[X]pErT-

Apple expects to present the new version of the operating system for its smartwatches, which will be watchOS 10, with a series of "significant changes" compared to the previous version, Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman has learned. The company will announce this and other news within the framework of the World Developers Conference, which will begin on June 5 and will continue until the 9th of the same month in a free 'online' format. Within the framework of this event, the company directed by Tim Cook regularly presents the latest news about iOS , iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS . At the meeting, developers can also meet with engineers from the firm and learn about the latest technologies to implement in their applications. This year, the technology company is expected to present its mixed reality viewer, after experiencing some delays in its launch due to difficulties with the development of the device, as Mark Gurman pointed out a few months ago. Another of the great novelties of the event, this time in terms of 'software', is the redesign of the version of its operating system for 'smartwatches', watchOS. It was in June of last year when it presented the current update, which incorporates an improved training application and a medication control service. As Mark Gurman has learned recently, WatchOS 10 is expected to be presented as "a fairly extensive update" , recovered by Macrumors. The journalist, who has not given more details about this new version for his watches, has anticipated that few changes are expected at the 'hardware' level for the new Apple Watch models that will arrive throughout 2023 . https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/software/noticia-nueva-version-apple-watchos-vendra-cambios-significativos-gurman-20230403141824.html

The PC cooling ecosystem has not evolved much in recent years, and since the "implementation" of the AIO liquid cooling kits we have not seen much innovation in this regard. Aware of this, CORSAIR has now launched its new Elite Capellix XT family of products, which stands out for its patented Capellix lighting but without neglecting outstanding performance with a low noise level. In this article, we show you what the CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT model is like and how it performs , one of the highest-end models with a 360mm radiator . CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT, technical characteristics Unboxing and external analysis Riding the CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT The Software: CORSAIR iCUE Setup The performance of the CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT Conclusion and verdict As we said, refrigeration has not evolved much in recent times, but with these Elite Capellix XT, CORSAIR wanted to put all the meat on the grill and they have implemented all the small improvements that they have been developing to, granite by granite, give as The result is a Premium category product both in aesthetics and performance. Let's see it. CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT, technical characteristicsNow let's look at the CPU block, which already comes with a skin pre-installed (so we have three in total). As we said, it is quite tall, but it is still compact. It has a liquid refill point at the bottom, something to be thankful for because even though it has a 5-year guarantee, in the end the evaporation of the coolant is never zero and at some point it will have to be refilled to keep it working well. https://hardzone.es/reviews/disipadores-refrigeracion/corsair-icue-h150i-elite-capellix-xt/

First city in the UK to impose such a charge hopes to raise £3m a year to develop its visitor experienceFrom Saturday (1 April) tourists will have to pay a £1 tax to stay in Manchester – the first city in the UK to impose a tourist tax on visitors. Overnight guests in city centre hotels or holiday apartments will be charged £1 a night, per room, as part of a new scheme which officials hope will raise £3m a year.Branded the City Visitor Charge, the fee is the first to be introduced in the UK and will help to fund the new Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), which aims to “improve the visitor experience” and “support future growth of the visitor economy” over the next five years. Nearly 6,000 hotel rooms will be added to Manchester over the coming years, with predictions that it will lead to an extra million overnight stays. Last year, a referendum was held among hoteliers on whether or not to implement the fee, with four in five voting in favour. Annie Brown, the first chair of ABID, said that despite the cost of living crisis the introduction of the tax was a “smart move”. “I think [the message it sends] has been a consideration, however, when you compare it with European cities that have had taxes and visitor levies in place for a number of years, we feel it’s a small amount comparatively,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “There are other cities in the UK looking to put in place what Manchester has done, I don’t think it’s a charge that’s offputting. “It’s projected to make about £3m annually and that will fund the ABID and we will get the attractions, and cleaning, and deliver against our business plan. It’s going to be the largest accommodation business improvement district outside central London in terms of the revenue it generates.” Edinburgh is planning to introduce a £2-a-night tourist tax, subject to legislative approval from the Scottish parliament. The Welsh government is also considering introducing a visitor levy, although an exact fee has not yet been set. Oxford, Bath and Hull have considered a similar move in recent years, but opted against it.Many European cities and destinations charge a tourist tax, including Venice, Rome and Barcelona. In Barcelona, for guests in rental accommodation, the nightly tax is €4 – with €2.25 going to the region and €1.75 to the city. For those who stay in a five-star hotel, the regional tax rises to €3.50. From tomorrow (1 April), the city fee will be raised to €2.75 and then again to €3.25 on 1 April 2024. Rome’s city tax rate varies from €3 to €7 a night according to the rating of the accommodation. In Venice, where the charge also depends on the star rating of accommodation, there has been a push to introduce a daytripper tax of up to €10 a person, too. This would have come into effect in January this year, but has been postponed due to protests. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/mar/31/manchester-1-a-night-tax-on-tourists-comes-into-force

Why are black cabs being tested in the Arctic Circle? By Richard Westcott Transport correspondent, BBC News It was slightly strange, cruising along in the back of a London black cab - in the Arctic Circle. It was minus 10C outside, and that was without the effect of the howling wind and driving snow. But this is where the brand new design for this iconic vehicle is secretly being tested. The one we were driving in was black and white, camouflaged so competitors could not take accurate photos. The camouflage hid the contours but when it hits the streets the cab will be the usual, traditional, colour and shape.The critical difference is in how it sounds - virtually silent. Because the new cab has an electric engine it is almost a zero-emissions vehicle, although it does have a small petrol motor that can charge the battery from time to time, to extend its range. It is being put through its paces on the edge of Norway for two reasons. One, the manufacturer tests all new vehicles in extreme temperatures to see how they perform. Two, it wants to sell it in polluted cities all over the world, including Moscow, which can get a little chilly in the winter. The diesel problem At the moment, all black cabs have diesel engines, and diesel has become the new villain in the war on air pollution. Figures from Transport for London - from 2013 - estimate that black taxis are responsible for 15% of the poisonous gases called nitrogen oxides produced by traffic in central London. They also generate 26% of the harmful, larger, soot-like particles called PM10s, and 31% of the smaller particles, called PM2.5s. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has made cleaning the air in the city his number one priority, so by 2018 he says that every newly-licensed taxi must be "zero-emissions capable". That basically means you need to be able to drive 30 miles without generating any air pollution, which is something the new cabs can easily do. The black and white design hides the contours so that competitors can't see the design There are also plans for 150 rapid charging points by 2018, and for 300 of them by 2020. But even allowing for thousands of pounds in subsidies, the new cab will cost more than £40,000 each. When I - somewhat unscientifically - stopped seven or eight drivers as they sat in a rank waiting for passengers, I got the same response each time and it was along these lines: "Nice idea, but business is haemorrhaging with all the mini cab apps and I just can't afford it!" Some made the point that the younger drivers might think it was worth the investment, but the older ones did not feel they would ever make their money back. Mind you, Steve McNamara from the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) - which represents many cabbies - was in Norway to see the new vehicle in action. Not only did he like it, he told me it was vital that cabbies went green. A Brit abroad It may be a British icon but the new taxi has an international feel. It will be manufactured at a brand new, £300m factory in Coventry, all funded by Chinese money after the giant automaker Geely stepped in to rescue the London Taxi Company in 2013. The team in Norway were mainly from Sweden (Geely owns Volvo too) and there was a German engineer, Dr Wolfram Liedtke, leading quality control. He happens to be a former East German international cyclist, who narrowly missed making the team for the 1960 Rome Olympics. While sitting in the back of the cab, cosied up against the wind, Dr Liedtke told me that Geely plans to make far more cabs than are needed for the UK market. "We've had interest from Paris, from Madrid, from Berlin, from China," he said. Air pollution, it seems, is a universal problem. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39121306

The presenter, pictured in Battersea Park, was an ambassador for the charity for many years Donations to an animal charity loved by Paul O'Grady have passed £100,000 since the star's death. Battersea Cats and Dogs Home said it was "overwhelmed and touched" by the donations. The TV and radio presenter became an ambassador for the charity in 2012 after hosting For The Love Of Dogs, which had 11 series filmed there. After his death on Tuesday evening at the age of 67, the animal charity set up a tribute fund. TV star Paul O'Grady dies aged 67 Paul O'Grady was 'a voice for a queer generation' Chief executive Peter Laurie said: "Over the coming weeks and months, Battersea will be finding the best way to pay tribute to our wonderful friend and ambassador, the late, great Paul O'Grady MBE."We have been overwhelmed and touched by the countless letters, calls, emails and messages of support along with the generous donations made by kind members of the public this week."Peter Laurie said the charity would work out the best way to remember the star Mr Laurie has previously said O'Grady was a "genuine animal lover" and his "real legacy" was how he showed the British public and an international audience how "lovable and incredible" rescue dogs were, inspiring people to adopt and rehome. O'Grady was given a special recognition award at the 2018 National Television Awards for the impact the ITV series had on helping find homes for rescue animals nationwide.O'Grady met the Queen Consort during an event to mark 160 years of the charity During the first series, O'Grady rehomed Eddie, a Chihuahua-Jack Russell cross puppy, at his Kent farmhouse. Eddie was joined by Boycie, a shih-tzu, in 2014; Conchita, a Maltese, in 2015; Arfur, a mongrel puppy, in 2017; Nancy, another mongrel puppy, in 2020; and Sausage, a wire-haired dachshund, in 2021. Last year, O'Grady was joined by the Queen Consort in a one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of Battersea. His contribution to animal welfare was also recognised with an RSPCA animal hero award. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-65147502

Anyone caught recklessly using water scooter can face two years in prison and an unlimited fine Welsh wildlife experts have welcomed measures to crack down on reckless water scooter use. New laws to help tackle the "dangerous misuse" of the vehicles off the UK coast come into force on 31 March. Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams said reckless riders, who he has seen endanger the lives of sea birds, needed to be "brought to task". But some have called for more stringent measures, including mandatory training and licensing of water scooters. The new legislation will give the Maritime and Coastguard Agency more powers to prosecute reckless riders, which could see them face up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine.I've watched jet skis go through the middle of sea bird colonies... this is completely unacceptable," said TV naturalist Mr Williams. "Friends of mine that are good naturalists have seen them chase dolphins and porpoises, it just can't go on and we need tighter regulations and the people that do this brought to task," he addedTV naturalist Iolo Williams said reckless water scooter users are a danger to wildlife While Mr Williams would like to see licenses for operating water scooters, he thinks the new laws are step in the right direction, but only if they are enforced. "What often happens is they bring in these new laws and all that happens is they get a light fine or let off. What's key here is that its monitored and policed properly," he said. "Why are you allowed to have a powerful machine with no training, no licence, nothing at all and you can go on the sea and do whatever you like. There have been deaths before, and there will be again." 'Dolphins terrified by the noise' Owner and director of the Anglesey Sea Zoo Frankie Hobro has seen first-hand the impact water scooters have on wildlife, including sea bird colonies, seal rookeries and pods of dolphins and porpoises. She said she is pleased that the legislation is coming but is calling for more stringent measures - including a licence and training scheme, similar to motorcycles, and creating areas off-limits to water scooters. She said: "I have sat on the shore watching porpoises and dolphins, happily doing their thing, calm, relaxed, happy, then suddenly totally freak out and disappear. "They are terrified by the noise, they can hear the vibrations under the water long before you see the Jet Skis coming, but they know. "They definitely have a negative impact, through the noise disruption of their habitat."Frankie Hobro would like to see more stringent measures introduced to regulate water scooters Ms Hobro added: "Some Jet Skiers have been known to get too close to seal hauls, the area where they hang out in groups, on rocks out at sea. "Seals can sometimes be quite hard to spot from a distance. The Jet Skis either deliberately or accidentally can go up too close to the rookeries. The frightened seals freak out and jump back in the water, and these are big animals. "There also risks to the Jet Ski users, a lot can happen to people out at sea, and it is not always easy to get help to where they can find themselves." 'It's like letting anyone on a motorbike' Arfon MP, Hywel Williams, has campaigned over jet skis and introduced a bill in parliament in 2020 seeking to regulate their use by bringing in a UK-wide licensing system. Ms Hobro added: "I agree with what Hywel Williams says. I am glad that these new laws are being brought in, but I think we need more regulation. "Like motorcycles, I think there should be some sort of training, a test or a license that Jet Skiers should before they go out on the sea. "As it stands, anyone can get on a powerful Jet Ski and just go, that's like letting anyone get on a motorbike and just go. "I also think they should bring in designated, contained recreational areas of the sea, or areas where Jet Skiers can go." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-64428587

Jack Ma had rarely been seen in public since late 2020 Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who has rarely been seen in public in the past three years, has resurfaced at a school in Hangzhou, a report says. The 58-year-old has kept a low profile since criticising China's financial regulators in 2020. Mr Ma was the most high-profile Chinese billionaire to have disappeared amid a crackdown on tech entrepreneurs. He recently returned to China after more than a year overseas, according to the South China Morning Post. The Alibaba-owned newspaper said he had made a short stopover in Hong Kong, where he met friends and also briefly visited Art Basel, an international art fair. It added that Mr Ma has been travelling to different countries to learn about agricultural technology, but made no reference as to why he had disappeared from public view in recent years. Mr Ma, a former English teacher, met staff and toured classrooms at the Yungu School in Hangzhou, the city in which Alibaba is headquartered. He talked about the potential challenges of artificial intelligence to education, according to the school's social media page. "ChatGPT and similar technologies are just the beginning of the AI era. We should use artificial intelligence to solve problems instead of being controlled by it," he said. Once the richest man in China, Mr Ma gave up control of financial technology giant Ant Group in January this year. It was seen by some commentators as further evidence that he had fallen foul of the Chinese Communist Party for becoming outspoken and too powerful. In October 2020, Mr Ma told a financial conference that traditional banks had a "pawn-shop mentality". The following month, Ant's planned £26bn stock market flotation, which would have been the world's largest, was cancelled at the last minute by Chinese authorities, who cited "major issues" over regulating the firm. Since then, there have been reported sightings of him in various countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Thailand and Australia. Last November, the Financial Times newspaper reported that Mr Ma had been living in Tokyo, Japan for six months. When Mr Ma first stopped making public appearances, it was rumoured that he had been placed under house arrest or had been otherwise detained. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-65084344

Atomic Heart lacks follow-through on its most interesting narrative concepts and plays it safe with its first-person shooter gameplay. doesn't hide its BioShock Infinite inspirations. The game begins in a city in the clouds, features reality-bending and elemental powers you can employ in your fight against advanced robots, sees you scrounging for resources in an idyllic city that's falling apart, and stars an amnesiac protagonist grappling with the nuances of free will. By the time you reach the climax of the story and you're asked to visit a lighthouse, you know what's up. Where Atomic Heart most differs from its inspiration is in the lens through which it focuses its narrative, exploring concepts of free will via Soviet Russian collectivism instead of the U.S.' individualism. However, its intriguing premise is let down by a deeply unlikable protagonist and a predictable storyline that doesn't do anything interesting with its cool ideas. In the alternate history of Atomic Heart, a scientist named Dmitry Sechenov kickstarts a robotics boom in Russia in the 1930s. By the 1950s, the working class has been abolished in the Soviet Union and completely replaced by robots controlled through a hive-mind network called Kollectiv 1.0. The game begins a few years after that, just prior to the public unveiling of Kollectiv 2.0, which will allow all humans to have equal access to the hive-mind to control robots remotely through a Thought device wired straight to their brain, as well as connect and share information with each other across great distances. Basically, it's the Internet plugged into your brain and available 24/7. adversaries that shoot at you from afar to bulky foes who heavily telegraph their attacks but can take a hit. The same goes for the weapons and powers you use to fight them. The pump-action shotgun hits like you'd expect a shotgun should, for instance, and the cold polymer power freezes enemies in their tracks just as you'd assume. There's nothing revolutionary to how combat plays out, but it all works as it should. It's familiar but still fun. Looting is surprisingly the most enjoyable aspect of Atomic Heart, as, with just the click of a button, Charles can use telekinesis to pull loot into Sergei's pocket. In practice, this causes drawers to fly open, cabinet doors to almost swing off their hinges, and the bodies of enemies to erupt as the magnetic pull of Charles rips the resources of a room towards Sergei. It never got old to enter an unexplored room or clear out a group of enemies and then sit back to watch as everything around me exploded into a whirlwind of paper and scraps of metal, sucked into my coffers like a greedy tornado. Of course, you can then use these resources to craft new firearms, ammo, weapon attachments, and items, but the sheer delight of the act is almost enough of a reward in itself. just hop in a car and drive straight to the next story beat, as that's where the better gameplay is. It makes the open world feel superfluous, adding content at the expense of enjoyability. Fortunately, some of the main levels have a distinct flavor and engaging themes to them, helping them to stand out against the largely forgettable open world. My favorite of these levels takes place in a theater known for being the first to feature a cast composed entirely of robots. The level sees Sergei chasing after a man who used to work there, who has twisted the theater into a macabre showcase of art--much like in BioShock. There's this breadcrumb trail of diary entries you can uncover that reveals an engineer coming to terms with the strange parasocial relationship he's developing with one of the robot dancers, a clever puzzle that incorporates ballet poses and blood splatters, and an incredible moment where you're fighting off waves of enemies during a ballet that gets a hip-hop remix It's a great level, and I'm sad we didn't get more like it or at least have more examples of using music to transform a familiar combat scenario into something more memorable. Atomic Heart has a great soundtrack filled with thumping, high-energy music from Doom composer Mick Gordon that will get your head bobbing during even the most butt-clenching of battles. But these powerful rhythms are usually reserved for boss encounters, meaning a lot of the game's best music is fleeting and only pops up for one encounter before never being heard from again. That moment in the theater is cool, but it's the only time something like that happens in the game. Atomic Heart doesn't build on it to make more moments like it--in fact, there are quite a few instances where the powerful soundtrack feels wasted because the superb composition that's playing doesn't match the vibe of what you're currently doing. Why play hard rock during a stressful fight in the dimly lit space of a morgue? It just doesn't fit. There are quite a few parts of Atomic Heart that just don't neatly fit together, and those disparities create an experience that often feels at odds with itself. That disparity is most evident in how the history of the world in Atomic Heart is interesting and sets up an intriguing conversation about the nature of free will and collectivism, but then the unlikable protagonist repeatedly prevents that topic from being explored. Atomic Heart is certainly going to appeal to some people, especially those looking to relive BioShock Infinite, but it's not an easy recommendation. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/atomic-heart-review-crispy-critters/1900-6418033/

Barry Steakfries makes a return with a Jetpack Joyride sequel that features an entirely new structure, but feels incomplete. The original Jetpack Joyride released during an early apex of the mobile market. Small but quality games were successful, and the platform was not yet overrun with free-to-play gacha games. Jetpack Joyride represented a nice middle-ground, offering a fun core mechanic great for high score competition without overbearing microtransactions. In the 10 years since it was released, the market has changed. Premium games now struggle on mobile and while the most successful titles may ask for less money, they do it more often. Jetpack Joyride 2 could have pivoted to fit this new, profit-focused model, but instead developer Halfbrick opted to bring the game to Apple's Arcade subscription service. This means it won't ask you for a dime and it is also, surprisingly, no longer an endless runner. The new structure, with the familiar jetpack gameplay, is a fantastic choice that absolutely makes a better game, but it unfortunately is not yet complete, leading to a sudden and disappointing non-ending. The core mechanic of Jetpack Joyride 2 is the same as the first. You, as Barry Steakfries (or the alternate reality female version, Betty Beefpies), sprint down a long hallway using a jetpack to move up and down and avoid obstacles. All these years later, narrowly dodging electric traps and missiles while the spray from your jetpack knocks over the scientists with the bad luck to get in your way is still an immediate blast. The change, however, is the sequel has levels, bosses, some light RPG mechanics, and even a shallow story. An endless mode is promised at some point in the future, but right now Jetpack Joyride 2 is a game with a campaign. The change is surprising considering the success of the first game (which still receives updates), but I like it. Beating levels is more frequently rewarding than having a series of bad runs before you finally have a good one, and the bosses are a fun additional challenge to cap off every few stages. Different levels also means stages look different as you progress, so you no longer have to stare at the same background while jetpacking. Bosses, and levels to a degree, are overcome with Jetpack Joyride 2's other surprising new mechanic: Guns. About half your time is spent dodging obstacles, while the other half is spent shooting. This new mechanic fits in well and feels natural. This is partially because Barry and Betty shoot automatically, meaning you just have to line up your shot. It makes the shooting a basic extension of what you're already doing, and blowing up a robot with bullets as you drop below a passing missile feels great. The shooting action is even more fun against bosses as you both speed down the hallway exchanging fire. Between jetpacking your way through assorted science facilities, you are using your collected coins to upgrade jetpacks and weapons. The various upgrades feel like they were conceived for a free-to-play game, as you exchange tokens for random weapon upgrades which you then need to buy with coins. Having different types of currency is never fun, but without real money backing them up, I enjoyed managing it and making decisions about what I wanted to upgrade and when. A facility is also unlocked early that automatically generates the various types of currency, even if you're not playing. Dictating where the facility spends its resources and occasionally tapping away invading aliens and putting out fires so it can continue is a very simple, minor management sim, but I enjoyed not thinking about it for a few runs and checking in to find a nice cache of coins waiting for me. The story of Jetpack Joyride 2 exists as a very soft context for what you're doing, but it is nothing noteworthy. Barry and Betty converse with the boss characters between levels with a line or two of consistently unfunny dialogue and will occasionally chat with a friendly scientist. The conversations are short enough that it thankfully does not become annoying, but it also doesn't add much to the forward momentum. The story is tertiary to the fun gameplay, but I was still disappointed when the game suddenly ended. Once I defeated the third boss--after about eight hours of gameplay--I was greeted with a coming soon sign and no worthwhile incentive to continue playing. By the time I had beaten that last available boss, I had maxed out my level and unlocked the best jetpack. I believe developer Halfbrick when it says more content is on the way, but I was surprised at how abruptly it concluded with no fanfare. Jetpack Joyride 2 doesn't end, it just stops. Despite the abrupt ending, I had a great time with Jetpack Joyride 2 up to that point. I am eagerly anticipating what gets added to the game next and fully plan to play it. The addition of gunplay and the new campaign-focused design makes the sequel feel fresh while bringing forward what was so fun about the original all without making any gameplay sacrifices. I just wish it was a complete package. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/jetpack-joyride-2-review-running-up-that-hall/1900-6417947/

The new Resident Evil 4 is out now, and while you can check out our Wccftech’s review of the PS5 version of the game, how does it fare on PC? While the RE-Engine-powered remake doesn’t have the severe issues a lot of recent Unreal Engine PC ports have had, according to an analysis from the folks at Digital Foundry, Capcom’s work on the platform is far from flawless. Issues with image quality, ray tracing, and crashing still make the RE4 PC experience less-than-ideal at times. If you’ve got around 20 minutes to spare, you can check out the full Digital Foundry video below, or scroll on down for the highlights. While the new Resident Evil 4 is a good-looking game overall, the PC version has some issues with image quality, as temporal anti-aliasing is not well-implemented and Capcom seems to have applied an overbearing sharpening filter to the game that you can’t tweak. This leads to a lot of jagged, shimmery edges and somewhat ugly-looking grass and foliage. RE4 supports FSR 1 and 2, but the results still aren’t great. Digital Foundry actually finds that mods that add DLSS to the game (Capcom does not support NVIDIA’s upscaling tech natively) actually provide a better result than the officially-implemented FSR. Another issue with the PC version of Resident Evil 4 is crashing, which seems to be tied to VRAM usage, with 8 GB and 10 GB graphics cards struggling. Thankfully, you can save yourself some VRAM headspace by turning off ray tracing as the quality of reflections aren’t that high, which is particularly noticeable when combined with the PC version of RE4’s anti-aliasing and sharpening issues. Screen-space reflections aren’t great either. Also, as I’ve recommended before, go ahead and turn off those fancy hair strands – they look goofy and definitely aren’t worth it if they’re going to contribute to your game crashing. If you do want to keep ray tracing, you'll want to turn down texture quality and shadows in order to keep the crashes at bay. Overall, Resident Evil 4 is still very playable on PC as performance isn’t an issue, but it does seem like Capcom could have treated the port with a bit more care. Again, if you’d like some general thoughts on the Resident Evil 4 remake, you can check out my full review. Resident Evil 4 is available now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5. https://wccftech.com/resident-evil-4-pc-analysis-image-quality-ray-tracing-issues-modded-dlss-beats-fsr/

Like most audiophile-focused earphones, the CCA PLA13 comes with a detachable and replaceable cable. The CCA PLA13 has 13.2mm planar magnetic drivers The standard variant on sale in India comes with a microphone Although the fit is secure, the earphones do feel a bit heavy. In recent years, the audiophile hobby has become considerably more affordable for beginners, attracting many more people to the fold. This is because of the rapid growth and global spread of ‘Chi-Fi'; entry-level IEMs from China look and sound pretty good, and don't cost too much either. The emergence of good portable DACs has also largely covered for the lack of 3.5mm sockets on modern smartphones, making it possible to set up a decent portable audiophile kit on a budget. I've had a chance to test many Chi-Fi products, the latest of which is the CCA PLA13. Priced at Rs. 3,999 in India, the CCA PLA13 has planar magnetic drivers something unique to products in this price segment — which promise great sound quality. Is this the best audiophile-grade wired IEM you can buy for less than Rs. 5,000 right now? Find out in this review. CCA PLA13 design and specifications The code-like alphanumeric naming of the CCA PLA13 fits in rather well with the general look and feel of the earphones, which arguably pulls off the transparent aesthetic a bit better than the Nothing Ear 1 (Review). With big plastic earpieces and a glossy dark-shaded exterior, the CCA PLA13 feels solid and looks great. The backs of the earpieces are rather easy to look through, while the fronts have small ‘windows' that let you look into the innards, specifically the planar magnetic drivers. Other interesting design aspects include the bass vents, transparent cable, and the long extension for the ear tips that gives the CCA PLA13 a secure in-canal fit. The cable looks good, has a microphone and one-button remote, and is detachable and replaceable, with standard 0.75mm two-pin connectors to plug into the earpieces, and a 3.5mm plug for the source device or DAC. Unfortunately the cable is quite tangle-prone, but is well insulated to minimise cable noise. While the fit of large IEMs tends to often be tricky, the CCA PLA13 is quite easy to put on and take off, although the earphones themselves are a bit heavy. The ear hooks on the included 1.2m cable are quite well made, and stayed securely in The CCA PLA13 has 13.2mm planar magnetic drivers, with a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz, an impedance rating of around 16 Ohms, and a sensitivity rating of around 100dB. The impedance rating makes it easy enough to drive the earphones even with ordinary source devices such as a laptop or smartphone, but pairing the CCA PLA13 with even a basic portable DAC can make a significant difference in the listening experience. When it comes to personal audio, the concept of tuning is vastly underrated, and the effort that goes into tuning can make even ordinary hardware sound better than more expensive but poorly-tuned kit. However, that doesn't take away from what superior equipment brings to the table, especially when paired with careful tuning of its own. While the CCA PLA13 may not be as impressively set up as the much more affordable (and dynamic driver-powered) Moondrop Chu, it manages to deliver expectedly better performance on the whole, thanks to its excellent planar magnetic drivers. For my review, HeadphoneZone (the distributor for CCA in India) provided me with the iFi Go Link DAC/Amp, which paired well with the earphones and helped draw a bit more power and drive, apart from making it possible to plug directly into both, iOS and Android smartphones, as source devices. The cable is usefully detachable, although it's good enough that you won't immediately feel the need to replace it This made the overall setup fairly compact and portable, so this is something that you can explore if you're looking for a good on-the-go audiophile setup. I did also connect the CCA PLA13 directly to my laptop occasionally for this review, with notable differences in the loudness and how the sound felt at roughly equivalent volume levels on different devices. The DAC made it possible for the earphones to sound louder without any audible harshness in the sound, so the PLA13 definitely benefits from having the best possible input signal. Final Audio E3000C and E1000C Wired Earphones Review Listening to Pasilda by Afro Medusa, the CCA PLA13 provided an immersive and lively sound from the get-go, with decent performance across the frequency range. While there was a fair amount of attack and drive in the low-end, the bass didn't feel quite as impactful and deep as on the more affordable Moondrop Chu, even if the lows sounded a bit more detailed, and seemed to extend just a bit lower. Indeed, it's an arguably more refined approach to the bass, and one that better agrees with the philosophy of audiophile listening. With the faster and more varied Fake Awake by Andy Moor, the responsiveness of the mid-range and highs on the CCA PLA13 were better highlighted. Sharpness and detail in even the higher bass frequencies was noticeable, providing impressive detail levels across the track without the sub-bass overpowering the rest of the track through too much attack. On the whole, it's a reasonably balanced approach to the sound, highlighting detail and perception, and steering clear of any obvious biases. The one variant of the CCA PLA13 sold in India has a microphone and single-button remote, so you can use it as a hands-free headset or recording device with compatible source devices. This functionality works reasonably well if you need it, although this does come across as somewhat dated and inconvenient in the age of wireless audio. Verdict Many would argue that the type of driver isn't all that important, and there are cases where even the humble dynamic driver sounds excellent, such as the Rs. 14,990 Sennheiser IE 200. That said, the idea of having technically superior planar magnetic drivers on a budget IEM is appealing, and the CCA PLA13 delivers a fun listening experience that is focused on detail and refinement. Apple Music Voice Plan: How Does It Work? Sennheiser IE 200 Wired Earphones Review Best Headphones and Earphones of 2022 While there are plenty of options for a starter audiophile, the CCA PLA13 is a relatively inexpensive wired IEM headset that might be worth considering if you have a budget of around Rs. 5,000. You should ideally pair it with a decent budget DAC for best results, but it's easy enough to just plug in and get going, if you already have a good source device with a 3.5mm socket. What are the best wireless and wired earphones you can buy in India? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts. Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details. CCA PLA13 Wired Earphones .https://www.gadgets360.com/audio/reviews/cca-pla13-wired-earphones-review-planar-magnetic-drivers-price-in-india-3898916

Microsoft has included a new option in the latest Windows 11 update for Insiders with which users can download free apps and games directly from the Microsoft Store search results without having to access the product. The company has released its latest version of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25330 for the Canary channel , which includes updates related to the Microsoft app store, as well as some changes and improvements in design aspects . Among the novelties of this update is the option to install free applications and games directly from the search results of the application store. In this way, the download of the 'apps' is facilitated in a more accessible way, without having to navigate through the application or game page itself.To do this, as Microsoft explains in a statement on its blog , the user will only have to place the cursor over the application they want to download among the results options that appear on the search page. After that, a window will open with application information and an install button. Once this button has been pressed, the installation will be activated automatically. In addition, during the download process of the 'app' in this same window also appears the option to cancel the download or pause it . Following this thread, Windows has also updated the design of the Microsoft Store when it comes to buying apps . In this case, the styles of the dialog that appears in the development of the purchase "are better aligned with Windows 11", as indicated by the company itself, to offer the user "a more pleasant payment experience".In the same way, the design of the user interface of the box that appears in the Microsoft store to rate and qualify the application has been renewed . Now displays a "faster, more reliable" rating experience that's better aligned with the Windows 11 style. As for other OS updates, the company has introduced changes to the settings page for wheel or circular dial devices , such as the Surface Dial design activity plugin, which opens in the 'Settings' app within the 'Bluetooth and devices' tab. This page now better aligns with Windows 11 design principles , as detailed by Microsoft. On the other hand, with this update the 'print screen' key will open the 'Snipping Tool' by default . Also, in the course of encrypting a drive with BitLocker the user will be able to minimize the encryption process dialog.These Windows 11 news are part of the preview version of the Canary channel, so they are still in testing before they are released to users generally. https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/software/noticia-windows-11-permite-descargar-apps-resultados-busqueda-tienda-version-insiders-20230331155512.html

The use of liquid metal thermal paste in the PS5 video game console and its total absence in most PC components has opened a controversy that seems to have no end regarding the use of this method to keep the components at a good temperature. our PC. That is why, fed up with the gossip and fanaticism that swarms through the network of networks, we have decided to demystify this solution to keep the components of our PC fresh.If we had to choose a point where manufacturers do not hesitate to cut costs, this is undoubtedly the cooling of the components, not in vain, we have already seen more than once how the use of better thought out and more efficient solutions has ended being of higher quality. This shows that in PC components it is something that many manufacturers overlook, since they expect the end user to make the purchase and choice of said materials. Liquid metal as a coolant? How is it possible? The idea is none other than to use a type of metal to conduct heat out of the chip. Surely mercury has come to mind in your imagination, however, its vapors are toxic enough to send you down the hole in no time. So gallium is used, a type of metal that at room temperature and whose boiling point is much higher than what the hottest of your chips will ever reach.It is impossible for gallium as thermal paste to school as many say, since physically it is like a metallic butter and it does not liquefy even more when it reaches temperatures above 100º C. Of course, if you have the chip vertically with respect to the ground and the thermal paste is not well insulated, then it can happen that being a metal, when it comes into contact with the plate it creates problems on the device. Let's not forget that like all metal, a thermal paste based on liquid metal is also electrically conductive. Is it better than a conventional thermal paste? Well yes, since it can dissipate much more heat and therefore it will prevent the components of your computer from reaching high temperatures. In numbers, the best conventional thermal pastes have a dissipation capacity of 15 watts per meter-kelvin, while gallium-based thermal paste achieves 73 watts per meter-kelvin.So it is ideal in systems with a small chip with which we want to reach a high clock speed in a stable and smooth way. Hence its use in ultralight laptops. However, it is difficult to apply and requires great caution or specialized assemblies where it is fully encapsulated. Furthermore, in many systems, in order not to break the security seal, it is recommended not to disassemble the encapsulation of the processor and the heatsink.A different case is that you are going to do it yourself, in that case you can apply it like a conventional thermal paste, but you will have to be very careful when applying it and not go overboard. If you are clumsy, we recommend that a specialist apply it to your PC's processor. Why is it hardly used if it is better? There are several reasons for this, but mainly because of the way it behaves with other metals that are often used to encapsulate certain chips. For example, it is not recommended to use it with aluminum due to the fact that both metals end up combining and creating an alloy with an oxide layer in the process. Said layer, if it is not large enough, will create an exothermic reaction that generates a large amount of heat. That is why combining a liquid metal thermal paste with an aluminum heatsink is not a good idea. Aluminum Heatsink Destroyed by Gallium Most heatsinks are made of aluminium, since it is more common and easier to find than copper, with which gallium works without any problem. The problem is that this means in many cases an additional cost and that is why many manufacturers of graphics cards, in order to save on costs, end up using aluminum heatsinks or heatsinks. BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT! IT MAY INTEREST YOU ... PS5-1300 PS5-2000 PS5-10000 Slim Fake Liquid metal will say its final goodbye in the new PS5 model The temperature problems of the AMD RX 7900 XTX would come from the heatsink CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT review CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT, powerful and colorful AIO liquid cooling I do not recommend acer laptop I do not recommend my friends to buy an Acer laptop for these reasons amd rx 7900 xtx graphics card That the RX 7900 XTX reaches 110 ºC is "normal", says AMD Gigabyte X670 AORUS ELITE AX AORUS X670 ELITE AX, a mid-range board that can handle the TOP processors https://hardzone.es/noticias/componentes/pasta-termica-metal-liquido-secretos/

Water bikers "tried to knock men off paddleboard" Campaigners have called for a licence requirement for water bike riders as new rules come in to curb irresponsible users. The new law came into force on Friday as the UK government warned people "riding a jet ski recklessly or causing harm" faced fines or up to two years in prison. It said the new law would crack down on dangerous use of water bikes. But one MP says the new law does not go far enough. Campaigners for water bike safety said it was that a child as young as 12 can legally drive a jet ski in the UK, whereas riders in countries like France, Spain, Croatia and Denmark must have a licence and be 16.Watercraft users in the UK are now bound by the same laws that apply to ships, and give more powers to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to prosecuted irresponsible riders. 'Hostile water bikers could hurt someone' Surf club calls for action on water bikes 'Don't use my wife's death to justify curbs' Arfon MP Hywel Williams, whose constituency takes in the Menai Strait between the Welsh mainland and Anglesey which has seen deaths in water bike incidents, said he was "glad" the UK government listened to concerns about the danger "jet skis pose to swimmers and wildlife".Jane Walker was killed when a water bike hit the speedboat she was on off Anglesey in 2020 Jane Walker, 52, was killed on the Menai Strait in August 2020 when she was hit by a water bike while on holiday in north Wales with her family. Investigators said neither Ms Walker nor the boat's driver had the knowledge or skills they needed, and were too close to each other while travelling at speed. Mrs Walker's husband, Kevin, said afterwards that he did not want his wife's death to be used as a reason for more curbs on water bikes, describing the incident as "very much a freak accident".Kevin Walker says his wife would not want her death used to impose curbs. But Mr Williams wants the UK to follow the example of some EU countries and have a training programme and a proper licensing system for riders. The Plaid Cymru MP said he fears the threat of punishment is not enough to prevent the irresponsible use of water bikes - and said it was possible for someone as young as 12 to currently drive one. "A jet ski driver does not need a licence - unlike in most other EU countries and beyond, which already have a strict licensing system in place," he said. Other near-misses include a 16-year-old kayaker who warned in August 2019 that "hostile" water bike users could seriously hurt someone after he felt targeted while on holiday near Criccieth.Police and the council are looking at ways to stop a repeat (video by Gary Elford) Mr Williams added: "In recent years, we've seen a significant rise in the level of complaints about the misuse of jet skis along coastal communities in Gwynedd, including the harassing of local sea life such as dolphins and sea birds, not to mention the personal tragedies that have arisen when accidents do occur." He said while the new laws were a "step in the right direction", it merely "treats the symptoms and not the cause".Ecologist Ben Porter said water bike use could have a negative impact on coastal wildlife Ben Porter, an ecologist and wildlife photographer based in Machynlleth, Powys, said he feared the unregulated use of water bikes was harming wildlife around the Welsh coast. He said: "Our wildlife is so important - and the sea birds are really vulnerable to disturbance. "It's not all jet skiers - some have an awareness and that's what it comes down to - just being aware of what is around you. "I think licencing would help - and if you got have training alongside gaining the licence in marine code that element of education would help." Scott Beeland said the vast majority of water bike riders acted responsibly Scott Beeland runs PWC Gwynedd, a website promoting safe use of sea scooters, and said irresponsible use of water vehicles by a minority "tars us all with the same brush". "Jet skiers have been around a long time - the vast majority are responsible users. "There are teachings out there that advise on how to use [them] safely - the only problem is it isn't mandatory. Making it mandatory could help." He said the new regulations were "welcome as a whole", but that fairness was needed. The Department for Transport said: "We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by incidents involving jet skis - it's important that people can enjoy them safely."While serious accidents in the UK are rare, our new law will crack down on the irresponsible minority who use jet skis and similar vehicles dangerously." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65127194

A raccoon dog was photographed after getting into a farm paddock They were "terrorising", "vicious" and left a village "under siege" - according to some headlines, but what are raccoon dogs really about? Two of the curious creatures found fame after escaping from an enclosure in a Nottinghamshire village on Tuesday. After a neighbour said one attacked her goat, media organisations around the world portrayed raccoon dogs as something to be feared. But are they dangerous? How common? Are they raccoons or dogs?Safe to say, it was a night Clarborough resident Mandy Marsh will not forget in a hurry."It was 04:00 and I could hear a wild noise, a noise I'd never heard before," she said. "My husband went out and was gone for about 10 minutes and he came back and said, 'You've got to see this'. "He said, 'I don't know what it is, it's like a wild animal attacking the goat'." The couple fended off the "hissing" creature but not before taking a photo, posting it online and asking if anyone knew what it was. The furry appearance of the raccoon dog persuaded some people to try them as exotic pets So, what is a raccoon dog? "A raccoon dog is not a raccoon," said Stephanie Jayson, senior exotics and wildlife trade officer from the RSPCA. "It's not really a dog either, although it is classified as part of the same canid family. "The closest comparison is with foxes and badgers - nocturnal mammals who like woods and undergrowth." Originally from the Far East, raccoon dogs were introduced into eastern Europe as part the fur trade. Their cuddly appearance meant until recently they were openly traded as exotic pets, which the RSPCA emphasises is a bad idea.It was feared escaped raccoon dogs would compete with native foxes and badgers for food and shelter "These are wild animals," said Ms Jayson. "They need large home ranges. We have seen people keep them in houses, with dogs and in small cages, which is not suitable. "In these cases they often become aggressive and unmanageable. "And while they are too small to be dangerous, they can bite and scratch." The number in the UK is not known, but the RSPCA rehomed five raccoon dogs in 2018 and eight in 2017 and has had "a number" of calls this year. "While the numbers are not great, if they get out, they pose a high risk establishing in the wild," said Ms Jayson. The raccoon dog is described by the EU as "one of the most successful alien carnivores in Europe" Earlier this year the European Union added raccoon dogs to a list of invasive alien species of concern, which seeks to control po[CENSORED]tions deemed to be harmful to native wildlife. Existing owners can keep the animals, but further breeding or sale is banned. Kevin Smith, invasive species programme officer for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said: "Any po[CENSORED]tions of raccoon dogs in the wild would compete with native animals, such as foxes, for food and shelter. "This would also impact on amphibians, birds and small mammals, which the raccoon dogs eat. "In extreme cases, invasive species are one of the biggest causes of biodiversity loss. "In some ecosystems, especially islands, invasive species can have a huge impact and even cause extinctions. "It is much more cost effective for this issue to be tackled early on because if a po[CENSORED]tion becomes established it can be nigh on impossible to remove." The animals' owner, who did not want to be named, said he was concerned for their safety before they were found. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-48472720

Five car firms later showcased their new taxis at City Hall All new taxis in London should be capable of emitting zero emissions from 2018, the mayor has announced. The vehicles will operate in zero-emission mode in areas of the capital suffering from the worst air quality, such as central London. But the Green Party said the mayor had failed in his pledge to create 25,000 electric charging points, which are needed to support electric cabs. Five car firms later showcased their new taxis at City Hall. London Mayor Boris Johnson said all new taxis presented for licensing in the capital are to be zero-emission capable from 1 January 2018.Chugging diesel engines' It follows a pledge the mayor made last year to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London by 2020. Transport for London said it was working with the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and was in discussions with the Green Investment Bank to help fund the transition. Mr Johnson said: "The London taxi is iconic in so many ways - not least in terms of its eye-catching looks and the way it is piloted by wily experts who know the capital like the back of their hand. "To date its one Achilles' heel, particularly of older models, has been the pollution generated by chugging diesel engines. "As part of my mission to improve our air quality and drive innovation, I'm making a firm pledge to Londoners that from 2018 all taxis presented for licensing should be zero-emission capable." Jenny Jones, from the London Assembly Green Party, said: "London also has no rapid charging network which will mean that cabbies will have to slowly recharge their taxis when they run out of juice, which will potentially cost them trade and money. "The mayor needs to pull his finger out and deliver on his original promise of 25,000 charging points. Otherwise a great opportunity for reducing pollution in London will go to waste and the health of Londoners will suffer as a result." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-25756929

The rise and rise of online fashion stores – and their generous returns policies – has created a new industry dedicated to dealing with our unwanted clothes. But what damage is being done – to our planet and to retailers – by our boomerang shopping habits? the past, the post office has been an embarrassing place for Megan Hitt. The 25-year-old nurse from south Wales recalls a time, a few years ago, when she had to approach the counter with six different Asos parcels in her arms, her “shopping addiction exposed for everyone to see”. Since university, Hitt has been a prolific online shopper – buying several outfits at a time, picking one to keep and returning the rest. This time, when she handed over her parcels to be scanned, she was ashamed that there were so many. Still, she knew she would be back soon – she already had another Asos order on the way.Buying and returning clothes online is part of the fabric of modern life. For years, Hitt didn’t think much about it: “I used to buy and return like it didn’t matter.” At her worst, she’d order three parcels a week; sometimes, if she knew she’d wear something only once, on a night out, she’d keep the tags on and send it back. “It was something we all used to do,” Hitt says of her university days. “In a house of six girls, four did it all the time.” In the UK, customers return £7bn of internet purchases every year, while more than a fifth of all clothes bought online are sent back. Across the globe, return rates are typically higher when customers shop online – in the US, 8-10% of sales from physical shops are returned, while 20-30% of e-commerce purchases ultimately rebound. Rising returns during the cost of living crisis are troubling retailers; in the spring of 2022, fast fashion retailer Boohoo blamed an increase in returns for a 94% slump in pre-tax profits. The returns problem is now so widespread that there is a specialist organisation dedicated to studying it: the Product Returns Research Group (PRRG) at the University of Southampton. Regina Frei, a professor of operations and supply chain management who leads the group, has found that it costs companies £11 to deal with the return of an £89 item, in a situation when 20% of orders come back. Frei has also spoken to warehouse workers and discovered that many businesses don’t know the real reasons products are sent back – 70% of returns are logged as a “change of mind” by the customer, partly because this is the first thing that workers can click on their drop-down menus. One logistics firm put the carbon dioxide cost of returns in the US as being equivalent to the output of 3m cars “A lot of retailers are not aware of the full scale of the returns problem,” Frei says. “There is often a lack of strategy in how to deal with returns.” Lisa Jack, a professor of accounting and a member of the PRRG, says the situation is escalating to the point where “it could wipe out any profits companies make selling goods”.Yet the returns phenomenon does not just affect retailers – it has had a knock-on effect across the economy, and in some ways has created its own shadow economy. There are cleaners who revive the returned clothes, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, seamstresses, packaging manufacturers and waste management companies whose jobs arguably exist because we just can’t stop sending stuff back. Entire new businesses have sprung up or expanded to deal with – and feed off – our returns obsession. It’s partly why Hitt is now a lot less embarrassed when she sends unwanted parcels back. “Now they’ve got the InPost lockers where you don’t even have to see anybody,” she says. “You can just take the parcel and scan the QR code.” In November 2022, InPost reported record year-on-year growth, proudly noting that 46% of residents in London, Birmingham and Manchester were “within a seven-minute walk” of an InPost locker.The shadow economy also partly explains how Hitt’s shopping habit became so intense. She admits that, as a student, “I always needed to have something different on in every Instagram photo, I never would have worn something again.” But she also points the finger at delayed-payment app Klarna. In 2019, Asos began collaborating with the Swedish fintech company, which allows customers to pay for their products 30 days after they “buy” them.If we had something on the weekend, we’d Klarna four different outfits, see which we liked the most and send them all back,” Hitt says. “You wouldn’t even be waiting on the return money because you never paid for it in the first place.” The official Klarna website boasts: “Paying after delivery allows you to try before you buy.” InPost and Klarna are just two businesses that benefit from customers such as Hitt. Yet traditional retailers are left vulnerable by rising returns. “It affects the company’s bottom line, so it can lead to a lot of losses,” Frei says. “It can contribute to retailers having to shut down branches, high streets getting more deserted.” Our penchant for returning stuff both creates jobs and jeopardises them; benefits businesses and threatens them. For individual retailers, the costs can be astronomical, but for the planet, the costs are even higher. When you pull out a sticky label and slap it on the front of your parcel, your return is technically free – but what is the price we really pay? What is the true cost of the return economy? Here is what many of us assume happens when we order a dress, frown, sigh, put it back in two layers of plastic packaging and send it back. The dress arrives at a warehouse. It is rebagged in an unripped plastic packet. It is put back on a shelf. Somewhere, a hopeful person who entered their email address in a “notify me when back in stock” box gets a life-changing ping, and the dress lives happily ever after in its new home.This, Frei says, is very often not what happens. “If it’s not in perfect condition, if there is a delay in the shipping or in the processing, or if you keep it for quite a long time before returning it, then it’s not going to be resold,” Frei says. Third-party returns platform Optoro estimates that only 50% of returns will be. Frei says most consumers are not aware of the environmental impact of returns. One logistics firm put the carbon dioxide cost of returns in the US as being equivalent to the output of 3m cars. Even if the dress you sent back isn’t thrown away, selling it on is also costly for the environment. There’s the transport, of course, and often clothes are “wrapped in paper and a plastic bag that need to be replaced, and if it’s something that’s easily crinkled, it needs to be steamed”.According to anti-waste charity the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, one truckload of clothing is sent to a landfill or burned every second. The Atacama desert in Chile has become a dumping ground for 39,000 tonnes of unsold clothes a year from around the world – piled high and stretched as far as the eye can see, these textiles leak pollutants into local water and sometimes catch fire in the heat. Even before we consider the environmental impact of sending these unwanted clothes across the globe, fashion production is responsible for between 2% and 8% of global carbon emissions. While many companies have mastered “forward logistics” – designing, making, packing and shipping their product as efficiently as possible – “reverse logistics” are messier. This leads to further waste, as stock is updated based on what is sold, meaning companies manufacture more of a product that’s ultimately sent back. Without efficient reverse logistics models, businesses often sell stock on to “jobbers” who bulk-buy returns in pallets without knowing what’s inside or what state the goods are in. “Even then, a large percentage of it will probably go to waste,” Frei says, “and there is even more transport and packaging.” One solution is for retailers to develop circular business models, getting the maximum use out of their products by repairing or recycling them. Andrew Rough is the chief executive of Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), a 25-year-old clothing rental company based in Scotland that expanded its services in 2019 to repair and resell returned clothes for high street brands. In recent years, Rough says things have been “growing really quickly” as brands wake up to the importance of circular solutions. Yet not everyone is on board. “We’ve tried to speak to fast-fashion houses, but a lot of them didn’t really want to engage with us, sadly,” he says. It’s easy to see why – cheap clothes have a reputation for falling apart in the wash. Rough says ACS has helped a number of companies become both more sustainable and more profitable, but there is still a way to go. “We’ve got to change the mindset that clothing is stock. It is assets. And those assets will have many users over their lifetime.” ACS is housed in a huge site near Motherwell that processes over 6m clothing items a year and in peak (read: wedding) season employs 250 people. When I visit in March I can see why some employees – known as “garment longevity specialists” – compare the sprawling facility to the factory in Monsters, Inc. In the movie, bedroom doors travel up and down mechanised rails; here, dry cleaning bags flit past overhead, each tagged to track the shirt or dress inside. Walk up to the second floor of the warehouse and you have to dodge out of the way of the steady stream of bags as the pleasant smell of steam wafts over from the dry cleaning area. The top of a long dress will have fake tan and makeup stains; the middle, food. And the bottom will be trailed in the dirt Before it is eventually rehired or resold, a returned piece of clothing makes numerous stops in the ACS facility. After being unwrapped, assessed and blasted in an ozone sanitisation station that looks not unlike the inside of a truck, a damaged item will make its way to dry cleaning supervisor Angela Grant, a veteran with 28 years’ experience. At her “spot cleaning station”, Grant works to remove every stain you could possibly imagine – a laminated guide tells her the exact amount of solution to put on everything from felt tip pen to vomit. Coloured bottles hold the different solutions: you need a splash from the red bottle and the green bottle to get out a mustard stain, while you’d need to pour from the red, green, blue and yellow bottles to remove jam. “If you get a dress, at the top there will be fake tan and makeup stains,” Grant says. “Down the middle it will be food stains and at the bottom – if it’s a long dress – it will be trailed in the dirt. That’s how I always assess it.” Grant often finds chewing gum in pockets, and inside the lining are the kind of stains you don’t want to ask about. Red wine is the hardest thing to get out. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/mar/31/what-happens-when-we-send-back-unwanted-clothes

Shares of Chinese technology giant Alibaba have jumped after it announced a plan to break up the company. The firm says five of the six units created by the move will explore raising fresh funding and initial public offering (IPO) options. Alibaba shares gained more than 14% in New York on Tuesday and were more than 13% higher in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Its US-listed shares have fallen by almost 70% since 2020 on concerns over Beijing's crackdown on the tech sector. The move comes after reports that Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who has rarely been seen in public in the last three years, resurfaced in China this week after a long absence. said the decision to split up the business is the biggest restructuring in its 24-year history. The units will have their own chief executives and boards of directors. They will be allowed to raise capital and seek stock market listings, except for the online retail platform Taobao Tmall Commerce Group, which will remain wholly owned by Alibaba. In filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Alibaba said the units will "capture opportunities in their respective markets and industries, thereby unlocking the value of Alibaba Group's respective businesses". "The market is the best litmus test, and each business group and company can pursue independent fundraising and IPOs when they are ready," chief executive Daniel Zhang said in a letter to staff. What exactly is Alibaba? Why do Chinese billionaires keep vanishing? China technology analyst Rui Ma told the BBC that investors saw value in the restructuring because Alibaba's business units will be able to grow at their own pace. She added that each unit will also be more streamlined and "less likely to be subject to antitrust violations". Alibaba's restructuring comes after years of tough regulation for Chinese technology firms, said Scott Kessler, global sector lead for technology, media and telecommunications at investment research firm Third Bridge. "Over the past few months, the government has been less harsh on big technology companies. People are wondering if this could be the beginning of a period where the government shifts from being almost an adversary to companies, to actually supporting them," he added. Mr Ma, who founded Alibaba, recently returned to China after more than a year overseas, according to a report in the Alibaba-owned South China Morning Post newspaper this week. He met staff and toured classrooms at the Yungu School in Hangzhou, the city in which Alibaba is headquartered, the newspaper said. Mr Ma was the most high-profile Chinese billionaire to disappear amid a crackdown on technology entrepreneurs. The 58-year-old has kept a low profile since criticising China's financial regulators in 2020. He stepped down as the chairman of Alibaba in September 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65107923

The iPhone 15 series is expected to launch later this year. HIGHLIGHTS iPhone 15 series is said to come with USB Type-C ports The Pro models are expected to get a price hike iPhone 15 Pro models will likely have Always-On Displays iPhone 15 series is said to release later this year, and the anticipated lineup is likely to consist of four models — the base iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which could reportedly launch as the 'Ultra' model this year. Although Apple is yet to officially announce any details of the upcoming series of flagship smartphones, there have been multiple leaks and reports about the forthcoming devices in the past few weeks. A couple of new reports suggest some key specifications about the Pro models of the series.A MacRumours report suggests that both iPhone 15 Pro models, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, will use new ultra-low energy microprocessors to enable certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to continue to be functional even when the power is turned off.This chipset is expected to replace Apple's present super-low energy mode, which enables an iPhone to be located through Find My locator after it has been powered off and also allows Apple Pay Express Mode to be used for up to five hours after the battery has run out. It is also rumoured to take over existing Bluetooth LE/Ultra Wideband functions when the device power is off.The rumoured chipset will "immediately sense capacitive button presses, holds, and even detect their own version of 3D Touch with the new volume up/down button, action button, and power button, while the phone is dead or powered down," the report adds. Apple is reportedly currently testing the chipsets with and without Taptic Engine feedback. The report adds that the unified volume button is expected to have one of two functionalities — one where the volume is adjusted depending on the amount of force used when pressed, and another where the volume is allowed to change by swiping up and down the button with a finger.Another MacRumours report adds that the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature a customisable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra. It will reportedly replace the Ring/Silent switch, but the report did not specify how it will be implemented. The potential functions that could be controlled by using this Action button include features like Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, Light/Dark Mode, Lock Rotation, Show the Home Screen, Show the Lock Screen, Open Control Center, Open Notification Center, Open Camera, Screenshot, Screen Recording, Run a Shortcut, Toggle on Reachability, Show the App Switcher, Show the App Library, Shazam, VoiceOver, Magnifier, and Background Sounds, according to the report.It is worth noting that most of these features are accessible with a Back Tap action, a feature that was introduced with iOS 14. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/iphone-15-pro-ultra-low-energy-microprocessors-solid-state-buttons-specifications-leak-report-3906525#pfrom=topstory

Google Cloud has partnered with the startup Replit to combine its infrastructure and its artificial intelligence (AI) language models with the 'software' capable of writing Ghostwriter application programming code , so that both companies can "accelerate " creating generative AI applications.Replit is an online IDE service , that is, an editor, compiler, interpreter, and REPL (read-evaluate-print-loop), with which users can write code and build applications and websites through a browser. For its part, Ghostwriter is a Replit application that the startup began developing last October 2022, designed to execute tasks such as autocompletion and code transformation. Replit later added a conversational AI interface to Ghostwriter . In this way, the application became capable of generating, repairing, and suggesting programming code. This option was included in order to help developers increase their productivity and creativity when creating 'software'.Now, Google Cloud has partnered with this 'startup' to have access to Replit's collaborative code editing platform . Furthermore, with this partnership, Replit developers gain access to Google Cloud's infrastructure, services, and core models through Ghostwriter. In this sense, Replit, which currently has 20 million developers, intends to obtain the necessary momentum with Google and its resources to "empower the next 1,000 million 'software' creators ", as the 'startup' has underlined. ' in a statement on his blog . And it is reiterated by the vice president of Cloud AI and Industry Solutions at Google Cloud, June Yang, who stresses that the Google Cloud infrastructure and the basic models in Vertex AI will provide "more performance" to the Replit platform and ensure its scalability "to millions of developers around the world. Based on all this, thanks to the momentum and resources that Google brings to Replit, Ghostwriter can become a competitor to GitHub Copilot , the AI-powered developer service that was launched last year 2022 and is owned by Microsoft. In fact, as the CEO of Replit, Amjad Masad, stated in an interview with Bloomberg collected by Europa Press, " Google has much better technology than most people know."Similarly, in another interview with Masad for Semafor, he confirmed that there is "definitely" a race between Replit and Microsoft . "We will be the first. They will probably copy us," he sentenced. He also indicated that despite having "great respect" for all GitHub Copilot developers, working with this service is akin to "talking to the AI on the phone," the user " yelling out keystrokes" and the AI " screaming potential results". ADVANTAGES OF GHOSTWRITER.Among other advantages that Ghostwriter offers, developers will be able to generate code for entire programs simply by providing natural language indications of what they want to do. Thus, it is possible to create complete websites without the need for knowledge or experience in the coding sector and "in a matter of minutes". Being part of Replit, where the project itself is developed, Ghostwriter already has the context of the developer's project and, therefore, can know what is needed or what is intended to be done. Additionally, this feature reduces the wasted time of developers copying and pasting code from where they work to the chat application. By following this thread, the application has instant code repair capabilities to resolve coding errors even before the developer identifies the error. https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/software/noticia-google-cloud-asocia-replit-promover-ghostwriter-ia-generativa-desarrollo-software-20230330174851.html

In various parts of the world, although in very select places at the moment, 10 gig Fiber is beginning to take shape and with it the rules for connecting our PC to the network of networks will change. Not only will they allow us to view content at a higher quality, thanks to the greater volume of data that can be transmitted, but they will also require major changes to our PCs. So it is very likely that your computer is not ready for the new era of telecommunications.If you look at the motherboard of your computer you will see that the connectivity of the network card, if you are lucky, is 2.5 Gbps. That if you're lucky. Since most boards get a gigabit. Many of you will be tempted to buy a more powerful network card, but those that support this speed are extremely expensive at the moment and if you have a laptop, you will find that you cannot do it. Will I have to change my computer for the 10 gig Fiber? Is it true that hard drives could disappear once the internet is faster? Is my PC ready for 10 gig fiber? The Internet has evolved a lot since its birth in the 90s, especially in terms of what we can see on the screen, and everything has come hand in hand with the evolution of our computer's components, which are increasingly powerful, and networks. From the modem we went to broadband with ADSL and from there to fiber optics. The consequences? Network connectivity increasing several orders of magnitude until reaching our days where we can do things like play video games in the cloud, watch movies on demand and even make our own broadcasts. Under all these premises it seems that the Internet multi-gigabit is not going to change many things.However, with 10 gigabyte Fiber we find that certain speed figures even exceed those seen in certain peripherals, as is the case with the most used storage units in a PC for several decades. However, it is time to bust some myths. Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? Components Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? joseph roca Posted on November 15, 2022 • 11:30 Front page NewsComponents Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? In various parts of the world, although in very select places at the moment, 10 gig Fiber is beginning to take shape and with it the rules for connecting our PC to the network of networks will change. Not only will they allow us to view content at a higher quality, thanks to the greater volume of data that can be transmitted, but they will also require major changes to our PCs. So it is very likely that your computer is not ready for the new era of telecommunications. If you look at the motherboard of your computer you will see that the connectivity of the network card, if you are lucky, is 2.5 Gbps. That if you're lucky. Since most boards get a gigabit. Many of you will be tempted to buy a more powerful network card, but those that support this speed are extremely expensive at the moment and if you have a laptop, you will find that you cannot do it. Will I have to change my computer for the 10 gig Fiber? Is it true that hard drives could disappear once the internet is faster? Is my PC ready for 10 gig fiber? The Internet has evolved a lot since its birth in the 90s, especially in terms of what we can see on the screen, and everything has come hand in hand with the evolution of our computer's components, which are increasingly powerful, and networks. From the modem we went to broadband with ADSL and from there to fiber optics. The consequences? Network connectivity increasing several orders of magnitude until reaching our days where we can do things like play video games in the cloud, watch movies on demand and even make our own broadcasts. Under all these premises it seems that the Internet multi-gigabit is not going to change many things. However, with 10 gigabyte Fiber we find that certain speed figures even exceed those seen in certain peripherals, as is the case with the most used storage units in a PC for several decades. However, it is time to bust some myths. Fiber connection 10 gigs Ethernet Blue Hard Drive vs. 10 Gig Fiber No, we have not gone crazy, we must start from the fact that, in terms of bandwidth, a future 10 gig Fiber connection will have a much higher total bandwidth than the SATA port of the hard drives and SSD not M.2, which is 6 gigs per second. However, the crucial performance issue is data latency. Normally, our processor finds them most of the time in RAM, but there are times when it is necessary to dump them from the storage unit. And here we enter into a paradox, we normally measure latency times in nanoseconds, which is one billionth of the time it takes to say a word. At such scales our perception of time becomes marginal. But, if a processor took a second to perform an operation, then the thing would be as follows for the rest of the memory accesses.Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? Components Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? joseph roca Posted on November 15, 2022 • 11:30 Front page NewsComponents Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? In various parts of the world, although in very select places at the moment, 10 gig Fiber is beginning to take shape and with it the rules for connecting our PC to the network of networks will change. Not only will they allow us to view content at a higher quality, thanks to the greater volume of data that can be transmitted, but they will also require major changes to our PCs. So it is very likely that your computer is not ready for the new era of telecommunications. If you look at the motherboard of your computer you will see that the connectivity of the network card, if you are lucky, is 2.5 Gbps. That if you're lucky. Since most boards get a gigabit. Many of you will be tempted to buy a more powerful network card, but those that support this speed are extremely expensive at the moment and if you have a laptop, you will find that you cannot do it. Will I have to change my computer for the 10 gig Fiber? Is it true that hard drives could disappear once the internet is faster? Is my PC ready for 10 gig fiber? The Internet has evolved a lot since its birth in the 90s, especially in terms of what we can see on the screen, and everything has come hand in hand with the evolution of our computer's components, which are increasingly powerful, and networks. From the modem we went to broadband with ADSL and from there to fiber optics. The consequences? Network connectivity increasing several orders of magnitude until reaching our days where we can do things like play video games in the cloud, watch movies on demand and even make our own broadcasts. Under all these premises it seems that the Internet multi-gigabit is not going to change many things. However, with 10 gigabyte Fiber we find that certain speed figures even exceed those seen in certain peripherals, as is the case with the most used storage units in a PC for several decades. However, it is time to bust some myths. Fiber connection 10 gigs Ethernet Blue Hard Drive vs. 10 Gig Fiber No, we have not gone crazy, we must start from the fact that, in terms of bandwidth, a future 10 gig Fiber connection will have a much higher total bandwidth than the SATA port of the hard drives and SSD not M.2, which is 6 gigs per second. However, the crucial performance issue is data latency. Normally, our processor finds them most of the time in RAM, but there are times when it is necessary to dump them from the storage unit. And here we enter into a paradox, we normally measure latency times in nanoseconds, which is one billionth of the time it takes to say a word. At such scales our perception of time becomes marginal. But, if a processor took a second to perform an operation, then the thing would be as follows for the rest of the memory accesses. CPU CycleOPERATION TIME1 second L1 CacheOPERATION TIME3 seconds L2 CacheOPERATION TIME9 seconds RAM MemoryOPERATION TIMESeveral minutes SSDOPERATION TIMESeveral days Hard DriveOPERATION TIME1 month Is the internet going to get faster than a hard drive? Well, the answer is that it will depend on how far away the data is. It is not the same if you live in Spain to access a remote storage system in Madrid or Barcelona, than if it is in Moscow, where the latency will be much higher and, therefore, the performance will be lower. So don't expect to be able to run your applications using a remote drive somewhere on an internet server. Apart from that it would be counterproductive, since not only us, but there would be dozens or even hundreds of users accessing said unit. So the program information would have to be multiplied several times. In other words, it is not worth it in terms of infrastructure costs and therefore it is important to take into account the difference between latency and bandwidth.Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? Components Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? joseph roca Posted on November 15, 2022 • 11:30 Front page NewsComponents Is your computer ready for the coming 10 gig Fiber? In various parts of the world, although in very select places at the moment, 10 gig Fiber is beginning to take shape and with it the rules for connecting our PC to the network of networks will change. Not only will they allow us to view content at a higher quality, thanks to the greater volume of data that can be transmitted, but they will also require major changes to our PCs. So it is very likely that your computer is not ready for the new era of telecommunications. If you look at the motherboard of your computer you will see that the connectivity of the network card, if you are lucky, is 2.5 Gbps. That if you're lucky. Since most boards get a gigabit. Many of you will be tempted to buy a more powerful network card, but those that support this speed are extremely expensive at the moment and if you have a laptop, you will find that you cannot do it. Will I have to change my computer for the 10 gig Fiber? Is it true that hard drives could disappear once the internet is faster? Is my PC ready for 10 gig fiber? The Internet has evolved a lot since its birth in the 90s, especially in terms of what we can see on the screen, and everything has come hand in hand with the evolution of our computer's components, which are increasingly powerful, and networks. From the modem we went to broadband with ADSL and from there to fiber optics. The consequences? Network connectivity increasing several orders of magnitude until reaching our days where we can do things like play video games in the cloud, watch movies on demand and even make our own broadcasts. Under all these premises it seems that the Internet multi-gigabit is not going to change many things. However, with 10 gigabyte Fiber we find that certain speed figures even exceed those seen in certain peripherals, as is the case with the most used storage units in a PC for several decades. However, it is time to bust some myths. Fiber connection 10 gigs Ethernet Blue Hard Drive vs. 10 Gig Fiber No, we have not gone crazy, we must start from the fact that, in terms of bandwidth, a future 10 gig Fiber connection will have a much higher total bandwidth than the SATA port of the hard drives and SSD not M.2, which is 6 gigs per second. However, the crucial performance issue is data latency. Normally, our processor finds them most of the time in RAM, but there are times when it is necessary to dump them from the storage unit. And here we enter into a paradox, we normally measure latency times in nanoseconds, which is one billionth of the time it takes to say a word. At such scales our perception of time becomes marginal. But, if a processor took a second to perform an operation, then the thing would be as follows for the rest of the memory accesses. CPU CycleOPERATION TIME1 second L1 CacheOPERATION TIME3 seconds L2 CacheOPERATION TIME9 seconds RAM MemoryOPERATION TIMESeveral minutes SSDOPERATION TIMESeveral days Hard DriveOPERATION TIME1 month Is the internet going to get faster than a hard drive? Well, the answer is that it will depend on how far away the data is. It is not the same if you live in Spain to access a remote storage system in Madrid or Barcelona, than if it is in Moscow, where the latency will be much higher and, therefore, the performance will be lower. So don't expect to be able to run your applications using a remote drive somewhere on an internet server. Apart from that it would be counterproductive, since not only us, but there would be dozens or even hundreds of users accessing said unit. So the program information would have to be multiplied several times. In other words, it is not worth it in terms of infrastructure costs and therefore it is important to take into account the difference between latency and bandwidth. Blue Hard Drive Will we need a more powerful processor? Greater bandwidth means a greater amount of information and with it the network packets that the processor or network card on our motherboard has to manage increase. If these are not dealt with quickly enough, it happens like when a car stalls in the middle of a busy road. A containment is created and everything that comes after slows down. To many it may seem that, with our CPU capable of managing RAM bandwidths of tens of GB per second, that a few Gbits should not saturate our processor. However, low-speed peripheral management is often handled by the chipset in a conventional PC or by a low-performance part in a laptop. And we must start from the fact that managing the sending and receiving of data in a network requires an additional level of complexity. However, your PC is prepared for 10 gig Fiber. Let's not forget that USB ports with speeds of several tens of gigabits per second already exist today . What will we see in the future? Simple, network card integrated into the processor peripheral management and on-board conversion from Ethernet to USB. And what will happen to current PCs? Don't worry about it, even if your PC doesn't have a fast enough network card, you can give it a use by connecting one of the USB C to Ethernet adapters adapted for it once they appear in stores. So don't worry, your PC is ready for the internet of the future, you won't have to buy a new one to enjoy the wonders of a faster network of networks. https://hardzone.es/noticias/componentes/problemas-graves-refrigeracion-liquida-all-in-one/

Scavenger Studio's semi-open-world adventure game is equal parts poetry, memoir, and mindfulness exercise.Some games demand a specific kind of real-life setting to really be absorbed. Horror games beg for the lights off and headphones on, while co-op games are often more enjoyable when played together on a couch rather than online. Season: A letter to the future requires its own special circumstances--a calm, peaceful environment--and if you can provide that, you'll find in it a special stillness, a pensive story, and a memoir from a fantasy land worth experiencing. Sometimes the language of open-world games is obvious, especially if you've played a few of them. Excitingly, Season doesn't feel like such a game, as its approach to gameplay and story are fresh and largely disinterested in giving you boxes to check. You play as Estelle, a young woman who sets off to observe and record a part of her world on the precipice of a new season. In this unnamed world, which is like ours but also definitely is not ours, a new season doesn't mean just a change in temperature; it means a total rebirth of the state of things. The game is deliberately unclear regarding exactly why, when, or how seasons emerge, and it seems at least sometimes they are influenced by people rather than natural things that happen to those people. Seasons seem to be more defined by the particular circumstances of a society--the breakout of war or widespread sleep, for example--more than they are snow days or fallen foliage. For Estelle, it's important to document the outgoing season as all will be lost when the new season begins, even as no one seems sure what that season will usher in itself. For the people of Tieng Valley, a lush farming village that's largely been evacuated due to an imminent dam collapse, the beginning of the season may even be a matter of life and death. Equipped with a camera, audio recorder, scrapbook, and bicycle, Estelle treks into the valley to interview the last remaining locals, capture the state of the vista in its final days, and reflect on things like memory, community, and grief. These, and other themes, are delivered through thoughtful monologues and conversations that allow for players to insert themselves in the story. Biking through the wide-open valley after a linear introduction, you can stop anywhere and take pictures of anything. You'll find the world casually split into sections: a cemetery, a temple, a path to a farm house, and so on. In your scrapbook, each named location gets its own dedicated pages as you discover them, and what you put on those pages is up to you. You can capture photos of cows grazing after their human companions have moved out, focus on the juxtaposition of industry and nature on the eve of the dam collapse, or create a portrait of a grieving widow as she packs up her late husband's best suit. It's all equally valid and other than a few puzzle-like sections where you'll need to find specific items, there are no wrong answers. Simple camera tools like zoom, focus, and color filters allow you to frame and present a moment just as you intend, and, if you like it enough, you can include it in your scrapbook. The same is true of capturing audio--you just point and shoot--and these audio clips become mementos you can include in your travel log. Capturing some images and audio brings out Estelle's inner thoughts, which often become writings you can jot down, too. Capture enough of these "keepsakes" of any location, and you'll unlock additional drawings, stamps, and other musings that can be reshaped and resized to further decorate your scrapbook. The idea is that, by the end of Estelle's journey, the scrapbook will serve as a detailed moment frozen in time, left to pass onto future generations so they can understand their own would-be ambiguous history. Her entire journey will take anywhere from 6-12 hours, with that variance largely owing to how much you let yourself soak in the various scenes. Season is tranquil at all times, and given Estelle's often wiser-than-her-years thoughts on her experience, the delicate but impactful music, and incredible pastel comic book visual style, it's a game that is best enjoyed by players who would rather sit and reflect on what they've seen, heard, or touched rather than those who might play it like a game to beat. It does have a definitive ending, and Estelle's journey matters most once you see it and understand it all, allowing the game's various themes to come to shore not like a monsoon, but like a delicate wave reaching up the beach. Season more often reminded me of a book of poetry than a video game. Thus, though Season is fun to play, sometimes I found my gamer brain clashing with Season's intentions. Implicitly, the game welcomes you to skip plenty of sights or landmarks. You need not fill out the scrapbook very much at all if you only care to "finish" the game, so it's left up to you to decide when you've seen enough. Once you've met the remaining denizens of Tieng Valley, the story's poignant conclusion becomes available. So how much else you see in between is really freeform and made available without judgment. Naturally, those who are enjoying the game would likely get more out of it the more they see, but sometimes I had to stop myself from obsessing over finding every monologue prompt hidden in a forest or every photo op along a path. The game so often feels like a mindfulness meditation that I felt like a failure when I couldn't focus the right way, even though I seemed to be the only one making such judgments--the game never stresses completion percentage or anything of the sort. As an avid bicyclist, I was really impressed by the game's use of this mechanic. Pedaling uphill uses the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers to mimic the strain one might feel in real life, and on the other side, soaring downhill was authentically refreshing, with the music and ambient noise combining to give me the same feeling of contentment and present-mindedness I feel whenever I take my own real-life bike down the slopes of Portland. Only toward the very end did I have technical issues with the bike, as it got stuck on some geometry a few times when I was navigating a more narrow space. Otherwise, it's very well executed in-game and authentically liberating. A bike does not leave much of a mark on the world, so it fits right in with Estelle's mission, as she's there to observe the fateful valley, not trample on it. Seldom has it ever been the case that biking in a game isn't meant for stunt jumps or trick multipliers, so pedaling around Tieng Valley feels enchanting. Taking pictures, recording sound, and building a scrapbook becomes not just the physical travel guide to a place soon to be underwater. It also acts like an insightful mirror, reflecting back onto the player not just what they experienced, but how they interpreted it. The in-universe pressure of capturing the world "as it was" comes with the unspoken understanding that it's subjective. How I view this place and its people is likely to be different than how you'd see them, and the game's directive is not to suggest who got it right, but just to ask us to reflect on things people have said or environments we've found ourselves in. Once, a character asks Estelle to close her eyes for a moment as the forest sways gracefully and she sings a song. I either could or could not choose to oblige, and either seems beautiful in different ways. Season has a lot to say about a number of things, and though authorial intent is there to be unraveled, Scavenger Studio seems to expect players to find their own voices along the way, both literally through dialogue options as well as figuratively through their scrapbook's final composition. There's a flashback early in the game where Estelle, already on the road in realtime, is speaking to someone from her village before she left. This character likens her mind to a library. "When I die, this library will burn down. But which book should we check out first?" she asks, inviting Estelle to interview her and learn who she is and was before the season changes and likely alters who she will become. Among countless contenders, this line has stuck with me in the days since I finished the game. Season is largely about memories: those we leave behind, those we hold dear, even those we struggle to forget. Memories make us eternal, and the game's way of record-keeping tells a narrative that each player ultimately writes for themselves. As Estelle pieces together her scrapbook made by my hand, I often found myself asking why I took a particular image, what I liked about a specific sound. What memories or feelings was I conjuring, even subconsciously, that led me to present Estelle's world in the ways I did, and what did that say about how I see my own world? Season asks a lot of introspective questions, provides few definitive answers, and hopes players are willing to breathe it in, consider it carefully, then exhale slowly as they reflect on both the game and themselves. It's unconventional even in a sea of indies that are constantly trying new weird things, but it works. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/season-a-letter-to-the-future-review-the-meditation-game/1900-6418020/

Poinpy, a Netflix original game, is the streaming platform's killer mobile app. Poinpy is the titular bouncy dinosaur-like protagonist creature that wouldn't look out of place in a lineup with Kirby and Yoshi. In the game, you are outrunning a giant Blue Beast who always lingers at the bottom of the screen, demanding specific fruit recipes. To climb, you drag down on the screen to slingshot Poinpy upwards, bouncing them against walls and leaping off enemies while collecting specific fruit that randomly appears. The downward swipe action is the key to Poinpy's fun as it feels great to constantly launch them to progress. The mechanic perfectly encapsulates the video game idiom easy to learn, hard to master. My early runs were enjoyable as I awkwardly careened off the walls while not totally clear on my objective, but by the end of my playtime I felt like an acrobat expertly lining up my jumps to bounce off one enemy to collect the final banana and slamming down to deposit a mountain of juice into the blue beast's mouth below.All the practice in the world, though, does not overcome the occasional annoyance of making a mistake. Understanding how to gain additional jumps, earned from bouncing off of enemies and pots, is what leads you to success, and the on-screen icons don't do the best job of quickly reminding you how many jumps you have left. On more than one occasion, I would think I was in good shape to grab the last kiwi I needed, only to learn too late that I was out of jumps and came crashing to the ground. At that point, you have to restart the recipe, which is a huge bummer especially during the late-game. This is, of course, the challenge of the game--managing jumps to collect the fruit you need--but sometimes it feels a little too punishing. all its own that expertly gamifies an action anyone who has ever used a modern phone is familiar with: the downward swipe Alongside fruit collection, you also grab the occasional seed, which can be exchanged for equipable upgrades. Only a few of these help significantly, like one ability that gives you an additional jump (which I never unequipped), but most of them aren't as helpful as I would like and were only good in dedicated situations, like one that resurrects you if you meet a very specific criteria. For those complaints, though, I do like having my choice of a handful of permanent upgrades rather than needing to earn the upgrades on each run. After you upgrade your jumps enough, you unlock a side mode featuring a series of puzzles. Rather than climbing and escaping the Blue Beast, you must collect fruit in as few moves as possible. As an optional distraction from the main game with substantial seed rewards, I like that these puzzles exist, but I hesitate to recommend them. I had more fun playing the core game. The Blue Beast, as they are referred to in marketing, is a smart mechanic as they are always present on-screen demanding juice. They don't eat you or attack you for landing on them, but if you don't get the fruit they demand, they fill the well with fiery breath in a dramatic show of power. There is little, if any story to speak of, but the small bits of world-building where the Blue Beast is evil until they have fruit is fun. Additional animation details, like the "enemies" that burst into tears if you steal their fruit, makes you think maybe you're playing as the bad guy. Just that little bit of character building adds a lot to an otherwise benign story. I won't spoil it here, but I was also pleasantly surprised to encounter something close to an ending. It made all my practice and effort to build toward something exciting and left me feeling accomplished. I am disappointed, however, that there is no real score-tracking or opportunity to compete with friends as it feels like the type of game perfectly suited to chasing high scores. Poinpy represents my favorite kind of mobile game. Bouncing Poinpy around is a simple, repeatable, and fun mechanic, and I never once had to think about currency of any kind. It can be played with one hand and is both rewarding and challenging without demanding too much input from the player. With its soft ending, it is clear this is not a game you are expected to play forever. A conclusion exists and feels great to reach, but if you want to bounce your way up the well again while listening to a podcast in the future, you can always revisit that simple, joyful experience. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/poinpy-review-moving-on-up/1900-6417902/

In the past few months, CAPCOM has been showing more of Street Fighter 6, but has primarily focused on the launch roster and the competitive side of things. World Tour Mode has been sidelined a bit, but the Japanese publisher seems ready to show more of it. During a new Japanese livestream that aired a few hours ago, CAPCOM provided a new look at World Tour Mode and its silly fun, starting from the character creator that was already available in the beta version of the game. With the main character and their rival starting their journey at the same time, World Tour Mode has some distinct Pokémon vibes that will possibly make it more engaging even for those who aren't that much into fighting games.Thankfully, today's livestream won't be the last Street Fighter 6 World Tour mode showcase coming in the near future, as it is only the first one in a series of four. With the basics such as character creation out of the way, it will be very interesting to see what will be shown next and if it will indeed be something that will make fans fall in love with the franchise even more. As mentioned above, CAPCOM has been showing quite a bit of Street Fighter 6 in the past few weeks, with multiple developer matches showcasing characters such as Zangief, Marisa, Lily, E. Honda, Cammy, and Manon. Characters like Dee Jay and JP were shown at the end of last year, while some of the other characters did not need much of a showcase, as closed beta participants were able to try them out in the two rounds of testing held last year. Street Fighter 6 is set to release on June 2nd, 2023 on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. No matter the format, players will be able to play against everyone else thanks to full cross-platform play support. https://wccftech.com/street-fighter-6-new-footage-showcases-the-silly-fun-of-world-tour-mode/