaxy S devices.

With the mode, you record a video of your subject, moving around and recording from different angles, and then AI will pick out the best stills from it and edit them for you. 

This lets you take an amazing picture whether or not you know much about photography.

Although it’s been a major selling point of Samsung Galaxy S phones, it’s actually also available on Galaxy A phones. This lets you take these super-simple snaps whether or not you’ve paid for the top-end Samsung phone.

Admittedly the AI isn’t quite as smart on the budget phones, so pictures won’t match those on the S-series phones, but it’s still a great feature that you don’t need to pay much for.

2. Device care

If you’re spending loads of money on an expensive phone, you want it to last a good long while – but depending on how you use it, that might not always be easy to achieve.

Thankfully, Samsung phones offer a way to help with this. In the Battery section of your Settings mode, you can find the Device Care menu. Here, you can see how healthy your device is, with a simple score letting you know how well-optimized the phone is for longevity, and you can also try to increase that score too.

The menu gives you options to optimize the storage, memory and battery, all to make sure your phone is running as healthily as possible.

Even if you haven’t paid top dollar for a Samsung phone this mode might be helpful though – after all, you’ll want your device to last a few years whether you’ve paid $400 or $1,400. This menu appears for all Galaxy devices, not just S-series ones, letting you improve the way your phone runs.

3. The 120Hz display

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung was one of the first companies to adopt high-refresh-rate displays on its smartphones, with some Galaxy S phones using 120Hz screens before rivals.

High refresh rate screens make motion look smoother, so whether you’re scrolling through social media or playing games, you get a more enjoyable viewing experience.

It’s a feature we initially saw exclusively in top-end phones – the aforementioned S20 was one of the first to use it – but now, you don’t need to pay loads for a premium device to enjoy it.

Now that the feature has been around for a while, we’ve seen more and more mid-range and budget phones embrace it. In Samsung’s case that’s partly true, as some of its budget devices now have 120Hz displays.

This includes the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and A73 – these have 120Hz screens yet don’t cost you as much as the top-end Galaxy S alternatives. So if you like smooth-motion screens, you can get one without paying loads.

4. Adaptive charging

A great example of a feature first introduced in Samsung’s top-end phones is Adaptive Charging – this mode protects your battery’s longevity by using AI to work out when to charge quickly and when to slow the power. With this, you can keep your phone plugged in for ages without it completely ruining the battery.

Originally, this was only available on top-end phones in the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note ranges, but recently, it’s started showing up in more affordable phones too.

You do have to be using a Samsung charger for this feature to work which, we should point out, you won’t get with certain newer Galaxy A mobiles. You’ll need to buy one online if you don’t own one – and it’s worth it, because in the long run, this could keep your phone lasting longer.

5. Food mode

(Image credit: Future)

While Single Take is the mode that Samsung shows off most often, it’s not the brand’s only useful way of taking pictures if you don’t want to use the standard photo mode.

Another of these is Food mode which, despite the name, doesn’t need to be used simply on food. It lets you pick an area of focus, with the rest of the shot having some depth blur – you can select an animal, a pattern or, of course food, and have it stand out from the shot. The mode also edits the snap with a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of saturation to make it pop more.

This mode isn’t just useful on Samsung Galaxy S phones, but also shows up on A-series devices. Since the cheaper phones don’t have as powerful cameras, it’s arguably even more handy on these devices, to ensure you’re getting the best snaps possible.

6. Spot color

Once you’ve taken a photo, it can be fun to edit it so that it’s truly social media ready, and Samsung’s top-end phones offer you the scope to do that.

The key feature here is Spot Color – when used in Samsung’s Gallery app, you can select a color and it’ll immediately be changed to monochrome in the photo. This lets you create some rather artistic masterpieces if you play around with it.

As you can probably gather given the headline of this article, this is another feature that’s available on Galaxy A devices as well as Galaxy S ones. We’ve used it before to take some pretty artistic shots, especially when used to make the background of a selfie black and white (but leaving the subject, us, as colored).

Thanks to this, as well as the camera modes we’ve already looked at, a Galaxy A phone is just as good as a Galaxy S one if you’re a prolific Insta poster.

Read original article here

Engineering Values Handbook – Strong Ideas, Loosely Held > News

(Not sure what this post is about?  Check out

Living Bungie’s Values as Engineers.)

You’re still here! Welcome! At this point you know what you’re here for, so let’s dive right in to…

When we first went over the Engineering Values Handbook as a team, we ended up in a multi-day all-hands chat thread digging into this specific value. It turned out that we were all pretty aligned on “loosely held,” but we had many different interpretations of “strong ideas”! Was it about strong advocacy, ensuring ideas get fair hearings? Brave proposals that challenge conventional wisdom? Thoughtful proposals that avoid being hot takes? This section of the handbook gave us an opportunity to get into that kind of nuance.

We believe good ideas can come from anyone regardless of their title, seniority, or discipline.

  • We strive for an egalitarian feel in all interactions.
  • We seek to provide each other psychological safety. We recognize the near-universality of imposter syndrome and try to build each other up, freely showing respect and admiration while taking great care with the tone and context of criticism.
  • We try to visibly show respect to everyone by default, even and especially when we haven’t worked with them yet. This is particularly critical to provide psychological safety to new hires who haven’t yet established institutional credibility.
  • During debate and decision making, we try to separate ideas from who proposed them.

“About a year ago, I moved from gameplay engineering to graphics, and soon after got to work on my first significant feature planning work. As I talked through the problem space with my mentor, Mark Davis, a principal graphics engineer with over twenty years of experience, I was struck by how much it was just two graphics engineers problem-solving together. It was completely clear I had equal footing in the discussion as we went back and forth on potential solutions and complications, and never felt afraid to challenge ideas or put them forth. I’ve continuously felt like I’m a full-fledged member of any discussion and my input is valued and meaningful, whether it’s with Mark, the Graphics team, other engineers, or Bungie as a whole. As an early-in-career engineer in a new discipline, I’ve grown into my new role and learned so much from being empowered like this, and it’s made for a deeply fulfilling and fun experience.”
     
Abby Welsh, 2020-

We’re brave enough to be seen being wrong.

  • Being seen being wrong can be scary, but it’s critical to our success. If we let our fear discourage us, we sacrifice opportunities for creativity and growth.
  • Being seen being wrong should never be a traumatic experience. You should feel welcomed and supported by the team. Our work to maintain psychological safety is critical here (see section above)—we’re creating a place where you don’t have to “toughen up” to feel safe being wrong.
  • We’re brave enough to make proposals to help move a plan forward even when our chances of being wrong are high—we don’t hang back waiting to be 100% certain that we will look smart with our suggestion.
  • We’re brave enough to see our ideas challenged without feeling personally attacked—we try to remember that we are respected regardless.
  • We’re brave enough to raise concerns or ideas even when we aren’t an expert or we’re raising them to someone more senior.
  • We’re brave enough to share our ideas early, seeking upgrades from others and avoiding polishing our ideas alone for grand reveals that take others unawares.

“In the development of the new engine model, the Activity Scripting team was revamping how and where activity scripts executed within the server ecosystem. Distributing them amongst various agents within the ecosystem allowed for more expressiveness, but it also created a synchronization beartrap for writing scripts that might deadlock or have unexpected behavior due to race conditions. To mitigate this possibility, I proposed a process of code-reviews for designer authored scripts similar to engineer code-reviews. This was not a practice that designers were experienced at and most folks who heard my pitch thought that we wouldn’t get broad buy-in. So instead, we pivoted the technical design to mitigate the risk with minimal loss of script expressiveness and didn’t adopt designer script-reviews at that time. Talking this over as a team helped us quickly identify that solving this challenge with ongoing human diligence wasn’t the right answer, even though it would have enabled an exciting technical solution.”
     Ed Kaiser, 2010-

We believe that success is helping a group get to the best answer and leaving with stronger relationships.

  • If you came up with the best answer but people aren’t excited to work with you again, that’s a failure.
  • If you made a meeting or project 25% more efficient but people aren’t excited to work with you again, that’s a failure.
  • If everyone is excited to work with you again but you didn’t speak up about a major flaw or opportunity, that’s a failure

“For a while the Engineering org held regular leads meetings where managers and others in leadership positions would gather to talk about Important Stuff™. When I finally leveled up enough to be invited, it felt like I had made the big time. It was a great feeling of validation but also intimidating. I wasn’t sure if I had anything worthy to contribute in this room with Bungie’s best and brightest. When I eventually did gather up the nerve to chime in, I was pleasantly surprised that everyone took my comments as seriously as anyone else’s. I came to realize that this held true with everyone that joined the group. There was never one dominant opinion that overshadowed all others. All voices mattered all the time.”
     James Haywood, 2007-

See you next time for value #4 – Closing is an Everyday Practice!

-Bungie Engineering

We’d love to talk with you. Here are some of the tech roles we’re hiring for, with many more on our careers page!

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Ti & RTX 4090 Graphics Card Renders Point To 3-Slot Founders Edition Cooler For Next-Gen BFGPUs

The alleged renders of NVIDIA’s next-gen ‘Ada Lovelace’ BFGPUs, the GeForce RTX 4090 Ti & RTX 4090 have been revealed by Moore’s Law is Dead. The renders showcase the updated Founders Edition coolers that will be utilized by the flagship AD102 GPUs.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Ti & RTX 4090 Graphics Card’s Alleged Renders Point To 3-Slot BFGPU Coolers

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Ti graphics card cooler was allegedly leaked out a while back. The very convincing photos possibly gave us a first look at the updated yet similar Founders Edition coolers that would be utilized by the next-gen Ada Lovelace-powered BFGPUs. Now MLID has a new set of renders for the same AD102 cards in various angles. The renders were made using information that the insider gathered through his sources.

Beware! Several Used NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Graphics Cards With Defective Memory Modules Being Sold After Being Abused In Crypto Mining

So starting with the details, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 Ti and RTX 4090 are going to be some insanely power-hungry designs with TGP ratings of 450 to 600W. Based on the previous leaks & recent rumors from Kopite7kimi, it looks like the GeForce RTX 40 series will utilize similar coolers that are utilized by the existing RTX 30 series but with some internal changes. The FE cooler for the RTX 4090 Ti and RTX 4090 is said to be between either 3 or 3.5 slots and will carry more fins and more heatsink surface area. Will that be enough to keep the next-gen GPUs in check?

Well, you can look at the existing Founders Edition cooler for the RTX 3090 and RTX 3090 Ti graphics cards. Both share the same cooler despite the latter pushing the TGP figures up by almost 30% (350W vs 450W). Despite that, the same cooler managed to keep the 3090 Ti run cooler and hit its clock targets without the need to change the heatsink design or the fan speeds of the card itself. So if the existing Founders Edition design can manage 450W TGP cards easily, then an updated version with more surface area in a slightly thicker package would surely be enough for up to 600 Watt cards.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, RTX 4080, RTX 4070 Specs Updated Again: AD102 GPU With 16384 Cores, AD103 With 10240 Cores & AD104 With 7168 Cores

Other things of the card such as the dual flow-through fan design will remain the same while the logos on the shroud will light up with LED illumination. One thing is for sure, you’d require a lot of chassis room to accommodate these next-gen BFGPUs such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Ti & RTX 4090. Plus, you’d also need to invest in a very solid PSU rated at least 1200W (or above). The next-generation GeForce RTX 40 flagship is expected to launch in October with the rest of the line following in the months ahead. You can check out more information on the cards here.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Graphics Card Lineup (Rumored):

Graphics Card GPU PCB Variant SM Units / Cores Memory / Bus Memory Clock / Bandwidth TGP Power Connectors Launch
NVIDIA Titan A? AD102-400? TBD 144 / 18432? 48 GB / 384-bit 24 Gbps / 1.15 TB/s ~900W 2x 16-pin TBD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Ti AD102-350? TBD 144 / 18432? 24 GB / 384-bit 24 Gbps / 1.15 TB/s ~600W 1x 16-pin TBD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 AD102-300? PG137/139 SKU330 128 / 16384? 24 GB / 384-bit 21 Gbps / 1.00 TB/s ~450W 1x 16-pin Q4 2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 AD103-300? PG13*/139 SKU360 80 / 10240? 16 GB / 256-bit 18 Gbps / 576 GB/s ~420W 1x 16-pin Q4 2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 AD104-275? PG141-310 SKU341 56 / 7168? 10 GB / 160-bit 18 Gbps / 360 GB/s ~300W 1x 16-pin Q4 2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 AD106-***? TBD >36 / 4608? 8 GB / 128-bit TBD ~200W 1 x 16-pin Q1 2023



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Bungie sues ‘Destiny 2’ YouTuber who issued almost 100 fake DMCA claims

In December of last year, a YouTuber by the name of Lord Nazo received copyright takedown notices from CSC Global — the brand protection vendor contracted by game creator Bungie — for uploading tracks from their game Destiny 2’s original soundtrack. While some content creators might remove the offending material or appeal the copyright notice, Nazo, whose real name is Nicholas Minor, allegedly made the ill-fated decision to impersonate CSC Global and issue dozens of fake DMCA notices to his fellow creators. As first spotted by The Game Post, Bungie is now suing him for a whopping $7.6 million.

“Ninety-six times, Minor sent DMCA takedown notices purportedly on behalf of Bungie, identifying himself as Bungie’s ‘Brand Protection’ vendor in order to have YouTube instruct innocent creators to delete their Destiny 2 videos or face copyright strikes,” the lawsuit claims, “disrupting Bungie’s community of players, streamers, and fans. And all the while, ‘Lord Nazo’ was taking part in the community discussion of ‘Bungie’s’ takedowns.” Bungie is seeking “damages and injunctive relief” that include $150,000 for each fraudulent copyright claim: a total penalty of $7,650,000, not including attorney’s fees.

The game developer is also accusing Minor of using one of his fake email aliases to send harassing emails to the actual CSC Global with the subject lines such as “You’re in for it now” and “Better start running. The clock is ticking.” Minor also allegedly authored a “manifesto” that he sent to other members of the Destiny 2 community — again, under an email alias — in which he “took credit” for some of his activities. The recipients promptly forwarded the email to Bungie.

As detailed in the lawsuit, Minor appears to have done the bare minimum to cover his tracks: the first batch of fake DMCA notices used the same residential IP address he used to log-in to both his Destiny and Destiny 2 accounts, the latter of which shared the same Lord Nazo username as his YouTube, Twitter and Reddit accounts. He only switched to a VPN on March 27th — following media coverage of the fake DMCA notices. Meanwhile, Minor allegedly continued to log-in to his Destiny account under his original IP address until May.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Amazon Alexa will be able to mimic deceased loved ones’ voices

The company announced on Wednesday during its annual re:MARS conference, which focuses on artificial intelligence innovation, that it’s working on an update to its Alexa system that would allow the technology to mimic any voice, even a deceased family member.

In a video shown on stage, Amazon (AMZN) demonstrated how, instead of Alexa’s signature voice reading a story to a young boy, it was his grandmother’s voice.

Rohit Prasad, an Amazon senior vice president, said the updated system will be able to collect enough voice data from less than a minute of audio to make personalization like this possible, rather than having someone spend hours in a recording studio like how it’s done in the past. Prasad did not elaborate on when this feature could launch. Amazon declined to comment on a timeline.

The concept stems from Amazon looking at new ways to add more “human attributes” to artificial intelligence, especially “in these times of the ongoing pandemic, when so many of us have lost someone we love,” Prasad said. “While AI can’t eliminate that pain of loss, it can definitely make their memories last.”

Amazon has long used recognizable voices, such as the real voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa McCarthy and Shaquille O’Neal, to voice Alexa. But AI recreations of people’s voices have also increasingly improved over the past few years, particularly with the use of AI and deepfake technology. For example, three lines in the Anthony Bourdain documentary “Roadrunner” were generated by AI, even though it sounded like they were said by the late media personality. (This particular case raised a stir because it was not made clear in the movie that the dialog was AI generated and had not been approved by Bourdain’s estate). “We can have a documentary-ethics panel about it later,” director Morgan Neville told The New Yorker when the film debuted last year.
More recently, actor Val Kilmer, who lost his voice to throat cancer, partnered with startup Sonantic to create an AI-driven speaking voice for him in the new “Top Gun: Maverick” film. The company used archival audio footage of Kilmer to teach an algorithm how to speak like the actor, according to Variety.

Adam Wright, a senior analyst at IDC Research, said he sees the value in Amazon’s effort.

“I think Amazon is interested in doing this because they have the capability and technology, and they are always searching for ways to elevate the smart assistant and smart home experience,” Wright said. “Whether it drives a deeper connection with Alexa, or just becomes a skill that some folks dabble with from time to time remains to be seen.”

Amazon’s foray into personalized Alexa voices may struggle most with the uncanny valley effect — recreating a voice that is so similar to a loved one’s but isn’t quite right, which leads to rejection by real humans.

“There are certainly some risks, such as if the voice and resulting AI interactions doesn’t match well with the loved ones’ memories of that individual,” said Micheal Inouye of ABI Research. “For some, they will view this as creepy or outright terrible, but for others it could be viewed in a more profound way such as the example given by allowing a child to hear their grandparent’s voice, perhaps for the first time and in a way that isn’t a strict recording from the past.”

He believes, however, the varying reactions to announcements like this speak to how society will have to adjust to the promise of innovations and their eventual reality in the years ahead.

“We’ll definitely see more of these types of experiments and trials — and at least until we get a higher comfort level or these things become more mainstream, there will still be a wide range of responses,” he said.

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$15,000 Later, Diablo Immortal Player Has His Legendary Gem

Image: Blizzard

The last time we checked in on streamer Quin and his attempts to buy his way to glory in Diablo Immortal, he had spent $6600 and not attained a single 5-star Legendary Gem. I am happy (?) to report that, after more than doubling his investment, he finally has his loot.

As I wrote earlier in the month:

You would think that after a while you’d eventually get some of the game’s best gear, a 5-star Legendary Gem, because that’s how the law of averages works, right? Wrong! As Quin69 has clearly proven here, the law of averages is inherently cruel and unpredictable, which is why bookmakers have been taking advantage of it since the dawn of time, and why games like Diablo Immortal are built on predatory economic models designed to exploit people’s most dangerous and vulnerable psychological impulses.

That was then! This is now, and Quin has since posted that after spending NZD$25,165 (USD$15,818) on the game—with NZD$10,000 of that coming in a single stream—he has his 5-star Legendary Gem:

Remember, simply buying your way to these items isn’t the only way you can get them, and as we’ve seen here is indeed the worst way, but that’s not the point. The point here is that having it as an option at all is one of the reasons predatory game economies suck!

As Kotaku AU wrote when reporting on his “achievement”:

Quin has certainly drawn his share of criticism throughout the experiment. His reckless spending and bursts of white-hot anger after failed drops caused many to wonder about his emotional stability. Others, even in our comments, were unhappy to see him giving Blizzard exactly what it wanted: his money. In the end, though, he proved his point. Chasing five-star Legendary Gems is a fool’s errand, a system designed to clear out bank accounts while giving very little back to the player.

Anyway, thanks for your service, Quin69. You can now stop playing Diablo Immortal for good.

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The Nintendo Switch Has A Big Summer Sale Right Now

Image: Nintendo

The dog days of summer are officially here. Whether you’re trying to take your mind off the heat or the bad headlines, you’re in luck: Nintendo is currently running a major sale on digital Switch games. Cool off with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze or mind-meld with a sentient hat in Super Mario Odyssey for 30% off the normal sticker price.

That’s not a giant discount in the larger world of gaming, but it’s a big deal for the notoriously stingy Nintendo eShop, where first-party games especially remain full price years after launch (unlike, for example, PlayStation where you can currently get God of War for just $20). The handheld hybrid’s current promotion is called the Nintendo eShop Big Ol’ Super Sale, and while it’s not as sweeping as last year’s Black Friday discounts, there’s still a lot of decently priced stuff if you’re looking for something to play while lying in front of the box fan or lounging in the pool.

Here’s the first-party stuff, discounted 30% off the normal $60 MSRP:

  • Super Mario Odyssey – $42
  • Super Mario Maker 2 – $42
  • Paper Mario: The Origami King – $42
  • The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – $42
  • Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – $42
  • Pikmin 3 Deluxe – $42

Why is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, a 2018 port of a 2014 Wii U game, still regularly full price? Who can say. But Tropical Freeze remains a gem and one of the best platformers of the modern era. Here are some other standouts from the sale:

  • Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore – $42
  • Astral Chain – $42
  • Daemon X Machina – $42
  • Bravely Default II – $42
  • Shin Megami Tensei V – $42
  • Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – $45
  • Monster Hunter Rise – $31
  • Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – $35
  • Dark Souls Remastered – $20
  • Ruined King: A League of Legends Story – $20
  • Tetris Effect: Connected – $24
  • No More Heroes 3 – $30
  • Hades – $15
  • Persona 5 Strikers – $30
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – $30
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – $12
  • Diablo II: Resurrected – $24
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – $30

There are also a few fantastic indies with some nice discounts right now, including Loop Hero ($10.50), Death’s Door ($13), and Chicory: A Colorful Tale ($14), all 2021 standouts on several people’s game-of-the-year lists. I personally will be taking this opportunity to pick up Castlevania Advance Collection ($13.50) and Eastward ($20), because June is usually when I get that itch to go back and play something classic or retro-influenced.

The Big Ol’ Super Sale will run until July 6 just before midnight and eShop purchases net you 5 percent back through gold coins, so you’ll get a few bucks off future games as well.

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