Archive for April 2020

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Accessories (9)

AI (8)

Amazon (29)

Apple (28)

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  • Epic Games Store gets local pricing in five more countries

    You can now pay for Epic Games Store purchases in your own currency if you're in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The developer's digital storefront now supports AUD, CAD, DKK, NOK and SEK, bringing the total number of currencies it accepts to 15. That means you no longer have to worry about potentially huge price differences due to conversion fluctuations anymore.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

Buying Guides (47)

Computing (9)

Cybersecurity (24)

Entertainment (3)

  • The comic industry would rather grind to a halt than go digital

    Wednesday is usually New Comic Book Day but, with everyone on lockdown due to coronavirus, this week's selection was a little light. The main distributor, Diamond, ceased shipments both to and from its warehouse — a seemingly logical move given that many stores are shuttered anyway. Less logical is that, unlike literally every other media industry, the product wasn't simply released digitally to consumers stuck at home. Instead, the entire comics world has been on hold.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

EVs and Transportation (42)

Gaming (79)

  • Now your 'Pokémon Go' buddy will gather gifts while you stay at home

    The features Niantic announced for Pokémon Go in mid-April are starting to make their way to your mobile devices. To start with, your Buddy Pokémon — that one special monster you choose to appear next to your avatar — will now bring back gifts from nearby PokéStops and Gyms for you. It's obviously a feature meant to encourage staying at home, so you don't have to venture out to PokéStops to gather gifts for friends.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Overwatch’s' new voice lines make it easier to play as a team

    Blizzard Entertainment has rolled out an Overwatch PTR patch that includes new voiced options for the game's Communications Wheel, so you don't have to use the same lines again and again. The upcoming voice commands include "Press the Attack!," "Fall Back," "3—2—1" countdown and "On My Way," which sounds especially helpful for if you're a healer making your way back to the game while teammates are spamming you with "I Need Healing." Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you'll be able to add a "Sorry" voice command.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Premier League football stars face off in a weeklong virtual tournament

    With both traditional and esports adjusting their schedules due to COVID-19, England's Premier League announced a new, hybrid tournament, the ePremiere League Invitational, in which football stars and celebrity fans will test their esports abilities in a five-day, 20-team, single-elimination tournament. The winner will take home the ePremier League Invitational champion title, and all proceeds will go to the #PlayersTogether fund, supporting the National Health Service. Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold will face off with musician and lifelong Manchester United fan Tom Grennan, who will represent the Red Devils.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Games Done Quickly's stream for COVID-19 relief has begun

    Today through April 19th, you can tune into Games Done Quickly's (GDQ) streamed COVID-19 charity event to watch some of the fastest speedrunners in the world race through new and classic games and raise money for the coronavirus pandemic. The event, Corona Relief Done Quick (CRDQ), kicks off at 12PM ET, and 100 percent of donations will go to Direct Relief, which helps provide medical supplies to those in need. Earlier this year, a similar GDQ event raised more than $3 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, so we can expect this to be a significant fundraiser for COVID-19 relief.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Gamescom cancels its in-person event due to COVID-19

    Gamescom announced today that it won't host its annual in-person event in Cologne, Germany this year. The Gamescom team is planning a digital version of the conference, so gamers and exhibitors still have something to look forward to. Gamescom previously said existing digital formats, like its Opening Night Live stream, scheduled for August 24th, will be "significantly expanded."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Riot buys the makers of a combat-heavy 'Minecraft' clone

    League of Legends and Valorant developer Riot Games just shared its next big bet. On Thursday, the company said it had acquired Hypixel Studios, the creator of an upcoming role-playing game called Hytale. The company says Hypixel will retain its current structure, with plans to open a new office in Northern Ireland that will host additional back-office and quality assurance staff.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Pro baseball players will compete in an online 'MLB The Show' league

    Starting today, you'll be able to cheer for your favorite MLB team as they compete in Sony's MLB The Show 20. The top eight players will advance to the postseason. The MLB, MLB Players Association and Sony will donate $5,000 on behalf of each player to their team's local Boys and Girls Club affiliate.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • EA's FIFA 20 tournament pits real footballers against each other

    EA Sports has launched a FIFA 20 esports soccer tournament to raise cash for coronavirus charities, featuring some of the biggest teams and players in Europe. The Stay and Play Cup will be streamed on EA's Twitch channel and match up teams like Dortmund, Real Madrid, Paris St. Germaine and Manchester City.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • ESPN will give its racing fans an esports fix

    With all motorsports on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic — including Formula 1, Formula E and IndyCar — the only experiences available are virtual. Disney's ESPN is set to elevate that a notch by launching a virtual racing series from Torque Esports.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' is introducing four-player squads

    Just as Apex Legends is getting a permanent duos mode to complement the long-standing trios option, Call of Duty: Warzone is stepping in the opposite direction by letting you drop into the map with four players in your squad. The quads option will be available in the battle royale and plunder modes April 8th, when season 3 gets underway in both that game and CoD: Modern Warfare multiplayer. As you'd probably expect, Warzone will add more weapons and skins when season 3 starts, including silenced and non-silenced versions of every weapon type.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • 'No Man's Sky' update adds giant mechs with jetpacks

    Following the major Beyond update back in August, Hello Games has added features to No Man's Sky on a more frequent basis. Following the latest update, there's a new way to traverse the game's massive number of planets: inside a giant mech. You'll be able to hop inside the customizable Minotaur Exocraft and explore in relative safety, as environmental hazards like radioactivity and extreme heat or cold don't affect it.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Mixer gives every streaming partner $100 to help during COVID-19

    Numerous internet services have offered help to creators who may be struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Microsoft's Mixer might have one of the simpler solutions: direct cash infusions. The livestreaming service is giving all of its partnered members $100 to help them get through any financial hardships while the outbreak lasts. Given that anyone sufficiently committed to Mixer to reach partner status depends at least partly on the service to make a living, that may be a welcome gesture.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • E3 will return June 15th, 2021

    The Entertainment Software Association may have cancelled E3 2020 due to COVID-19, but it's still committed to holding an event next year. The organization has announced that E3 will return between June 15th and June 17th, 2021. It characterized the future expo as a "reimagined" event, although that's the language it used for its since-scrapped 2020 gathering. It won't be surprising if the 2021 event is really a look at what you might have seen this year, just with a different mix of games.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ESPN2 will air 12 hours of esports coverage on April 5th

    TV networks are already trying to fill the void in sports coverage left by the COVID-19 pandemic, but ESPN is going all-out. The broadcaster's ESPN2 channel is airing a 12-hour ESPN Esports Day on April 5th starting at 12PM Eastern, and there will be some high-profile live events in the mix. The highlight may be the second F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix at 3PM, when racers (including some current Formula 1 drivers) will compete online in a digital version of Australia's Albert Park. The marathon will also represent Rocket League's debut on ESPN television (it was only streamed before) with the Season 8 World Championship's Grand Finals broadcasting live at 4:30PM.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Porsche's virtual race series starts tomorrow with pro drivers at the wheel

    It's not just multi-manufacturer racing leagues like NASCAR going digital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Porsche is livestreaming its Mobil 1 Supercup Virtual Edition starting on April 4th at 10AM Eastern, when drivers take to a digital version of the Spanish Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for two races in 911 GT3 Cup cars. The iRacing-based series will have 31 drivers, 22 of which are full-time Supercup racers -- the nine others are factory and young professional drivers fielded by big-name sponsors like TAG Heuer and Vodafone.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The forgotten dream of second-screen gaming

    The original iPad came out on April 3rd, 2010, at a time when most smartphone manufacturers were making the awkward transition from full QWERTY keyboards to touchscreen-only devices. Apple sold 1 million iPads in that first month, and by the end of 2010, that figure had climbed to 15 million. That same year, the top video games were Fallout: New Vegas, Bayonetta, Red Dead Redemption, Super Meat Boy and StarCraft II. The alpha version of Minecraft was generating some slight buzz.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Deadpool is Fortnite's latest playable crossover cameo

    While he's been in the periphery of the game since the start of the current season, Deadpool is finally making his way to Fortnite proper. If you purchased this season's battle pass, you can obtain the skin by finding the mercenary's two hidden pistols (hint: look in the menus). After finding the weapons, head to a phone booth on the island to change outfits.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • A sequel to beloved indie game 'Rogue Legacy' is in the works

    What at first seemed like a potential April Fool's joke has turned out to be real: almost seven years after the original came out, Cellar Door Games has confirmed it's working on a Rogue Legacy sequel. The indie studio didn't share a release date for Rogue Legacy 2, nor did it say anything about potential platforms. In fact, besides some screenshots showing off a lovely new art style, the only significant tidbit of information we got is that Judson Cowan and A Shell in the Pit will return to score the game's soundtrack.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The fight to save the UK's National Videogame Museum

    The National Videogame Museum (NVM) is under threat. The building is one of the only permanent museums dedicated to video game culture in the UK, alongside the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. But like so many other brick-and-mortar businesses, it's been forced to close its doors during the coronavirus pandemic.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • ‘Apex Legends' brings back duos and Kings Canyon permanently

    The next Apex Legends event is about to get underway and while that might only last for a few weeks, Respawn is bringing back a couple of key features on a permanent basis. The original Kings Canyon map will join the current World's Edge arena on rotation after it recently popped back up for a limited time. Meanwhile, the duos mode that debuted last fall is returning for good alongside the original trios option. They'll both come back on April 7th.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Twitch is making games viewers and streamers can play together

    Gaming on Twitch is largely a one-way affair. You can join a Marbles on Stream race or play a slightly delayed Jackbox Party Pack game, but the service is largely meant for passive viewing. Amazon aims to fix that before long, however. The company tells the New York Times that it's developing games both Twitch streamers and their viewers can play together in "real time." While details are scarce, you should see games become available throughout the summer.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NBC Sports will air IndyCar's second virtual race on April 4th

    Another live esports event will air on TV this Saturday -- something we might have to get used to now that people are glued to their screens even more than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. The second round of the IndyCar iRacing Challenge, an online simulation-style competition, will air live on NBC Sports at 2:30PM ET on April 4th.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Social distancing is pushing esports into the mainstream

    Industries around the globe have ground to a halt amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bars, restaurants, stadiums and factories have shuttered, and entire countries are on lockdown as citizens are ordered to stay home for weeks at a time in an attempt to control the disease's spread. With the streets empty, people are turning to their screens more than ever before. Viewership of streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, Mixer and Hulu has risen weekly since shelter-in-place orders began rolling out, and people are on the hunt for new forms of entertainment, ideally with a social twist. Something with a chat room, or dozens of forum posts to read through, or an active Twitter and Instagram presence. Something with stats and high stakes. Something live. Enter: Esports. As economic activity spirals downward around the world, the esports industry has been spun into overdrive. Leagues are ditching plans for in-person tournaments and pivoting to online-only matches, where they're finding a hungry audience.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • ‘PUBG’ April Fools’ mode features fantasy characters and loot tweaks

    Most people might not be in the mood for April Fools' pranks this year, but PUBG is adding some silliness to its popular game to perk up gamers who are cooped up inside. Fantasy Battle Royale is an optional event that adds four sword-and-sorcery classes and changes up some mechanics. Gamers can choose to play as a Barbarian, Ranger, Wizard or Paladin, and can craft items on the battlefield. That means players will have to strategize around staying alive while simultaneously upgrading their starting gear. The event starts today and will run until April 7th.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Xbox Series X and PS5: The new consoles are all about crazy fast storage

    The Xbox One and PS4 were the start of an unusual console generation. Both systems adopted very "PC-like" architecture and instead of a new generation we instead got a refresh where Microsoft and Sony both released faster versions of their existing consoles, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. We may still have a few months left to wait, but finally we've gotten details of what the next real generation will bring. Microsoft and Sony have both stuck with the PC-like design of their predecessors, and are again using AMD as their CPU and GPU supplier, but the Xbox Series X and PS5 will be very different from the current generation. The biggest changes come from the storage systems. Considering the Xbox One and PS4 both still use slow mechanical hard drives, we figured a move to smaller, faster, more efficient flash-based SSDs was inevitable, but Microsoft and Sony have gone all out. Both systems feature custom storage interfaces with PCI Express 4.0 SSDs and custom hardware to handle real-time decompression. That means these drives will move serious amounts of data very quickly. The Series X is claiming transfer speeds of around 3-4GB/s, while the PS5 may be capable of data rates as high as 9GB/s. With data rates that high (the current consoles manage maybe 150MB/s in ideal conditions), load times should be cut down to seconds, and in-game load screens may become a thing of the past. Faster data rates could also enable higher resolution textures for more photo-realistic graphics, and enable you to switch between games with the click of a button. Add in a significantly upgraded CPU and a long-awaited AMD ray tracing solution for hyper-realistic lighting, and these consoles represent a huge leap forward. Hopefully, their benefits will also trickle down into the PC space as well, and games on every platform will be able to leverage these new possibilities to be faster and better looking. We don't know exactly when they'll arrive yet, or how much they'll cost, but we'll have more details on the Series X and PS5 as soon as they're announced.

    By Christopher Schodt Read More

  • The COVID-19 Humble Bundle pairs great games with a great cause

    There's a new Humble Bundle on offer, and it's packed with great deals for a great cause. The special one-week COVID-19 Bundle features more than $1,000 worth of games and comics and can be yours for just $30 (£25.50) -- or more, if you're feeling charitable, as buyers are encouraged to give what they can. All of the proceeds will go to support organizations responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including those delivering protective gear to healthcare workers and providing healthcare to vulnerable patients.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Fortnite' gets a bullet-stopping 'Kingsman' umbrella

    Epic's current Fortnite season is focused on secret agents, and that now includes direct references to movies -- if not the ones you're likely to think of first. An update to the battle royale shooter has introduced a Kingsman umbrella that, like the one in the Brits-save-the-world film series, deflects bullets when you open it toward your foe. You can't use it indefinitely (that would be wildly unfair), but it might just save your life if you're out of ammo or need some space between you and your opponent.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Google (39)

Laptops (16)

  • Razer's updated Blade Stealth gets a faster display and GPU

    Last year's 13.3-inch Razer Blade Stealth was one of the first truly powerful ultrabooks with NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics and a tiny 2.5 pound size, but it still had a few shortcomings. Razer has now addressed many of those the new Razer Blade Stealth 2020 model.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • MSI's new laptops include 10th-gen Intel CPUs and RTX Super graphics

    MSI is refreshing its gaming laptop lineup, including its popular GS Stealth and GE Raider series computers, to add Intel's new 10th-generation Comet Lake mobile processors and the new Super variants of NVIDIA's RTX mobile GPUs. Similarly, you can configure several of MSI's new laptops with the RTX 2080 Super. In some situations, those enhancements should lead to performance improvements, but probably not the 50 percent gains MSI is touting.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Intel's 10th gen mobile CPUs cross the 5GHz barrier

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. The coronavirus has caused an unprecedented shift of people working, learning and socializing from inside their homes, and Zoom has been there to take advantage. The group conferencing app is connecting people from all over the world, but with its increased popularity -- it went from 10 million meetings in December to 200 million last month -- there has come a new level of scrutiny. After some embarrassing security and privacy revelations and the rise of "zoombombing," CEO Eric S. Yuan said the company will dedicate all of its engineering resources to fixing its "biggest trust, safety and privacy issues." Will that be enough to keep its momentum going? Only time will tell, but until then, at least take some basic steps to keep "party crashers" out of your Zoom chats. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Razer's Blade 15 packs an 8-core Intel CPU and RTX 2080 Super

    Razer has unveiled the 2020 Blade 15 Advanced with more gaming and content creation power, along with one long overdue addition. To start with, the Advanced model is the first Razer Blade with an 8-core CPU, namely the 10th-generation Intel Core i7-10875. That will make it useful for both content creation and gaming, particularly since you can clock it up to 5.1 GHz.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Intel's 10th-gen H-series laptop CPUs reach 5.3GHz

    Just like Intel said at CES, it's crossed the 5GHz barrier with its new H-series 10th generation notebook CPUs. And you won't need to shell out for the top-of-the-line Core i9 to do it: The new six and eight-core i7 processors reach up to 5.1Ghz (boost speed) on a single core. But if you want to go all out, the octa-core i9-10980HK hits 5.3GHz -- and it's fully unlocked for overclocking, to boot.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Lenovo's latest gaming laptops pack more efficient NVIDIA graphics

    Lenovo is leaping quickly on the latest NVIDIA and Intel technology for its gaming laptops. It's introducing Legion 5i and Legion 7i portables (successors to the Y540 and Y740 respectively) that, most notably, are among the first to use NVIDIA's Advanced Optimus graphics switching. The tech both lowers power consumption in less-intensive moments and ramps up performance in GPU-heavy situations, theoretically giving you added battery life and higher frame rates in the same package. The Legion 7i also touts the option of new GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics if you insist on the best possible visuals.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Acer gaming laptops add RTX Super graphics and 10th-gen Intel CPUs

    Acer is joining a flurry of PC makers in adopting the next wave of NVIDIA and Intel chips inside its laptops. It's updating its 15.6-inch Predator Triton 500 (above) and Nitro 5 (below) gaming portables to use NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX Super laptop GPUs as well as Intel's 10th-generation Core H-series processors. As you might guess, the premium Predator series is the highlight. It comes with up to a GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q to deliver speedier and more efficient graphics, and mates that with a 300Hz, 3ms response IPS display and per-key RGB keyboard lighting.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NVIDIA's RTX Super GPUs arrive on laptops

    NVIDIA has launched its latest Max-Q GPU refresh with new hardware like the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU and upgraded features as well. As with the desktop hardware, the new products will offer a modest boost to gaming and content creation performance. However, NVIDIA has also introduced new Max-Q features that should boost performance and power efficiency significantly on all the Max-Q GPUs -- but only on new 2020 laptops.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • ASUS adds new Intel chips to its Zephyrus gaming laptops

    ASUS has refreshed its line of gaming laptops with new 10th Generation Intel Core processors, NVIDIA RTX 2070/2080 Super graphics and a bunch of other features designed to make gaming and content creation slicker and smoother. First up, the new Zephyrus S17 (pictured), which comes with a 17.3-inch display with super narrow bezels in an 18.7-millimeter-thin chassis. A 300 Hz refresh rate and 3ms grey-to-grey response time means the display is lightning fast, and it comes with Pantone-validated color accuracy as well.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • ASUS' ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is a gaming laptop with a built-in second screen

    ASUS has been pushing laptops with second screens for a couple of years now, but it's still searching for a winning formula. Last year's ZenBook Pro Duo pushed the keyboard down to the edge of the laptop's body, with the rest of the surface housing a second screen. The problem with that configuration was an awkwardly placed trackpad. But, you know who cares less about trackpad placement? Gamers. Hence, almost a year later, the company's Republic Of Gamers (ROG) division has its own spin on the concept: the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

Meta (30)

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Mobile (11)

  • UK carriers would appreciate you not setting cell towers on fire

    The arson attacks against 5G masts in the UK have become serious enough that carriers are joining together to put a stop to the incidents. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have issued a joint statement both urging people not to set fire to cellular masts, threaten engineers or spread conspiracy theories falsely linking 5G to COVID-19. As the companies reiterated, cell networks are critical in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • UK phone masts attacked over bogus 5G coronavirus conspiracies

    Unfounded beliefs about 5G are leading to real damage to the UK's telecom network. People have torched cellular towers in multiple parts of the country in attacks possibly linked to debunked conspiracy theories claiming that 5G masts could play a role in spreading COVID-19. On top of this, telecom engineers have been facing verbal and even physical threats for supposedly putting lives at risk by installing 5G infrastructure.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • T-Mobile family plans will include Quibi free for one year

    Just yesterday, T-Mobile finally completed its Sprint merger. Today, it has more big news. When Quibi launches on April 6th, T-Mobile customers on the Magenta family plan will get a free year of the mobile-first video service. After a year of both free Netflix and free Quibi, those customers will be able to choose one service or the other.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • FCC vote on 6 GHz WiFi will take place April 23rd

    On April 23rd, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to allow WiFi devices to access the 6 GHz band. The band is currently being used by companies like broadcast firms and utilities to beam video signals and monitor electric grids, among other things. But if the FCC allows WiFi devices to access it, then it will lead to internet connections for homes and offices that are over twice as fast.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • T-Mobile completes Sprint merger

    Right on cue, T-Mobile has completed its merger with Sprint. As of today, the two carriers are one -- they'll do business simply as T-Mobile. They're also clearly confident in the transition, as CEO John Legere is stepping down early rather than waiting until the end of April as his contract dictated. COO Mike Sievert is taking Legere's place, effective immediately.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

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  • The latest iPad Pro disables mics when its case is closed

    These days, any connected device with a microphone could arguably be treated with suspicion, from smart speakers to phones to computers. Apple helped to address privacy concerns in 2018 by adding a feature that disconnects MacBook microphones when the laptops' lids are closed. The documentation of the latest iPad Pro models (as spotted by 9to5Mac) shows that the company's new tablets sport a similar capability. When a user closes the cover of a compatible case, the iPad's security chip will cut the mic, which should help prevent snooping.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

Tomorrow (1)

  • HTC's Vive Sync beta offers businesses free access to VR meetings

    HTC's Vive Sync collaboration platform is now in open beta, giving businesses a way to hold meetings in VR at a time when people are meeting online more than ever. The company even made the app free to use for businesses of all sizes throughout the beta period this year to help keep them running in the midst of a global pandemic. HTC announced Vive Sync way back in 2018, promising a "VR collaboration tool where internal teams can meet in a virtual shared space."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

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