Category Archives: Technology

Technology

Xiaomi’s breakthrough allows more power to fit inside a smaller-sized battery

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Xiaomi announced Friday on Weibo that it has created a new breakthrough in its smartphone battery technology. This isn’t something that Xiaomi fans will have to wait years for as a translation of Xiaomi’s post says that production of this new tech will start as soon as the second half of next year. What this technology will do is increase the capacity of a battery by 10% while keeping the volume of the component the same.
What this means is that Xiaomi will be able to fit more battery power into a smaller package. Xiaomi will do this by increasing electrode silicon content and making a change to the packaging by shrinking and twisting the control circuits so they lie flush with the top of the battery instead of sticking out. As a result, Xiaomi will be able to place a 4400mAh battery into the space normally used for a 4000mAh battery.

In addition, the machine translation of the Weibo post mentions something called a “fuel gauge chip” that not only allows the battery to live a longer life, it also makes it safer. It allows the phone to use Xiaomi’s technology to intelligently charge the battery overnight. Many handsets will already do this and call the feature adaptive charging. Using machine learning, your phone learns what time you usually take your handset off the charger in the morning.

The phone then charges the battery to 80% and computes when it needs to start charging again to hit 100% by the time you usually unplug the device. This prevents the constant trickling of power to the battery designed to keep the charge at 100% from destroying the battery’s health. And as we said, many handsets already offer a feature like this although Xiaomi has it built-in to the battery controller along with a temperature management system.
Xiaomi’s announcement won’t help deliver a huge improvement to your battery life, but faster charging is coming. USB-C 2.1 can deliver maximum output to 240 watts using a USB-C cable. This is part of the new “Extended Power Range” system that is overkill when charging a single smartphone. At this point, 100W charging is fast enough for a smartphone.

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Technology

Analogue Pocket Preorders Will Reopen Next Week, But at a Higher Price

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Analogue has announced that preorders for the Pocket – its long-awaited handheld game console – will reopen on December 14 at 8am PT/11am ET/7pm GMT with a higher price.

Analogue announced the news in a blog post, saying that “due to industry wide component price increases, the price of Pocket is now $219. All other Pocket accessories will remain the same price.” Before this price hike, the Analogue Pocket retailed for $199.

Those who are lucky enough to secure a preorder this time around – the first batch sold out in 15 minutes – will fall into one of three fulfilment groups. This is to help ensure that “everyone who wants a Pocket will be able to secure an order.”

Group A currently has an estimated shipping date of Q1 2022, Group B’s is Q4 2022, and Group C’s is 2023. These fulfilment groups are assigned on “a first-come first-serve basis”, and “your order status will be updated a few days after you place your order to reflect what fulfilment group you are in.”

Analogue is limiting orders to 2 Pockets per customer, and it says this “system is put in place due to ongoing global supply constraint.” Additionally, orders may be cancelled at any time for a full refund before they are shipped.

Analogue Pocket – Gameplay Images

All current preorders are still on track to ship out on Monday, December 13, and Analogue has even upgraded all orders to FedEx 2-day so customers will get their orders as “quickly as possible.”

The Analogue Pocket was originally announced in 2019 and allows users to play three generations of Game Boy games and another of other handheld games using adapters. It also can display games at 10 times the resolution of the originals and features its own music and game design software.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.



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Technology

Best Buy’s holiday flash sale final hours: Save on headphones, laptops, 4K TVs and more

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Best Buy

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.

We’re in that nebulous period between Black Friday and Christmas where deals materialize out of the ether and disappear just as fast. And Best Buy is fully embracing that approach with a surprise flash sale that began Friday. This flash sale ends tonight, but it is worth checking out while there’s still time. Best Buy’s sale brings a slew of great new offers, including over 50% off Sony-WH-XB900N noise-canceling headphones. 

There’s a lot of deals to get excited about for this sale, including a wide range of TV discounts; from 40% off this 32-inch Toshiba Fire TV to $120 off this 55-inch 4K UHD LG Smart TV. Some of our absolute favorites include the lowest prices yet on the next-gen tech — like the brand-new GoPro Hero10, which shoots stunning 5.3K video, and the 128GB unlocked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, so you can pick it up without having to worry about navigating a tangled web of service plans and monthly charges. 

Best Buy

True wireless headphones come in a bunch of shapes, sizes, colors and price points. Some are pretty expensive, but these are really affordable and offer some nice features. They are perfect for the younger kids who want some nicer headphones that you can’t quite trust with AirPods yet.

Black Friday had a bunch of great TV deals and if you missed out here’s another chance to score a large TV without paying a whole lot. This LG smart TV runs the webOS platform, has a 4K LED panel and works with Alexa, Google Assistant and even Apple’s AirPlay and HomeKit.

Google

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your router or put an end to dead spots at home, a mesh system is the way to go. This two-pack kit comes with the router unit and an access point. It’s suitable for covering up to 3,800 square feet with fast, reliable internet.

There’s plenty more, too, and here are some of our other top picks from this sale:

Be sure to check out the whole sale now as these prices are set to expire at 12:59 a.m. ET (9:59 p.m. PT).

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Technology

How to know if someone actually read your text

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The phone in your hand can do more than the computers we had years ago. It’s a communication device, a camera, a scanner, a fitness tracker, a camcorder, a GPS, a game console — I could go on. 

There’s also a lot your phone can do that you would not think was possible. Click for seven brilliant ways your smartphone can help you get things done, from measuring someone’s height to remoting into your computer

But sometimes, you just need to talk. If your service is spotty, there are a few ways to boost your signal strength. 

When it comes to texts, it’s nice to know if your message went through and the person read it. 

On an iPhone 

Apple’s default text messaging app, iMessage, makes it easy to know if your recipient has read your message. There is one caveat. Both the sender and recipient must be using iMessage on an iPhone or iPad and have Read Receipts enabled.  

When you text someone with Read Receipts turned on, you’ll notice the word “Read” beneath your message, and the time it was opened. 

To turn on your Read Receipts in the iMessage app, click Settings, scroll down, and tap Messages. Enable Send Read Receipts. These steps work with Macs and iPads as well. 

In every social media app there is usually a way to opt-in or out of sending read receipts.
Getty Images

On an Android

Like iPhone users, Android read receipts require both sender and recipient enable the feature. Instructions may vary according to your device’s manufacturer, model, and operating system. 

First, open your Messages app and navigate to the settings. Depending on your phone model, operating system, and cellular provider, you will notice one of the following: Read Receipts, Send Read Receipts or Request Receipt. Turn on the applicable option.

On a Samsung phone, go to Messages > Menu > Settings > Chat settings. Here, you can enable read receipts. 

In Google Messages, open Messages. Tap the three-dot menu (More) > Settings > Chat features. Tap Send read receipts. 

Facebook’s Messanger app automatically enables read receipts.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

What about Facebook? 

Read receipts are enabled by default in Facebook Messenger. If you wish to turn them off at some point, sorry, Charlie. You can’t. A sneaky workaround allows you to read messages without producing a read receipt. 

Just turn off your Wi-Fi and cellular connection to read all received messages. Open the app, then turn on Airplane mode. When you finish reading your messages, force quit the Messenger app. 

Despite Whatsapp falling under Meta’s umbrella, the messaging service allows users to opt out of read receipts.
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images

WhatsApp lets you choose 

Unlike its parent company Facebook, you can opt-out of read receipts in WhatsApp.

How do you know when someone views your message using WhatsApp? Look for the checkmarks: 

A single gray checkmark indicates a successfully sent message. 

The appearance of a second gray checkmark shows your message was delivered to the recipient’s phone. 

Apple and Android users also have the ability to turn the read receipts feature on and off for their phones texting software.
Getty Images

The two checkmarks will turn blue if the recipient has viewed your message. 

To turn off this feature, click Settings and tap Account. Choose the Privacy option and disable Read Receipts. 

Once you have your read receipts enabled on all your apps, you will no longer have to wonder or worry about whether a recipient has viewed your message.

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Technology

New Dr. Dre & Eminem Collab Track Preview Has Surfaced

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Dre also teased a new Anderson .Paak collab on Instagram.

In the world of hip-hop, Dr. Dre and Eminem have solidified their status as legends, and as they years go on, their iconography only continues to grow. While they’ve moved away from making the kinds of music they were putting out at their peak, the two old friends still have some hits left in them, as proved by the latest preview of their forthcoming collaboration.

As reported by HioHop n More, this coming Wednesday, December 15th will see the release of a new GTA V Online mode update, including new weapons, missions, cars, and a storyline.

One year prior, the Compton native was added into Grand Theft Auto thanks to the Cayo Perico Heist update, and it’s been noted that the game’s latest version will be “largely centred around” Dre. It’s also been announced that “a ton of new and unreleased exclusive tracks” from the “I Need A Doctor” artist are set to come with the update.

Dre has already teased a snippet of an Anderson .Paak collaboration, and Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes are also both set to make appearances. In yet another leak, the 56-year-old can be heard alongside Eminem, the two of them seemingly paying homage to some of their earlier hits and flows that got them to where they are today.

The “Still D.R.E.” rapper has a lot to celebrate lately. On top of the GTA news, he also recently announced that he’s “divorced af,” and of course, he’s got his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance quickly approaching in the new year to look forward to.

Check out the snipped of Em and Dre below.

[Via]



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Technology

PS5 Restock At PS Direct on December 13 (Invite-Only)

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PS Direct will have another PS5 restock event on December 13. Invites are already out and if you’re invited, your chances of securing a PS5 have increased significantly. Here’s everything you need to know.

If you want to get notified instantly when a PS5 drop/restock happens, follow us on Twitter @spieltimes. We instantly tweet out drops and restocks and keep you in the loop with PS5-related updates.

PS Direct December 13 Restock Time

The PS Direct PS5 restock event will run from 11 am to 4 pm PT or while supplies last. For people in the Eastern region, the time range is from 2 pm to 7 pm ET.

The invite

Courtesy of @wowdannyu

Check your emails and if you’ve received this exact email, you have the chance to secure a PS5 tomorrow at 11 am PT / 2 pm EST / 1 pm CST. Basically, you’ll enter a waiting room for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes are over, you’ll automatically enter a queue, then the PS Direct website, where you’ll have to check out very quickly.

Also check: PS5 Restock At GameStop Confirmed For December 17

For those who haven’t received the email, check the website around 2 pm PT / 5 pm EST / 4 pm CST. If consoles remain, you’ll see a public queue around the same time. Here are the links –

How to Sign up for PS Direct Invites

Click here to visit the official PlayStation page that lets you sign up for future PS Direct invites to get a chance to secure the console.

Make sure you follow us on Twitter and never miss an update from the world of video games. Until next time, Stay Safe, Wear A Mask, and Happy Gaming!



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Technology

Call of Duty: Warzone’s new battle pass has pay-to-win weapon attachments

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With the first season of Call of Duty: Vanguard-related content hitting Call of Duty: Warzone, it’s been a fantastic week for the shooter. The update has seen the addition of a new battle pass, Vanguard-specific playlists, the Richochet Anti-Cheat System, and the brand-new map Caldera. However, all these additions have been overshadowed by player complaints.

The main offender of these complaints has been the “Space Issue,” an MP-40 weapon blueprint in the new battle pass. Yet, the gun isn’t the main issue. Players are actually more frustrated with the aptly named “Vital” attachment. The attachment in question increases the size of the critical hit area when shooting your foes. Therefore, it is possible to get the benefits of headshots when landing upper chest shots.

However, balancing issues aren’t the only problems here. The “Space Issue” blueprint that includes the “Vital” attachment is only available if you buy the battle pass and reach level 45. So, if you’re not interested in spending money, you will be at a disadvantage to players who use this variant of the MP-40.

Now, Call of Duty developers adding unbalanced weapons and attachments to their games has happened before. You can look all the way back to the remaster of the original Modern Warfare, where they introduced the overpowered BOS14 through microtransactions. Players who first bought that gun had a rather large advantage over players who didn’t. Yet, once the BOS14 was commonplace among players who earned it through progression, it was patched, citing balancing.

This trend has occurred time and time again with weapons added to Call of Duty. The developers let players who purchase the guns have their fun, and then they seemingly patch the gun when players who didn’t buy them earn them. The “Space Issue” provides a whole new wrinkle, as the gun must be purchased and is unobtainable through progression in Call of Duty: Vanguard. Therefore, we are left to wonder if Call of Duty developers and publisher Activision has moved on to placing all overpowered weapons and attachments behind paywalls or if this is an outlier.



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Technology

Peter Molyneux Reveals New Crypto Blockchain Powered Game

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Photo: Kevork Djansezian (Getty Images)

Have you been wondering what ol’ Peter Molyneux has been up to lately? Well, in a move that very few will find surprising, the infamous designer is jumping into the world of blockchain gaming and NFT bullshit. His next game, Legacy, is built entirely around the technology and “crypto gaming.”

Molyneux, who once got a bunch of people to tap a cube for fun, announced yesterday at the weekend-long Gala Games’ Galaverse in Las Vegas that his company’s next video game is Legacy, which is described as a “blockchain business sim.” Raise your hand if you knew there was a Galaverse happening in Las Vegas.

According to Molyneux, he and his company—22 Cans—had been working on Legacy when he was contacted by the folks over at Gala Games about possibly making something powered by the blockchain. It turns out Legacy was a perfect fit for “crypto gaming.” As Molyneux explains it, “every mechanic in Legacy was tailor-made for the blockchain environment.” How exciting..?

In a blog post from Gala Games and Molyneux, they explained what Legacy actually is. Or at least tried to explain it…

Image: 22 Cans / Gala Games

In Legacy, players will create digital products and buildings from thousands of available parts. These plans are then manufactured by an “army of workers” and after that players are free to trade “anything and everything” with other players around the world to “dominate” the open market.

Apparently, there will be in-game events and competitions that will (maybe one day…) reward players with money and other prizes. But before you begin “playing” this “game,” you’ll need to buy a Land NFT before you can start your own in-game blockchain business. And all of this will be powered by a new cryptocurrency, LegacyCoin, which exists on the Ethereum blockchain.

Legacy and another recently announced FPS, Last Expedition, are described by the creators and Gala Games as “play-to-earn” with the idea being that players can create digital content and goods and then trade or sell that stuff via the blockchain to make money. Which is an interesting idea that has existed without the blockchain for years in various games like CSGO, Roblox, and more.

Mixing blockchain technology and video games has quickly become a new hot idea among publishers and devs looking to make a quick buck wanting to innovate and change how players interact with games. We recently saw Ubisoft joining the NFT bandwagon, though as usual, the response from most folks was a mix of confusion or disgust.

NFTs, blockchains, and cryptocurrency have been heavily criticized by many over the last few years for a host of reasons, including the horrible amount of e-waste created by digital mining facilities, the continued strain miners have put on the chip shortage and of course, the fact that all the energy blockchains eat up is potentially accelerating global warming and is extremely wasteful.

But ignoring all that, much of what NFTs and blockchains promise, the ability to create and sell digital goods in games or virtual worlds, already exists and has for years without the world-burning technology. But as long as there are some folks out there willing to buy into all this, there will be folks like Molyneux willing to invest in it.

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Technology

Microsoft acknowledges “missteps” in its handling of Lionhead Studios • Eurogamer.net

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“How do we not repeat our same mistakes?”

Microsoft has acknowledged its closure of Lionhead Studios was one of its “biggest missteps”.

As reported by IGN, in the sixth part of Power On: The Story of Xbox – a six-part documentary detailing Microsoft’s highs and lows across its Xbox brand – key figures talked about the acquisition and eventual closure of one of the UK’s biggest studios in a bid to “not repeat” the “same mistakes”.

Lionhead was co-founded in 1997 by Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance and Steve Jackson, but it was conceived earlier, while Molyneux was at Bullfrog, the ground-breaking PC game maker of Populous, Syndicate and Dungeon Keeper.

As Wes reported at the time the studio was shuttered, Molyneux had sold Bullfrog to EA and made millions from the deal. Now working under the heel of an American owner, Molyneux longed for creative freedom once again. The idea for Lionhead was that it would focus on making high-quality games, as Bullfrog had, but avoid falling into the trap of growing too large. It was bought by Xbox in 2006 and shuttered just ten years later.

“One of the biggest missteps that we learned from in the past was Lionhead,” said Shannon Loftis, who had been general manager of global games publishing when Lionhead was closed down.

“We acquired Lionhead in 2006, and shut it down in 2016,” added Sarah Bond, head of game creator experiences and ecosystem at Xbox. “A couple of years later we reflected back on that experience. What did we learn, and how do we not repeat our same mistakes?”

“You acquire a studio for what they’re great at now, and your job is to help them accelerate how they do what they do, not them accelerate what you do,” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox.

“I wish Lionhead were still a viable studio,” Loftis added.

Fable lives on, however, as last year Microsoft has announced a Fable reboot for Xbox Series X and PC. It’s described as “a new beginning” for the fantasy franchise, and is being developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games.

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Install the Microsoft Teams update for Android now to fix 911 calling bug

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Microsoft Teams has rolled out a fix for the dangerous bug that could prevent Android users from calling 911 — and you’ll want to install it ASAP (via Android Police). In his analysis of the issue on Medium, Mishaal Rahman, the senior technical editor at Esper, explains that Microsoft has corrected the issue in an update for the Teams app.

A user on Reddit initially discovered the bug when trying to call 911 from their Pixel 3, prompting an explanation from Google. The company said that the issue is triggered by an “unintended interaction” between the Android operating system and the Teams app. It only affects users with devices running Android 10 or later, and who have the Teams app installed but aren’t signed in. However, Google still advised all users with Android 10 or above to uninstall Teams anyway.

But if you didn’t end up uninstalling Teams, make sure to update it as soon as you can. Rahman notes that version 1416/1.0.0.2021194504 resolves the issue, which he found was building duplicate instances of the PhoneAccount class in the Android operating system, a function that lets apps place and receive phone calls. That said, many Android apps that have a calling feature will create a PhoneAccount instance, but in the case of Teams, it was creating too many when the user accessed the app while not signed in.

Rahman notes that the updated version doesn’t create duplicate PhoneAccount instances, and will also clear any previously-built PhoneAccount instances when launched. Google also plans on issuing an update to Android on January 4th, so hopefully, that will help fix anything that went wrong on its own end. You can install the updated version of Microsoft Teams from the Google Play Store.

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