Mohamed Nasser

Some manufacturing facilities will keep operating. China is the world's largest consumer of energy, as well as the largest emitter of carbon dioxide. In a purported bid to limit energy carrier price surges and reduce its emissions, the Chinese government has temporarily shut down power to several major manufacturing hubs. The country also intends to temporarily suspend industrial electricity supply on a scheduled basis going forward. Such crackdowns will inevitably affect the global electronics supply chain as well as companies like Apple, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Tesla. But some companies will be more severely affected than others. Want to Cut Emissions? Cut the Power Supply! Last week, China's President Xi Jinping said at the UN General Assembly that the country would not build a single new coal-fueled power plant going forward, would increase reliance on other energy sources, and would be carbon neutral by 2060. But as of 2019, around 64%-65% of the electricity in China came from coal, and prices of that industrial-era energy source are surging these days. To control CO2 emissions, the government of China demanded that Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces (where many high-tech producers are located) cut their total energy consumption. Since it's impossible to implement new energy-saving technologies or install new energy-efficient equipment quickly, local governments in several provinces plan to cut the electricity supply to industrial customers and malls for several days each month, according to a Nikkei report. While such draconian measures will inevitably reduce average emissions of carbon dioxide gas in China, they will also temporarily reduce the consumption of commodities like coal, oil, and natural gas, which might affect their prices and should also help energy producers to procure commodities at lower prices, stabilizing their business. Since China produces such a large amount of the world's consumer technology, such restrictions will have a global effect on the already strained electronics and semiconductor industries. But different companies will deal with the effects of these restrictions differently. Some to Halt Production Advertisement Numerous Taiwanese-outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) providers serving companies like Intel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have production facilities in China. Recently, these firms received notices from local authorities ordering them to stop production at their facilities in Jiangsu for several days in late September. Given the fact that OSAT companies receive wafers from customers and cannot move them quickly, halting of a facility either means a delay of shipments or implementing night shifts after the supply of electricity is resumed. Chang Wah Technology, a chip-packaging material supplier that works with ASE Technology, Infineon, and NXP, reportedly confirmed in a stock-exchange filing that the authorities demanded that it halt production from September 26 through the end of the month. Eson Precision Engineering, which supplies mechanical parts for Apple and Tesla, also said that it was ordered to halt production from September 26 to September 30, but it will attempt to meet the demands of its customers by asking workers to work at night shifts. "Kunshan City on September 26 to September 30 to stop the use of electricity for industrial production, so the company cooperates with the halt production," the statement by Eson "To temporarily maintain operations with inventory during the halt production period, production is expected to be arranged during weekend or the National Day Holiday to satisfy customer shipment demand." Unimicron Technology, a major maker of printed circuit boards (PCBs), will also halt its production facilities in Jiangsu province, but will increase output from facilities elsewhere to meet demands. Others Won't Stop But not all manufacturers in the aforementioned regions will have to temporarily shut down production. The restraints will not be applied to manufacturers with a continuous production cycle that cannot be halted, including manufacturers of semiconductors, reports DigiTimes. Therefore, TSMC and UMC fabs will continue operations, reports Reuters. Furthermore, enterprises paying more taxes or smaller firms engaged in advanced, specialty, and state-of-the-art technology segments will not be affected by power outages, according to DigiTimes, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter. Foxconn, the world's largest electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, did shut down its production facilities in Longhua, Guanlan, Taiyuan, and Zhengzhou as of early Monday, according to Nikkei. Foxconn is Apple's No. 1 production partner, making iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and a myriad of other products. Pegatron, another major iPhone assembler, told Nikkei on Sunday night that its production facilities operated as usual. Meanwhile, the company has diesel power generators ready, and if authorities order it to halt local operations due to power constraints, it can use them. In fact, while most of China's makers of electronics have uninstalled diesel generators from their production facilities in recent years, some still have them. For those companies, production can likely still continue, albeit at considerably higher costs during outages. Summary China in general is not among the world's most polluted countries (yet some of its cities are among the most polluted ones), yet it emits more CO2 than any other country in the world and its emissions will continue to rise till 2030. Yet, the country is trying to control emissions and energy consumption by its companies, which is why it is implementing rather draconian measures and cuts power consumption to industrial consumers in some provinces. The measures could also help to temporarily lower spot prices of coal, oil, and gas, but such an effect will be mitigated by traders and will hardly have any long-lasting impact on prices of energy carriers eventually. But will these measures work and reduce CO2 emissions and/or energy consumption? Or have a significant impact on the electronics industry? Since major manufacturers of electronics have manufacturing facilities in regions that are not affected by power outages, they can temporarily increase output at facilities elsewhere to meet the demand for their products. Those companies that cannot do so, will introduce nightshifts to meet production goals and compensate for lost revenue. There are also companies that have diesel power generators and can work even when they cannot get energy from the power grid. Finally, there are chipmakers that cannot temporarily halt their production and will keep operating. In general, commercial companies are going to adapt to restrictions and will find ways to meet their shipments goals, which means that their emissions and energy consumption will stay the same. Of course, the outages will temporarily have negative effects on the already stressed electronics supply chain, but it will be mitigated. A byproduct of a temporary production halt could be China's leverage in its trade war with the USA, but since Chinese companies will adjust their operations to meet requirements, the new policy will hardly do anything significant on this front.

Price: Free to play Dead by Daylight Mobile is a surprisingly fun game. It’s an asymmetrical PvP game where four players duke it out with a single player. The solo player is a monster with several special abilities to give them an edge over their opponents. The game gets consistent updates with balance changes and such so nothing stays the same for too long. The movement controls and mechanics are solid as well. The game suffers from the occasional server issue and it may run poorly on old or low end devices so beware of that. (DOWNLOAD⬇) https://andauth.co/tb8fYg

Amnesia: Rebirth feels a bit familiar at times, but when at its best, this highly-anticipated horror sequel is also truly terrifying. Amnesia: Rebirth can be absolutely terrifying at times, which should come as no surprise since it’s the sequel to one of the greatest PC horror games ever made. It certainly helps that Frictional Games, the studio behind the original horror masterpiece, is back at the helm for the sequel. This alone might be enough to make gamers run to the Steam store. Indeed, when Rebirth is at its best, it can unsettle and scare you as effectively as Amnesia: The Dark Descent did in 2010. But it doesn’t always hit the mark. Rebirth sometimes confuses tension with poor puzzle design and can feel a bit dated. For better or worse, the sequel plays quite a bit like its decade-old predecessor. Amnesia: Rebirth begins with a literal bang, as your plane crashes in the Algerian desert in the 1930s. You play as Tasi Trianon, a young French woman who survives the crash with only fractured memories of her past. She sets out in this unforgiving land to find any other survivors, uncovering a few mysteries along the way. Without giving too much away, I will say that Tasi’s journey is a deeply personal one, exploring themes of family, trauma, and loss. Early in the game, we learn something really important about Tasi that really raises the stakes, making her journey all that much more dire. Tasi is a very different, more relatable character than Daniel in The Dark Descent, and learning more about her story is a major motivator to keep playing. While I initially found the desert setting intriguing, Rebirth never seems to take full advantage of it. In your first few minutes after escaping the plane crash, you’ll be told that you need to stay in the shadows to keep your fear meter low, but these outdoor areas rarely come into play later in the game, with Rebirth quickly trading them in for caverns and claustrophobic indoor areas. It’s here that the traditional gameplay that made the original Amnesia a classic is on full display. In Rebirth, the dark is just as dangerous as the monsters that dwell within it. Spend too much time in shadowy areas, or look too long at the more gruesome parts of the world, and you’ll quickly find your fear increasing, leading to a game over. Though Rebirth replaces The Dark Descent’s concept of “sanity,” with “fear,” the mechanics essentially work exactly the same, although letting your fear get too high does result in some cheap jump scares, which feel somewhat out of place for the series. Matches and lanterns help keep the darkness at bay and your fear low, but those quickly run out, and then it’s a mad dash to figure out what to do next to make it back to the light. Between The Dark Descent and SOMA, Frictional Games now has more than a decade of experience developing first-person horror games, and they’ve put all those skills to work creating an incredibly unnerving experience in Rebirth. The most effective horror movies are the ones that show you the least but always make you wonder what’s around the next corner, and that philosophy is at work throughout most of the game. Running through the ruins of the Algerian desert world, I could rarely see more than a few feet in front of me. Objects would regularly move, nudged by something just out of view, and when ghouls did start to appear, they would quickly scuttle into other rooms rather than confront me head on. Maybe I’d run into them right away, maybe I wouldn’t see another monster for a half an hour. It’s that toying with expectations that so effectively creates a constant feeling of dread. Adding to the tension is some fantastic sound design. Rebirth features a wonderfully creepy soundtrack that knows exactly when to kick in. And the constant, low chatter of voices while exploring the darker areas of the world adds so much to the overall creepy atmosphere of the game. Thankfully, voice acting is also much improved from The Dark Descent. As great as Amnesia: Rebirth is at invoking fear, it still suffers from one of the main problems that plagued The Dark Descent: needlessly obtuse puzzles. When you’re fleeing from monsters or exploring creepy environments, Rebirth is a top-notch horror experience, but when you’re running around poorly lit areas trying to flip levers or find random objects with little direction, it’s a slog. Confusing level design can help make a game feel more unnerving, but some of the puzzles in Rebirth just feel like filler. Another legacy issue is that Rebirth’s enemy AI is sometimes shoddy. Yes, the ghouls are very scary when you first encounter them from afar, but when forced to face them up close, there a little too easy to evade. But if they do catch sight of you, you can expect some truly scary chases sequences to ensue. Between its engaging story and fantastic atmosphere, Amnesia: Rebirth hits all the right notes that made The Dark Descent an instant classic. Just don’t expect anything quite as genre defining as the original. Rebirth is a good horror game to get lost in this Halloween season, but this bout of amnesia feels much more familiar the third time around.

MarQ M3 Smart lacks a fingerprint scanner and has a Micro USB port for charging. MarQ M3 Smart is the first smartphone to launch from the Flipkart-owned brand. The company has earlier launched smart TVs and speakers in its range. The MarQ M3 Smart is a budget handset that features a waterdrop-style notch and has a dual rear camera setup. It lacks a fingerprint scanner and is powered by an octa-core processor, although the specific model was not revealed. The MarQ M3 Smart will go on sale during the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale. It comes with a 3.5mm audio jack and has a Micro USB port for charging. MarQ M3 Smart price in India, sale The new MarQ M3 Smart smartphone is priced at Rs. 7,999 for the sole 2GB RAM + 32GB storage option. However, it will be sold for Rs. 6,299 for a limited time. It will go on sale via Flipkart starting October 7 as part of the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale. The MarQ M3 Smart comes in two colour options – Black and Blue. MarQ M3 Smart specifications As for the specifications, the MarQ M3 Smart runs on Android 10 and features a 6.088-inch HD+ (720x1,560 pixels) display with 2.5D curved glass protection. It is powered by the 1.6GHz octa-core processor paired with 2GB RAM. Internal storage is at 32GB with the option to expand further using a dedicated microSD card slot (up to 256GB). MarQ M3 Smart has a dual rear camera setup that includes a 13-megapixel main camera and a bokeh lens. Camera features include night mode, beauty mode, slow motion, time lapse, and more. Up front, the MarQ M3 Smart has a 5-megapixel selfie camera. It packs a 5,000mAh battery that claims to offer about 24 hours of music, 9 hours of movie-watching, and around 42 hours of call time. It supports Face Unlock but lacks a fingerprint scanner. Connectivity options include 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB port, dual-SIM slots, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, 4G support, and more. The MarQ M3 Smart weighs 185 grams and measures at 148x70.9x10.75mm.

Conceal your own video feed, or take center stage Microsoft is working on a pair of upgrades for collaboration platform Teams that will afford users an additional measure of customization. As per two new entries in the company’s product roadmap, Teams will soon allow users to hide their own video feed during calls and, conversely, to pin it to the screen. The two new options will cater to different user preferences, Microsoft suggested. The ability to conceal one’s own video feed is said to “help reduce distractions”, while the option to pin the feed lets users position themselves alongside co-workers on-screen, if they are so inclined. We've built a list of the best business webcams around Here's our list of the best VoIP services out there Check out out list of the best headsets for conference calls right now Both new features are still currently under development, but are scheduled to roll out to all users by the end of November. Microsoft Teams update Advertisement Since the start of the pandemic, almost all professionals have had to find a way to make video conferencing and remote collaboration work for them. In the same way some prefer one medium of communication over another (i.e. text chat over email), some people prefer to use each individual service in a particular manner too. In recognition of this fact, the major players in the collaboration space have made a concerted effort to give users as much control over their personal setup as possible. For example, Microsoft Teams now offers a variety of display options, including a massive gallery view for large-scale meetings. When it comes to the user’s own video feed, however, Teams is currently a step behind competitors like Zoom and Meet, both of which already give users the option to minimize and pin. Currently, the user’s video is displayed in the bottom right corner, come what may. While the new additions may appear insignificant in isolation, they will contribute towards an overall feeling of flexibility that Teams users are bound to appreciate. Check out our list of the best office chairs and best office desks

And you can take it anywhere—no cable required! Raspberry Pi E-Ink calendars are nothing new but this one, created by a maker known as Speedyg0nz, is remarkably well-designed. Not only does this Raspberry Pi E-Ink calendar connect to Google Calendar for updates but it’s also totally portable with an internal battery. It’s using a PiSugar2 battery which is designed just for the Raspberry Pi Zero. This battery attaches to the GPIO but still leaves full access to the pins and can be stacked with other HATs. It features a built-in RTC module so the Pi can be programmed to power on only when necessary. The Google Calendar data is downloaded once a day and output to a 12.48-inch tri-color E-Ink display from Waveshare. Speedyg0nz developed a custom Python script to pull calendar events from a given Google Calendar. This script then formats the data into a predetermined layout which updates on the E-Ink display. Because the display is E-Ink, the calendar will remain visible so the Pi can be shut down to conserve power. According to Speedyg0nz, this configuration lasts a little while before the calendar needs to be recharged. When testing, the PiSugar2 battery lasted around 3 - 4 weeks on a single charge. To keep an eye on the power level, a small battery indicator was added to the upper corner of the calendar display. The best Raspberry Pi projects are the ones you can make at home and Speedyg0nz was kind enough to share a full build guide at GitHub for anyone interested in recreating it. Check it out to get a closer look at how it goes together and explore the source code.

Happy birthday 🥳

Xiaomi Watch Color 2 is teased to come with six distinct wrist strap options. Xiaomi Watch Color 2 launch is taking place alongside the Xiaomi Civi smartphone in China on Monday, September 27, the company has announced online. The new smartwatch will be a successor to Xiaomi's Mi Watch Color that was launched back in December 2019. Just like its predecessor, Xiaomi Watch Color 2 is teased to come with a circular display. The smartwatch will have a list of watch faces and sports modes. It will also come with different coloured wrist straps to choose from. Xiaomi Watch Color 2 launch details Xiaomi shared a teaser image on Weibo to announce the launch date of Xiaomi Watch Color 2. The smartwatch will come alongside the Xiaomi Civi smartwatch and Xiaomi TWS 3 Pro earbuds at the event that is scheduled for 2pm CST Asia (11:30am IST) on September 27. The teaser also shows off Xiaomi Watch Color 2 in two distinct colour options. The smartwatch will retain the circular display design of the original Mi Watch Color, the image shows. Xiaomi also announced that Xiaomi Watch Color 2 will support over 200 watch faces and come in six different colour wrist strap versions. Separately, the smartwatch is teased to have 117 sports modes. Other details about Xiaomi Watch Color 2 are yet to be revealed. In 2019, Xiaomi launched the Mi Watch Color with features including heart rate tracking and sleep analysis. It was introduced in China with a price tag of CNY 799 (roughly Rs. 9,100) in Silver and Black colour option and six wrist strap options — alongside a premium alligator skin leather version. Mi Watch Color debuted as Mi Watch Revolve in India last year. It came at Rs. 10,999 for the single 46mm size variant. Specifications of Mi Watch Color (Mi Watch Revolve) include a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top and a 420mAh battery. It also supports Bluetooth v5 BLE support and has compatibility with both Android and iOS devices.

Price: Free to play Mech Arena: Robot Showdown is an online multiplayer game. Players pick a mech, customize and upgrade it, and then fight it against other players. The various mechs have their strengths and weaknesses. For instance, there’s a melee-focused one as well as a long-distance focused one. The online element consists of a 5v5 multiplayer deathmatch. That’s basically it. The premise is pretty simple. Most of the complex parts of it involve choosing and upgrading your mechs. There seems to be some connection and freezing issues with the game, but it is new so bugs are to be expected. (Download⬇) https://andauth.co/xYFuJn

Wondering when you the Back 4 Blood open beta early access launches and how much storage you'll need to download it? We have the answers! Turtle Rock Studios returns to the genre that first put the developer on the map in 2008 when Left 4 Dead took the gaming world by storm. Thirteen years later, the studio is back with a spiritual successor, the aptly named Back 4 Blood, a modern take on the multiplayer survival shooter genre with a few new tricks up its sleeve but also plenty of nostalgia. At the center of the game are Walker, Holly, Hoffman, Evangelo, Karlee, Doc, Jim, and Mom, a group of veteran zombie killers known as “the Cleaners” who will do anything to survive a parasite outbreak that has turned most of humanity into the flesh-hungry “Ridden.” Fans of the Left 4 Dead franchise will find a familiar horde of enemies as well as both four-player co-op PvE campaigns and 4v4 multiplayer modes. While a preview of the co-op gameplay was on top during the game’s closed alpha earlier this year, an Open Beta launching this week will be the first time players will be able to try out Back 4 Blood‘s multiplayer mode Swarm, “where two squads of four face off in a best-of-three series of rounds swapping between playing as the Cleaners and the Ridden, as well as additional campaign content,” according to WB Games. Players who pre-ordered the game will get Early Access to the Open Beta on Aug. 5-9 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC. If you’ve not pre-ordered, you can also register for a chance to get an early access beta key here. Everyone else will be able to jump in on Aug. 12-16. As far as what content you’ll be able to try out during the beta period, here’s a rundown: Two maps for the “Swarm” PvP mode Two co-op maps to fight off Ridden with your friends Play as Mom for the first time, as well as other Cleaners: Evangelo, Holly, Walker and Hoffman Play as six different Ridden variants in “Swarm,” including the Bruiser, Retch, Hocker, Exploder, Crusher and Stinger Various weapons to check out, cards to build decks and Ridden to slay Explore the Fort Hope communal hub Cross-play and cross-gen support If you’re wondering what time the beta will launch in your time zone on Aug. 5, here’s a quick rundown for the US and the UK: NYC: 3 PM ET Los Angeles: 12 PM ET London: 8 PM BST Stockholm: 9 PM CEST If you’re in another region, simply refer to this handy graphic: Regarding download file size, you’ll need 25GB of storage on your PC or console for the beta. A few other recommended PC specs: CPU Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X GPU GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 590 RAM 12GB OS WINDOWS 10 64-bit DX DIRECTX 11 Stay tuned for our thoughts on the beta later this month as well as our special Back 4 Blood Open Beta live stream on Twitch on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 2:30 pm ET!

New cybersecurity research from Florida Tech has found that the smartphone companion applications of 16 po[CENSORED]r smart home devices contain "critical cryptographic flaws" that could allow attackers to intercept and modify their traffic. As Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as connected locks, motion sensors, security cameras and smart speakers become increasingly ubiquitous in households across the country, their surging po[CENSORED]rity means more people are at risk of cyber intrusions. "IoT devices offer the promise of security with connected locks, alarms, and security cameras," computer engineering and sciences assistant professor TJ O'Connor and students Dylan Jessee and Daniel Campos write in their paper, Through the Spyglass: Toward IOT Companion App Man-in-the-Middle Attacks. "However, attackers can leverage the immature but pervasive nature of IoT to spy on and surveil victims." O'Connor leads Florida Tech's cybersecurity program and directs the IoT Security and Privacy Lab (pictured above), which has produced eye-opening research into privacy flaws in internet-connected cameras. This summer he was named head coach of the inaugural U.S. Cyber Games team. The research O'Connor and his students conduct often highlights the troubling vulnerabilities of consumer IoT devices, and their latest paper continues that focus. Subjecting 20 devices to a host of "man-in-the-middle" attacks wherein perpetrators seek to intercept communications between parties, allowing for the theft of login credentials, spying or other nefarious activities, the researchers found that 16 device vendors failed to implement security measures, thus enabling the attacks. "We hypothesize that the distributed communications architecture of IoT introduces vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to intercept and mani[CENSORED]te the communications channel, affecting the user-level perception of an IoT device," they wrote. "We apply this (attack) against a broad array of smart home device vendors to conceal malicious users, suppress motion reporting, modify camera images, unlock doors, and mani[CENSORED]te history log files." The IoT devices that showed this vulnerability were: Amazon Echo, August lock, Blink camera, Google Home camera, Hue lights, Lockly lock, Momentum camera, Nest camera, NightOwl doorbell, Roku TV, Schlage lock, Sifely lock, SimpliSafe alarm, SmartThings lock, UltraLoq lock and Wyze camera. Devices from four vendors—Arlo, Geeni, TP-Link and Ring—were found not to be susceptible to the attacks the researchers carried out. "While our work uncovers pervasive failures, vendors can take measures to improve confidentiality and integrity in smart home devices and their applications," the researchers wrote. The researchers disclosed the vulnerabilities to the affected vendors and Apple prior to the release of their work. As highlighted by the researchers in their paper, vendors must implement stronger server-side cryptographic implementations to prevent these attacks. Several vendors have begun implementing these recommendations, including Wyze, which updated its companion application prior to the researchers' presentation of their findings at the Cyber Security Experiment & Test Workshop in August. The work was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. Dylan Jessee, a cadet in the university's Army ROTC program, led the effort to identify the vulnerabilities. Jessee hopes to branch into the Army's cyber career field after commissioning. The paper, "Through the Spyglass: Toward IOT Companion App Man-in-the-Middle Attacks," is available at https://research.fit.edu/iot

Apple leaks likely details about redesigned MacBook Pro laptops. Apple has likely accidentally revealed screen resolutions for its upcoming MacBook Pro notebooks in a beta version of its forthcoming macOS Monterey operating system. If this information is correct, the new 14 and 16-inch display MacBook Pros will have higher resolutions than any current Apple monitors, but perhaps more importantly, they will feature a different aspect ratio. Apple's macOS Monterey beta 7 lists two retina displays featuring resolutions currently not supported by any of Apple's retina monitors, which potentially means that these resolutions will be featured in the upcoming MacBook Pros expected to be released in October or November, reports MacRumors. Assuming that the OS does not list resolutions set to be supported in the distant future, the new MacBook Pro 14 will offer a native resolution of 3024 × 1964, whereas the next-generation MacBook Pro 16 will feature a 3456 × 2234 native resolution. Both LCDs will offer a pixel density of 257 pixels per inch (PPI), up from 227 PPI in case of today's MacBook Pros. While it is good to see that Apple is probably releasing MacBook Pros with higher native resolutions (keep in mind that Apple ships laptops with their resolutions scaled down by default to make everything look bigger and smoother), the more important takeaway here is the possibility that next-generation MacBook Pros will feature a 14:9 (1.56:1) aspect ratio, which is a huge departure from today's 16:9. This new possible aspect ratio implies two things. First, if true, the new MacBook Pros will have to feature a design that's vastly different from all of Apple's laptops released in recent years. This is backed up by rumors from July that we would see redesigned MacBook Pros in Q3 of this year. Second, these new laptops might require Apple to use a new backlighting technology, which is perhaps why Apple reportedly opted for LCD panels with Mini LED backlighting in those July rumors. A 14:9 aspect ratio is very close to the 3:2 (1.5:1) aspect ratio that multiple productivity laptop displays today have begun to prefer. Such an aspect ratio shows more data vertically, which is great for coding, reading, and writing, but may not be ideal for multitasking across different windows. Perhaps addressing that imbalance is the reason Apple's reportedly opting for a slightly wider 14:9 aspect ratio. But at the same time, both 14:9 and 3:2 aspect ratio displays are not ideal for watching content shot for 16:9 screens (think TV content), since they produce noticeable black bars. Also, those who like to watch movies filmed for the cinema (in aspect ratios like 2.35:1 or 2.39:1) will see even larger black bars on these displays. At the very least, usage of LCDs with Mini LED backlighting should mitigate the black bar issue a bit by allowing the picture to be bright but turning off the backlighting on the black bars. There could be some silver lining for viewing content, though. Those who have access to content made in IMAX format (1.43:1) will probably find it more enjoyable on 14:9 and 3:2 monitors. Apple does not comment on unreleased products, so we do not know whether the upcoming MacBook Pro laptops will indeed feature displays with a 14:9 aspect ratio and Mini LED backlighting. Yet, if the rumors are correct, the wait will be over in several weeks' time.

Price: Free to play KonoSuba: Fantastic Days is a new gacha game based on the po[CENSORED]r comedy-adventure anime. It more or less follows the storyline of the original anime so it’s a chance for fans to relive moments from the game. Players put a party together, defeat bad guys, and progress through the story. The combat is real-time with ability cooldowns. It’s fun enough but nothing you haven’t seen before. The microtransactions could be better, but otherwise, the game is pretty fun. (Download⬇) https://andauth.co/iJiRLg

Quantic Dream's awesome collection of games were originally PlayStation exclusives. Then the games came to PC via the Epic Store last year and now they're on coming to Steam. Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human were all highly thought of when they originally released on PlayStation. But the development studio wanted to move away from platform exclusivity and expose its game to a wider audience. Best PC games to buy: Fantastic games to add to your collection Upcoming PC games: The best new games to look forward to Quantic Dream's founder, David Cage, confirmed as much in an interview with Dual Shockers last year. "We always had a great relationship with Sony PlayStation. They have always been very supportive of my work and we have always been very loyal to them in return," he said, "So we had a very open talk about all this, and they allowed us to release our catalog of titles on PC." The news that the games are coming to Steam was officially revealed on Twitter: The other good news is all three games have been updated and optimised for PC with 4K visuals, 60 FPS gameplay and widescreen support too. Steam lovers will also be pleased to hear that Steam achievements are also included in these new releases. While you wait for the full release of all three games on 18 June, you can also download and play demos too.Check them out here.

UPDATE: Epic has made the Eddie Brock and Venom skins available now in the game. Here’s what you get.(courtesy of HYPEX) Well, that settles it. After the not-so-subtle tease last week of Carnage coming to Epic Games’ Fortnite, it’s been leaked that Eddie Brock and Venom will be joining the party, as well. Fornite leakers @RatioFN and @InTheShadeYT have revealed the Eddie and Venom skins will be arriving in Fortnite in two days. Carnage is available now as part of this season’s battle pass. Venom: Let There Be Carnage, directed by Andy Serkis, and starring Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams and Naomie Harris, hits theatres on October 1st.

Bitcoin price has massively fluctuated over the past year partly due to Chinese regulations. China's central bank on Friday said all financial transactions involving cryptocurrencies are illegal, sounding the death knell for the digital trade in China after a crackdown on the volatile currencies. The global values of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin have massively fluctuated over the past year partly due to Chinese regulations, which have sought to prevent speculation and money laundering. Bitcoin price in India stood at Rs. 33.7 lakhs as of 5pm IST on September. "Virtual currency-related business activities are illegal financial activities," the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said in an online statement Friday, adding that offenders would be "investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law." The notice bans all related financial activities involving cryptocurrencies, such as trading crypto, selling tokens, transactions involving virtual currency derivatives and "illegal fundraising". Bitcoin extended losses Friday after China's latest crackdown on cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, which had already been falling before the announcement, dropped as much as 6.0 percent in value before trimming losses to stand at $42,256 (roughly Rs. 31 lakhs), down 5.5 percent. The central bank said that in recent years trading of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies had become "widespread, disrupting economic and financial order, giving rise to money laundering, illegal fund-raising, fraud, pyramid schemes, and other illegal and criminal activities." This was "seriously endangering the safety of people's assets," the PBOC said. While crypto creation and trading have been illegal in China since 2019, further crackdowns this year by Beijing warned banks to halt related transactions and closed much of the country's vast network of Bitcoin miners. Thursday's statement by the central bank sent the strongest yet signal that China is closed to crypto. Control Bitcoin, the world's largest digital currency, and other cryptos cannot be traced by a country's central bank, making them difficult to regulate. Analysts say China fears the proliferation of illicit investments and fundraising from cryptocurrency in the world's second biggest economy, which also has strict rules around the outflow of capital. The crypto crackdown also opens the gates for China to introduce its own digital currency, already in the pipeline, allowing the central government to monitor transactions. In June, Chinese officials said more than 1,000 people had been arrested for using the profits from crime to buy cryptocurrencies. Several key Chinese provinces banned the operation of cryptocurrency mines since the start of this year, with one region accounting for eight percent of the computing power needed to run the global blockchain - a set of online ledgers to record Bitcoin transactions. Bitcoin values tumbled in May on the back of a warning by Beijing to investors against speculative trading in cryptocurrencies.

Google is updating critical features for the millions of drivers who depend on its technology to help them get around. The tech giant announced the upcoming changes Thursday to Google Assistant and Android Auto driving modes and a new automaker, Honda, will have Google technology installed in its vehicles. Google said that drivers using Google Assistant on Android phones will soon see a new dashboard they say will reduce "the need to fiddle with your phone while also making sure you stay focused on the road." Instead of scrolling while driving, Google said drivers could tap to see who just called or sent a text and have access to several apps to listen to music with the new dashboard. The dashboard will also include a new messaging update where drivers can say, "Hey Google, turn on auto-read," to hear their new messages read aloud when they come in and respond by voice. These new changes for drivers are apparently part of what Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said in a blog earlier this year to make its technologies "universally accessible and useful." For example, users of Android Auto, Google's smartphone app for vehicles, via their Android phones will now be able to see music, news, and podcast recommendations from Google Assistant and they can set which app launches whenever Android Auto starts. Those Android Auto users will soon be able to play games appearing on the vehicle's display with a new feature called GameSnacks while they're waiting or parking. Additionally, Android Auto and Android phone users can make contactless payments for gas using Google Pay. This feature is available at more than 32,000 gas stations across the U.S., including ExxonMobil, Conoco, 76 stations and Phillips 66. On Thursday, Google announced that Japanese automaker Honda will be the latest to have Google built-in technology in its vehicles beginning in 2022. Honda, which announced in April it's aiming to sell only electric vehicles in North America by 2040, will join the likes of Ford, General Motors, Polestar, Renault and Volvo that will have its future vehicles released with default Android operating systems. The Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Recharge are among the current models with Google's built-in tech.

Say goodbye to incompatible and obsolete chargers! The European Commission has announced new plans for legislation today that will require all mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers and handheld video game consoles, to conform to the USB Type-C standard for charging. This goal is to reduce e-waste from a large number of differing chargers, and may also have the added benefit of ending those times when you can't find the right charger for your phone at a friend's house. The transition period will be 24 months once the European Parliament passes the new regulation. Fortunately, the move to Type-C has already become mainstream with most smartphones incorporate Type-C for charging already. The same can be said of tablets, USB headphones, and speakers as well. So once the legislation is set in motion, all major device manufacturers should be ready for it. What About the IPhone? However, this leaves one major player left to make the transition, iPhones. Apple is still using its home-brewed Lightning port, years after most smartphone manufacturers made the transition to Type-C. Of course, many Apple customers own these cables, as well as accessories that use the connector. MacRumors believe Apple has no plans to switch to type-C any time soon. If anything, we might see a completely wireless iPhone before Type-C comes to the phone. It's possible Apple can sell an adapter for future iPhones to allow charging with Type-C chargers to comply with the legislation, though we don't know for sure how that would work with the proposal. Apple could also accelerate its wireless plans and make all iPhones fully wireless by 2023. Or, Apple could simply compromise fully and change plans by making a Type-C iPhone. Fast Charging Uniformity: Along with the Type-C uniformity, the Commission is also proposing a harmonized fast charging technology that will be compatible with all Type-C chargers and devices to ensure charging speeds will be the same when charging any device. If we had to guess, this will probably be related to Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology which is already very po[CENSORED]r in the mobile landscape. The Commission is also proposing unbundling charging bricks from smartphone sales to further reduce e-waste. This is something Apple is already doing with its iPhones and Samsung is doing with Galaxy smartphones. The final proposal is to improve information pertaining to charging statistics for both devices and chargers. The Commission wants to make details perfectly clear on how fast your device charges and whether or not it supports fast charging. According to the Commission, over 11,000 tonnes of chargers are wasted every single year from incompatibility problems and consumer reports say that at least 38% of people have problems finding or buying the right charger in the first place. For now, this legislation only applies to the European Union, but we wouldn't be surprised to see other countries following suit with similar agendas down the line.

(Pocket-lint) - In order to celebrate the upcoming launch of Half-Life: Alyx, Valve is making all the original Half-Life games free to play for the next two months. The company is clearly trying to build the excitement for the new game, even if it isn't technically Half-Life 3 but rather a VR outing that will require a decent gaming PC and virtual reality headset to play. Nevertheless, if you've never played the Half-Life games and want to know what all the fuss is about or need a refresher, now is the time to dive in. Each game is available to download and play individually on Steam, including: 1:Half-Life 2:Half-Life2 3:Half-Life 2: Episode One 4:Half-Life 2: Episode Two 5:Half-Life: Opposing Force 6:Half-Life: Blue Shift 7:Team Fortress Classic The games might look fairly dated by today's standards, but that's not surprising considering the first Half-Life launched way back in 1998. They are utter classics though, so it's certainly worth giving them a go if you haven't before. Half-Life: Alyx is set before the events of Half-Life 2 and shares some of the same characters and background story, so Valve says playing or revisiting the old games is the best way to get ready for the new one. We'd also recommend giving (Black Mesa) a go too while you're at it. This is a fan-made re-creation and re-imaging that was released in 2015 to much praise.

Price: Free DC: Batman Bat-Tech Edition is a new augmented reality game. The game features ten missions overall which tell a unique Batman story. Each mission has you using various pieces of Batman equipment in an augmented reality space. Some examples include a Batmobile level that is basically an endless runner along with a Batarang practice game. On top of the base game, there is a selfie mode with a few face filters along with a sticker pack. Finally, the game even includes five digital comics exclusive to this game. It’s a free title and it’s also family-friendly. (Download⬇) https://andauth.co/Ui88Zy

It just won't stay dead. There are plenty of modern horror games with PS1 graphics, from Chasing Static (which is like Silent Hill but Welsh) to Dread Delusion (which is Daggerfall meets Demon's Souls). Richard Aiken has gone back to the source with this first-person version of the original Resident Evil, complete with pixelated zombies. Though not complete, in the current beta you can explore the halls of Spencer Mansion with WASD controls and headshot zombies with your mouse like God intended. It's being made in Unity, and is currently so bare bones you'll need to press Alt-F4 to quit, but it's neat that it even exists. As Aiken's itch.io page carefully notes, "This game is made only for fans and was made without any intention to make profit." If you prefer the more polished HD look of the modern versions, there's also someone out there with a project in the works to remake Resident Evil in Unreal Engine 4, again in first-person, though that one doesn't have a playable build available. Of course, you could go completely in the other direction and play Resident Evil 8 in third-person. You've got a lot of options is what I'm saying.

HP 11-inch Tablet PC is priced at $599 (roughly Rs. 44,200). HP 11-inch Tablet PC was announced on Tuesday, September 21. The tablet comes with a detachable keyboard that can be mounted to the screen in both landscape and portrait orientation with the help of magnetic clips on two sides of the display. It also comes with a 13-megapixel camera that can be flipped to use as per the user's convenience. Additionally, HP has also announced a few other products that will also be compatible with Windows 11 when they launch. These products include a laptop, two PCs, and two desktop monitors. HP 11-inch Tablet PC price, availability The HP 11-inch Tablet PC will be available at a starting price of $599 (roughly Rs. 44,200) when it is available to purchase from the company's website from December. Additionally, the HP tablet will also be available at Best Buy around the same time. There is no confirmation on its availability in India as of now. The HP 11-inch Tablet PC comes in a single Silver colour option. HP 11-inch Tablet PC specifications The HP 11-inch Tablet PC comes with an 11-inch (2,160x1,440 pixels) IPS touchscreen with 400 nits of maximum brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is powered by an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 quad-core processor with Intel UHD graphics. The processor is paired with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD As mentioned, the tablet PC from HP comes with a 13-megapixel camera that can be rotated- to be used as a selfie camera or a webcam — as per the user's need. The HP 11-inch Tablet PC can be mounted on its keyboard in both landscape and portrait orientations as it gets two magnetic clips. This allows the tablet to leverage Windows 11's Snap Layouts in both display orientations. The device also comes with an optional HP Rechargeable Tilt Pen. Connectivity options include USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth v5. The HP 11-inch Tablet PC comes with a 32.2kWhr battery and a 30W power adaptor. It measures 253x177x8mm without the keyboard and weighs 660 grams. Upcoming Windows 11 HP devices price, specifications Other devices that HP announced on Tuesday that will be compatible with Windows 11 when they are available include an HP 14-inch Laptop, HP Pavilion All-in-One (AiO) desktop, another HP AiO desktop, HP U32 4K HDR Monitor, and HP M34d WQHD Curved Monitor. The HP 14-inch Laptop comes with optional 4G LTE connectivity and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform. It will come with up to 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 128GB of onboard storage, and 15 hours of battery life. The price for the laptop has not been announced. Additionally, HP has also introduced a reversible laptop sleeve that can fit 14-inch and 15-inch devices priced at $19.99 (roughly Rs. 1,500). HP Pavillion AiO desktop comes in 24-inch and 27-inch display variants. They feature a 5-megapixel pop-up privacy webcam. Both variants get either a full-HD or a quad-HD display and are powered by AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors. The price of the HP Pavillion AiO desktop starts at $799 (roughly Rs. 59,000) and it will be available from October. The HP AiO desktop comes with either an AMD Ryzen 5000 series or an Intel processor. The desktop also features an integrated Emoji key. It will be priced at $749 (roughly Rs. 55,300). The HP AiO desktop will be available starting October. Moving on to the monitors, the HP U32 4K HDR monitor gets a 31.5-inch 4K HDR display with 99 percent sRGB and 98 percent DCI-P3 coverage. The HP M34d WQHD Curved Monitor gets a 34-inch diagonal display with integrated speakers. Both monitors come with a USB Type-C port that can handle the data and power requirements when connected to a laptop. The former is priced at $499 (roughly Rs. 36,800) and will be available in October, while the latter is priced at $529.99 (roughly Rs. 39,100) and is available to purchase now via the official website.

Microsoft, via its Security Intelligence account on Twitter, has issued a warning to Windows users of a new type of phishing scam that involves emails requesting users to dial a call center. They warn users to not dial the call center because following the instructions given by a human operator can lead to malware infections. The malware scam only works with Windows computers that have Microsoft Excel. The new threat involves BazarLoader, a type of malware that allows backdoor access to infected computers. BazarLoader works by allowing criminals to sneak in through a hidden backdoor on a user's computer, which allows them to install viruses or other types of malware. Over the past several years, criminals have used different methods to trick users into carrying out instructions that allow BazarLoader to infect their computer. In this new campaign, Microsoft reports that such criminals are using an email/call center approach. The new approach involves an email sent to users. The email claims that a trial subscription is about to expire and that the user's credit card is going to be used to automatically charge them unless they dial a specified number. If a user falls for the message and calls the center, a human being answers and claims that all they need to do is download a certain Excel spreadsheet. After they do so, the victim is instructed to enable macros on the file, which paves the way for an infection by BazarLoader. The criminal operator at the fake call center then tells the victim that the subscription has been revoked and that their credit card will not be charged. But those infected are then at risk of private data theft from the criminals running the new BazarLoader campaign. as they have given themselves direct access. Users also run the risk of a ransomware attack. A group called malware-traffic-analysis.net has posted a video of the process on YouTube. Users can avoid being scammed by simply ignoring the initial email. As part of its tweet, Microsoft reports that they are tracking the campaign.

Snag a great gaming mouse for 63% off. EVGA accessories have been lighting up our deals coverage lately. But the company hasn’t stopped at huge gaming keyboard discounts, as its ergonomic gaming mouse is on the chopping board too. At Newegg, the EVGA X17 gaming mouse is now just $29.99 after a huge $50 price cut — that’s a 63% discount! EVGA X17 Gaming Mouse: was $79.99, now $29.99 at Newegg This ergonomic gaming mouse from EVGA offers a premium, durable construction, a maximum of 16,000 DPI, a rapid 8,000 Hz polling rate and a triple sensor array for ultra-accuracy and responsiveness. Omron mouse switches with a 50 million click lifecycle round out its package. This mouse sets itself apart with a triple sensor system that includes a PIXART 3389 optical sensor and two lift-off detection sensors. Most traditional gaming mice use the main optical sensor to detect when you lift the mouse off the mat, but to have two dedicated sensors for this means the accuracy of lift-off distance and position is greatly increased. This is especially beneficial in FPS titles, for when you have to move your mouse back to the center. Not just that, but the ten on-board buttons give you plenty of customizability and the main switches come with mechanical torsion springs that are preloaded with 10 gram-weights, which keep travel distance to a minimum. There's also 25 grams of customizable weight included in the box, which makes for a great package for any gaming enthusiast despite your preferences— made even better at under $30! Today's best Gaming Mouse deals