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¤ Nickname: @YEEZUZ tr ¤ Video author: PlayStation ¤ Name of the game: Rainbow Six Extraction ¤ Video link: ¤ Short description of the video: -

https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-blizzard-reacts-to-unionization-talk-with-anti-unionization-talk/ Yesterday's report about the ongoing work stoppage at Activision Blizzard also noted that some employees at the publisher appeared to be ramping up efforts to unionize. While it's not clear at this point how widespread or successful those efforts are, it was enough to get the attention of company management: An internal message from Activision Blizzard chief administrative officer Brian Bulatao warns employees that voting for a union could be bad, actually. "As you may have seen yesterday, there was a communication supported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) that asked employees to sign and submit union authorization cards," the message says. "I want to be clear about this: The leadership of Activision Blizzard supports your right, under the National Labor Relations Act, to make your own decision about whether or not to join a union. "As you make this decision for your future, we ask only that you take time to consider the consequences of your signature on the binding legal document presented to you by CWA. Once you sign that document, you will have signed over to CWA the exclusive right 'to represent [you] for the purposes of collective bargaining concerning all terms and conditions of employment.' That means your ability to negotiate all your own working conditions will be If You Spend Time on Your Computer, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game A copy of the message was shared on Twitter by departing senior test analyst Jessica Gonzalez. Bulatao says that achieving "workplace culture aspirations" is better achieved through dialog between management and employees, not the CWA. "If we fail to achieve the workplace goals we have set forth—if we fail to do the things we've committed to doing—then of course you will still always have the right to engage with, and vote for, CWA," he wrote. "But we are confident that we will make the progress we've previously pledged to make and create a workplace with you that we can all be proud of." The message has attracted considerable levels of scorn on Twitter. Many replies see it as a veiled threat, while others wonder why, if Activision is so committed to change, it isn't moving more quickly to bring about change. The broad consensus is that Activision Blizzard is very eager to prevent unionization. "Instead of responding to their workers’ concerns, they've opted to blast the most tired anti-union talking points straight from the union busting script," the CWA tweeted. "Union avoidance campaigns waste resources that ABK management could otherwise be using to address serious concerns such as compensating the victims of sexual harassment. We hope management will come to its senses & see that their only viable path forward is to meet the righteous demands from the initial walkout, including ensuring there is a lasting worker voice in all company matters." The negative backlash isn't surprising—what is a little surprising, to me at least, is that Activision Blizzard leadership would think that putting out this kind of message was a good idea. They had to know the message would go public, and would not be well received. The only sensible conclusion seems to be that they believe sowing doubt over unionization is worth the blowback. Several hours after Bulatao's message, another was sent to managers by chief people officer Julie Hodges, offering "training sessions" on how to answer union-related questions from employees. It did not go over very well either. Nothing scares an unaccountable executive like the thought of being held accountable by organized employee action. https://t.co/CJKjBinD6qDecembert A GoFundMe campaign launched on Thursday to support Activision Blizzard employees who have walked off the job in support of Raven Software contract workers who were let go last week is now up to nearly $250,000

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/xiaomi-12-ultra-specifications-case-leak-quad-camera-no-rear-display-2645764 Xiaomi 12 Ultra Alleged Case Surfaces Online; Tips Quad Rear Camera Setup, No Secondary ScreenPhoto Credit: Xiaomi Xiaomi 11 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup with a secondary display Xiaomi 12 series is expected to be announced as a successor to the Xiaomi 11 lineup of smartphones later this month. Various leaks and reports have hinted that the upcoming Xiaomi 12 series will comprise of four models. These rumoured handsets include Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12X, Xiaomi 12 Pro, and Xiaomi 12 Ultra. The launch timeline of these smartphones has not been officially confirmed. Now, a new leak suggests that Xiaomi 12 Ultra may come with a major overhaul in its camera setup when compared to Xiaomi 11 Ultra. Xiaomi 12 Ultra is expected to be the top-end model of the new lineup from the Chinese tech giant. It has been tipped to debut in China on December 28. On Friday, tipster Mukul Sharma tweeted an image of what appears to be an alleged case of Xiaomi 12 Ultra. The design for the case is said to have leaked first on Weibo. If this supposed design is taken into consideration, then Xiaomi 12 Ultra could feature a quad camera setup on the back. It is expected to sport a circular camera module with a rumoured 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 sensor featured at its centre. Past leaks have suggested that apart from the 50-megapixel primary sensor, Xiaomi 12 Ultra may also come with three 48-megapixel cameras. Xiaomi 12 Charging Specifications Tipped via Alleged 3C Listing Xiaomi Said to Launch All Xiaomi 12 Series Smartphones Together In comparison, Xiaomi 11 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup. It has a 50-megapixel primary sensor, paired with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. The rear camera island also features a secondary touchscreen. This secondary display could be used for taking selfies with the rear camera, checking notifications, keeping track of the battery life and more. The cutout for this secondary screen is absent from this alleged case. There are also a couple more cutouts that have not been recognised as of yet. How's Nokia brand licensee trying to compete against Realme and Xiaomi 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.

https://www.techradar.com/news/seventy-pounds-for-final-fantasy-vii-on-pc-is-too-high-a-price There comes a time where the principal in paying for a game overtakes your hype for the game. That happened with Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade coming to PC. This is the enhanced port that came out earlier this year, and it was announced during The Game Awards last night. While I woke up with glee that it was finally confirmed, it quickly turned to disbelief once I discovered the price. While Final Fantasy VIII will always be my favorite entry in the series, I was caught up in the hype of the remake of Final Fantasy VII when it was first announced in 2015. If You Like to Play, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game The cheers at the Sony conference at E3 that year, alongside Shenmue 3 and The Last Guardian being showcased, made me excited for Final Fantasy again. But at a price of $70 / £70 for the PC version that has been leaked by the Epic Games Store, I'm waiting for the sale. A high price for Cloud gaming It's been six years between the announcement of the remake at E3 and the PC port finally being made official. While it was first released on PS4 in 2020 to great reviews, I was still holding out for it to either arrive on Game Pass or another storefront on PC eventually. It took longer than I expected, but as soon as I saw the news, a wave of disappointment came crashing down around me. On Amazon, you can buy the PS4 version for $35 / £25 right now, or the PS5 version that includes Intergrade for $58 / £40. If you own the PS4 version but have a PS5, you can upgrade for free, but the DLC featuring Yuffie costs $19.99 / $14.99. This still equals to roughly $55 / £40 for the same package as what's being offered for the upcoming PC port. Final Fantasy VII REMAKE: Intergrade can be wishlisted on the Epic Games Store for now, but the price looks to be $70 / £75 when it releases on December 16. Nostalgia at a high gil We've reached out to Square Enix for comment as to why the price is so high, but it feels like a slap in the face for nostalgia and fans of Final Fantasy VII. This is especially the case when Epic co-founder and CEO Tim Sweeney stated in an interview, that the games offered on the Store would be cheaper than anywhere else. There are many people out there who hold this particular entry of Final Fantasy close to their hearts. It's helped define careers and friendships since its release in 1997, with the story still talked about today through written media, podcasts, videos and more. Paying almost double the price for the same game on PS4, on PC, especially when the original game from 24 years ago can be bought on Steam for $9.99 / £9.99, is a real shame. I don't have a PlayStation so I can't play it anyway. But with this price, and for a game that's essentially part one of three, I'd rather wait for the eventual sale and play the original in the meantime. Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time he's written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider', alongside podcasting and usually found playing games old and new on his PC and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app or one that's about to launch, drop him a line.

https://www.pcgamer.com/both-of-these-gaming-chairs-are-under-dollar200-right-now/ Two AndaSeat gaming chairs on a turquoise background (Image credit: AndaSeat) It's rare to see gaming chairs with their prices slashed in half or more, but AndaSeat has done that for two of its models. Both the Dark Demon and Jungle gaming chairs are on sale for steep discounts, making them easy recommendations if you want budget-friendly options. The Dark Demon gaming chair currently is $179.99 on AndaSeat's website. It didn't quite make it to our list of the best gaming chairs, but it's not far off from the other AndaSeat selection in there. The Dark Demon has a subdued black and red design that won't yell "gamer" as loudly as some other gaming chairs do. In a review of the chair, our own Hope Corrigan wrote, "The material feels quite thick and high quality so I’ve never worried about accidentally piercing or damaging the exterior." Given how long we expect our gaming chairs to last, it's promising to hear that this one will withstand any bumps or accidents that occur over time. The chair also has 4D armrests, which let you slide them up, down, left, right, back, and forward. It's a huge range of adjustments that you won't get in typical 2D armrests that can only swivel and go up and down. The top of the armrests aren't padded, which would be an even nicer touch, but it's hard to complain for the price. AndaSeat Dark Demon AndaSeat Dark Demon Premium Gaming Chair| 287 lbs max | 4D armrests $429.99 $179.99 at AndaSeat (save $250) This is one of our favorite gaming chairs for its sleek look, adjustment options, cushioning, and sturdy construction. For under $200, this is a great deal if you need a solid chair. On the smaller end of AndaSeat's offerings is the Jungle gaming chair. It's currently $159.99 on the company's website. This chair has a similar design to the Dark Demon but is all black. It's built for smaller rooms and includes the same back and head support as the Dark Demon. The only thing it lacks in comparison is the 4D armrests (it just has the 2D ones that swivel and raise and lower). The Jungle gaming chair feels like the better pick for gaming setups in smaller rooms or anyone who's a fairly small-sized person themselves. AndaSeat has chairs that can take more weight and take up more space, but this one aims to keep everything contained in a smaller package. AndaSeat Jungle Series Premium Gaming Chair| $349.99 AndaSeat Jungle Series Premium Gaming Chair| $349.99 $159.99 at AndaSeat (save $190) At over half off the normal price, this small gaming chair offers a comfortable headrest, back support, and generous reclining angles. It also has a pretty subdued look compared to other gaming chairs. Tyler has covered games, games culture, and hardware for over a decade before joining PC Gamer as Associate Editor. He's done in-depth reporting on communities and games as well as criticism for sites like Polygon, Wired, and Waypoint. He's interested in the weird and the fascinating when it comes to games, spending time probing for stories and talking to the people involved. Tyler loves sinking into games like Final Fantasy 14, Overwatch, and Dark Souls to see what makes them tick and pluck out the parts worth talking about. His goal is to talk about games the way they are: broken, beautiful, and bizarre.

¤ Nickname: @YEEZUZ tr ¤ Video author: PlayStation ¤ Name of the game: Chivalry 2 ¤ Video link: ¤ Short description of the video: -

https://www.pcgamer.com/keanu-reeves-on-players-modding-cyberpunk-2077-to-have-sex-with-him-its-always-nice-when-its-nice/ Someone finally put the big question to Keanu Reeves, and wow did he have an answer. As part of the promotion around the release of The Matrix Awakens he and Carrie-Anne Moss spoke to the Verge on a range of topics and, at the end, talk turned to Cyberpunk 2077—specifically, the sex mods involving Keanu's character Johnny Silverhand, which developer CDPR does not like one bit. Reeves says he hasn't yet tried out the game himself: "I've seen demonstrations but I've never played it." The Verge's Alex Heath then asks if Reeves was aware that players were modifying the game and his character was the most-requested sex mod. "Yes! Oh my god: It's always nice when it's nice," says Reeves. Do You Like to Play on Your Computer? This Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Ads, No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game "I on the other hand say no thank you," interjects Moss, whose amused revulsion may be the real highlight here. "No thank you! Keanu's fine with it." Keanu is not done with the VR sex thing. "Think of how much money is in porn, right" says Reeves, as part of Carrie-Anne Moss's soul forever floats off into the ether. "So you could not even have to be there and people could have digital sex with your digital avatar... what's it called right now, For Members only? You could do a whole thing. Oh my god then you get the suit that's probably made in Sweden or some German thing, oh my god then you've got the VR thing. Then they've got the data on you with your arousal matrix..." "Great," deadpans Moss. "So then you're in the suit with arousal matrix through your Members Only Metaverse so then you're like take everything off and how do you feel about that relationship," Reeves concludes. "Then you hold that real thing and you're like oh man I'm so glad we have reality." It's worth emphasising that the specific sex mod CDPR targeted was pretty rudimentary, and certainly a far cry from the sexual VR future Keanu is imagining. At the time CDPR told us that "Our most important rule regarding user-generated content, game mods in particular, is that it can’t be harmful towards others. In the case of model swaps, especially those that involve explicit situations, it can be perceived as such by the people who lent us their appearance for the purpose of creating characters in Cyberpunk 2077." Well: Now we know what Keanu thinks about it. He's a pretty cool dude. I don't know whether he's completely up on how the internet uses certain words, but it's nice to think about.

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/samsung-z-fold-3-flip-3-one-ui-4-android-12-update-suspended-bugs-galaxy-2644307 Samsung recently released the stable build of the One UI 4 for Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. However, it is being reported that the update has been temporarily suspended. This step was taken after a considerable number of Samsung Galaxy Z smartphone users reportedly faced issues after installing the One UI 4 update. Samsung had started testing the beta version of the One UI 4 update in late October and the stable version rolled out recently was expected to be ready for a wider release. A report by Android Community claims that the update is far from stable and has been discontinued. Some users in South Korea reportedly said that the update has bricked their Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphones. Many other users claimed that their Samsung smartphones went into recovery mode after installing this update. Several of them were also reportedly facing issues like slow performance, applications not working, screen flickering, poor audio quality and more. There are reports of images getting automatically deleted from galleries. Others have claimed that the display of their Samsung Galaxy Z smartphones get stuck at a 60Hz refresh rate. Apple iPhone 13 mini vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Best Compact Flagship? Earlier, SamMobile had reported on December 7 that Samsung had started rolling out the One UI 4 update for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in Serbia. The Android 12-based One UI 4 came with the December 2021 security patch as well. It featured a revamped user interface with newer widget designs. The update was also equipped with enhanced stock Google and Samsung apps. Samsung Galaxy S22 Tipped to Come With Similar Price Tag as Galaxy S21 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are part of the South Korean tech giant's lineup of foldable smartphones. The current generation of Galaxy Z smartphones was launched globally by Samsung in August 2021. Are the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 still made for enthusiasts — or are they good enough for everyone? We discussed this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.techradar.com/news/turns-out-a-lot-of-us-are-really-bad-at-behaving-on-zoom-calls After another bumper year for video calls across the world, Zoom has released a series of somewhat surprising facts about some of the oddest facts it has gathered about users in 2021. The video conferencing platform carried out a global survey and combined the results with its own internal insights to show how we really used Zoom - with some particularly odd findings. This includes over half (53%) of Zoom users saying it was OK to eat during meetings, 42% saying they have made a call from their beds, and over a quarter (26%) saying they almost never showered before going on a call. Do You Like to Play on Your Computer? This Number 1 Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Ads, No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game Zoom in 2021 Covering the period of November 15 2020 to November 15 2021, the company's survey discovered that Wednesday was the most po[CENSORED]r day of the week for Zoom calls, followed by Tuesday and Thursday. The average length of a Zoom call was a whopping 54 minutes, with the average meeting size found to be 10 participants. Zoom, which was used in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, also found that January 21 2021 was the busiest day of the year for virtual meetings, with February 25 the most po[CENSORED]r day for webinars. Elsewhere, nearly three-quarters (71%) of Zoom users have had to say the phrase "you're on mute" at some point in the last 12 months, with 57% needing to ask if everyone on a call could see their screen. 75% of users said they waved goodbye at the end of their meetings, with outdoor landscapes (26%) proving slightly more po[CENSORED]r than blurred backgrounds (25%) or company logos (20%). Just under half (43%) confessed to only cleaning the part of the room visible on camera, with the same number (43%) of parents having a child show up during a meeting, and 36% saying they have had a pet show up during a meeting. These are the best online collaboration tools around Mike Moore is News & Features Editor across both TechRadar Pro and ITProPortal. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.

https://www.pcgamer.com/scuf-gamings-pricey-new-controllers-could-be-a-great-alternative-to-the-playstation-5-dualsense-for-pc/ Scuf Gaming has released its highly anticipated range of PS5 controllers. The Corsair owned company received praise for its PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox X/S series of controllers and we're big fans of the company's Instinct Pro controller. Gamers have been eager to see what the company would offer once it jumped into the PS5 fray, and now that wait is over. The three Scuf Reflex controllers offer a lot of features, but they also come with very steep prices, to put it mildly. We wouldn’t normally cover a dedicated console peripheral, but the new Reflex controllers are Windows compatible too, so we're all good. There are three different models. The Reflex, Reflex Pro, and the first-person shooter optimised model, the Reflex FPS. Oh, did we mention the price? The Reflex range begins at $200. If You Like to Play, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game At that price, you'd expect some serious build quality and functionality. By the look of things they deliver. The range features four directly programmable and removable rear paddles. These can be programmed on the fly, with no need for software and can be switched to suit different games. The Reflex is designed to improve upon the comfort of Sony’s DualSense controller with improved grips, interchangeable thumbsticks and anti-friction rings. Of course, they feature Bluetooth compatibility, USB Type-C recharging and a headset mute button. Best gaming mouse: the top rodents for gaming Best gaming keyboard: your PC's best friend... Best gaming headset: don't ignore in-game audio The Reflex Pro adds some further features including a ‘high-performance grip’ though we’ll need to test it ourselves to see if it’s worth the $30 price premium. The Reflex FPS sells for a whopping $260. It’s Scuf’s first dedicated first-person shooter gamepad. It omits the potentially distracting vibration motors while making the controller lighter. Its triggers are designed for rapid activation, eliminating trigger pull. We can see the appeal of the Reflex FPS for console gamers, but it's hard to beat the good old keyboard and mouse combo when it comes to PC first-person shooting. The Scuf Reflex controllers are available via the Scuf store; however, it appears as though the first batch has already sold out. Some gamers will find a nice surprise in their Christmas stocking this year, but the rest of us will have to wait until at least January to get a Relex controller in our hands.

¤ Nickname: @YEEZUZ tr ¤ Video author: PlayStation ¤ Name of the game: Yurukill ¤ Video link: ¤ Short description of the video: -

https://www.pcgamer.com/amds-gaming-laptop-gpus-could-be-in-for-an-overhaul-on-tsmcs-6nm-process/ It appears a refresh of AMD's Radeon RX 6000 series mobile GPUs could be imminent. Potential refreshed GPUs are unlikely to span the entire series, but could well come touting TSMC's 6nm process technology. The RX 6800S is the first prediction of the lot, in place of a previously rumoured RX 6900M. According to Videocardz, the known leaker disclosuzen—whose account seems to have been suspended—sent them the info outlining the potential refresh, which could carry the name 'AMD Radeon RX 6000S Mobile Graphics.' Another leaker, Greymon55, had speculated over a potential 6nm mobile 6000 series refresh back in September, listing the potential mobile variants we're likely to see. Since Videocardz recent post surfaced, though, they have retracted their prediction of RX 6900M, admitting the potential that an RX 6800S could be coming instead. Sponsored Links If You Like to Play, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game As for the specification predictions, the RX 6800S is pegged with the same 2,560 cores and 192-bit bus as the RX 6800M, but squeezed around the 6nm process node. Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs around Best gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiums Best PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on There's no word on memory size, or speeds as yet, but it's expected that at least the clock speeds, as well as the power efficiency of the refreshed cards, will be improved over their 7nm counterparts. We're also treated to predictions over upcoming RX 6500M and RX 6300M, with both looking at 4GB of VRAM, and a 64-bit bus. Whether the 6800M, 67000M, or 6600M will be getting a 6nm refresh is still unclear, and of course all this is still just speculation. Screw sports, Katie would rather watch Intel, AMD and Nvidia go at it. She can often be found admiring AI advancements, sighing over semiconductors, or gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. She's been obsessed with computers and graphics since she was small, and took Game Art and Design up to Masters level at uni. Her thirst for absurd Raspberry Pi projects will never be sated, and she will stop at nothing to spread internet safety awareness—down with the hackers.

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/samsung-s21-fe-specifications-android-12-one-ui-4-galaxy-report-2642721 Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has leaked multiple times in the past. Ahead of an official announcement from the South Korean smartphone brand, a new report now claims that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will debut with One UI 4.0 based on Google's latest operating system Android 12. The phone was earlier speculated to launch this year as the successor to Galaxy S20 FE. But recent leaks suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will now launch during the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2022. According to a report by SamMobile, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will run on One UI 4.0 update based on the latest Android 12. With this, the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE will also reportedly join other Samsung phones that will get OS upgrades until the rollout of Android 15. Samsung released the Android 12-based public beta of the One UI 4 update in September this year with new themes, colour pallets, and privacy settings. Samsung started the official rollout of the new Android skin on the Galaxy S21 series including Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The update is reaching a large number of Samsung phones in India in December. The stable update brings more customisation options and offers new widgets as well as a wider variety of emoji features, GIFs, and stickers on the keyboard. Privacy features of the new Android skin include alerts when an app attempts to access the camera or microphone. Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ Specifications Tipped by FCC Listing Previous leaks suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will come with both the Snapdragon 888 and the Exynos 2100 SoC in different markets. The phone may get the Exynos 2100 chipset in India. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is tipped to sport a 6.4-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,340 pixels) AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is said to pack 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The handset is expected to feature a 64-megapixel triple camera setup, along with a 32-megapixel selfie camera in the front. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Tipped to Launch in February 2022 Is JioPhone Next the 4G phone for everyone that Reliance promises? 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.

https://www.techradar.com/news/siri-is-yet-to-regain-crucial-accessibility-features-that-disappeared-with-ios-15 Update: After contacting Apple, we heard back from the company that these important Siri features will be reinstated with the iOS 15.2 update, which is great news. Apple is still yet to reinstate functionality which was removed in iOS 15, where Siri could perform various tasks such as checking and playing voicemails. Sponsored Links If You Spend Time on Your Computer, this Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game The commands in question are valuable on the accessibility front, with the visually impaired or legally blind – or indeed other Apple device owners – are able to use them to keep on top of their voicemail as mentioned, or to instruct Siri to send an email, check recent calls, or call history. MacRumors highlighted the functionality which went missing back in September, just after iOS 15 was released, and the site reminds us that these features haven’t been restored to Siri, despite growing complaints around this. An inaccessible Siri for some One reader told MacRumors: “For many fully blind people (like my blind mom) this makes their phone almost unusable, because they can’t ask Siri who has called, and they can’t ask Siri if they have voicemail. (Their official ‘workaround’ for voicemail, in fact, is calling the old-school carrier voicemail number, to check your voicemail over the phone.)” Another message on Apple’s support forum reads: “My cousin who is legally blind is also experiencing this issue. He uses the read missed call and open voicemail when doctors call and leave messages. It allows him the opportunity to hear who called and he can call back. It has been a wonderful feature for him and I’m hoping that a fix will happen so that he can be able to use the feature again.” There are also complaints on Reddit like this: “My dad is blind and uses Siri to operate a lot of his iPhone. This week we’ve noticed when he asks Siri to play voicemail or missed calls she says she can’t help with that.” We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story once we hear back. Analysis: Reasons why are unclear – but keep the feedback flowing on this It’s unclear whether Apple intentionally removed the support for these features with iOS 15 – and if so, why that was done – or if it’s wrapped up in some bug – and if it’s the latter, whether a fix is coming soon. But whatever the case, this represents a worrying step backwards in terms of accessibility for iOS devices, to say the least. While Apple itself hasn’t commented directly, as MacRumors notes – we’ve also reached out to the company to try and ascertain what’s going on here, and will update this story if we hear back – one message on the Apple help forum claims to have had a reply from the Accessibility Support team. They were advised to again contact Accessibility Support and “have your Apple ID added to the official engineering issue as an ‘affected user’ so that you receive the mass emails about the status of this fix”. Further advice was to submit feedback on the missing features, as the more of that feedback which is gathered “does affect engineering’s prioritization of this issue”. There may be hope yet, then, for some kind of return of these capabilities to Siri in the near future. Fingers crossed. What we know so far about the iPhone 14

https://www.pcgamer.com/horizon-zero-dawn-now-offers-frame-rate-boosting-nvidia-dlss-and-amd-fsr/ Horizon Zero Dawn's recent 1.11 update has seen some important improvements that should lead to significant performance boosts for players still hooked on the 2017 action RPG. Not only does this include support for both AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), but some changes have also been made to the shader system. Previously, the game had only benefitted from Fidelity FX CAS—or Contrast Adaptive Sharpening—which isn't the greatest solution, often being found to make games look oversharp, as one Redditer summarises. Now, this tech has been replaced so that Horizon Zero Dawn fans can make the most of AMD's newer FSR tech, which sharpens much more subtly and effectively to give the illusion of playing a higher resolution. The addition of Nvidia's DLSS tech also means those on the green team don't have to settle for the opposition's upscaling tech. So, whichever GPU you're packing, you should see some significant performance improvements with your preferred tech switched on. If You Like to Play on Your Computer, this Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Ad, No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game Some changes have also been made to reflect these new additions in the games UI, such as the omission of the Render Scale option. The patch notes explain that the "same result can now be accomplished by adjusting setting Upscale Method to Simple and adjusting Upscale Quality." Best gaming PC: the top pre-built machines from the pros Best gaming laptop: perfect notebooks for mobile gaming This comes along with performance improvements that focus on the game's shader management system. Among the changes includes the ability for shaders to compile live in game, without the necessity of a pre-compilation step on startup. Stutters that had been known to occur due to background shader compilation have now been 'significantly reduced,' too, so it should no longer cause too much of a problem. You can check out the rest of the improvements in the patch notes on the official HZD Subreddit.

¤ Nickname: @YEEZUZ tr ¤ Video author: PlayStation ¤ Name of the game: Alwa's Legacy ¤ Video link: ¤ Short description of the video: -

https://www.pcgamer.com/bowser-bashed-with-a-further-dollar10-million-fine-in-nintendo-piracy-lawsuit/ nintendo switch (Image credit: Nintendo) Gary Bowser is a 52 year-old Canadian and a (presumably former) member of a group of hackers called Team-Xecuter, which specialised in 3DS and Switch modification devices. Last month we reported on him pleading guilty to two charges in a case brought by Nintendo: "conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices" alongside other members of Team-Xecuter, and "trafficking in circumvention devices." This saw Bowser facing a potential ten years in jail and fined $4.5 million. Now Gary Bowser, who is no relation to the Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser, nor the King of the Koopas Bowser, has been slammed with an additional $10 million in damages, thanks to a separate civil suit brought by Nintendo (thanks, VGC). This case is distinct from the federal lawsuit, which even the US Justice Department is involved with, which could still see Bowser end up in jail. Bowser's plea deal offered Nintendo $4.5 million, as well as promising to help find other members of Team-Xecuter, in exchange for which the prosecution waived a bunch of the other charges: Nevertheless, the judge warned that Bowser may yet face prison time for the two counts he's pleaded guilty to, each punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Sponsored Links Do You Like to Play on Your Computer? This Number 1 Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Ads, No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game A passenger uses a Nintendo Switch to play video game 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' on a subway train of Beijing Subway Line 1 on June 14, 2020 in Beijing, China. Bowser was arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2020 and extradited to the US to face 11 felony counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. You can certainly see why he's tried to cut a plea deal: And let's be real, unless the guy happens upon an infinite block of gold coins, he's unlikely to end up paying Nintendo $14.5 million in total, especially if he does go to jail. It's the sentence you never thought you'd see: Nintendo is making an example of Bowser. The company's devices have been prime targets for piracy, and it's not like Nintendo was ever tolerant of it, but the experience of Nintendo DS and the R4 card in particular has seen it on the warpath against the makers of such devices for the last decade. Gary Bowser wasn't a dabbler in piracy: He took part in Team-Xecuter’s activities (which operated under various fronts including Axiogame.com and Maxconsole.com) from June 2013 until his arrest in September 2020. Team-Xecuter created and sold various "illegal circumvention devices" that allowed buyers to play illegal ROMs on their consoles, the most notable being the SX Pro modchip that allowed ROMs to be played on the Switch. It also created a custom firmware called SX OS which was sold through a network of resellers. Bowser was in charge of the Maxconsole.com site, which served as a central hub for marketing the devices and customer support. He also administered a site containing ROM libraries that offered illegal copies of 13,630 games. Some of his partners-in-crime have yet to face the US charges. Team-Xecutor member Max Louran has been arrested in Canada but is yet to be extradited, while Yuanning Chen has been indicted but remains at large. While Team-Xecuter is the main focus, Nintendo has also been pursuing third-party retailers who sold the group’s products: Tom Dilts Jr, the Ohio-based operator of the website Uberchips, sold Team-Xecuter products until Nintendo filed a lawsuit in May 2020. Dilts Jr subsequently took the site down and agreed to pay Nintendo $2 million in damages. The arguments here seem pretty cut-and-dried: While the whole 'preservation of game history' is a good case for messing around with older hardware, no-one could seriously argue an outfit like Team-Xecutor was out to do anything but enrich itself at Nintendo's expense. The scale of the response in this case is what makes it remarkable, and something of a warning note from Nintendo: As well as, of course, the fact the guy's called Bowser. I did check, incidentally, and am sad to report that none of Nintendo's lawyers is called Mario.

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/oneplus-9-pro-nord-ce-discount-icici-bank-offers-deals-coupon-amazon-2640891 OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 9, OnePlus Nord CE 5G are all listed with ICICI Bank discounts on ecommerce sites in India. There's up to Rs. 8,000 instant discount for ICIC Bank customers on the OnePlus 9 range, while the OnePlus Nord CE gets a Rs. 1,500 instant discount with ICICI Bank card transactions. All these deals are live on OnePlus.in. Amazon also offers discount to ICICI Bank customers, in addition to coupon discounts. The ecommerce giant has listed coupon discounts on the OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 9, OnePlus Nord CE 5G phones. OnePlus 9 Pro deal Starting with the OnePlus 9 Pro, the phone is listed with a Rs. 5,000 instant discount on ICIC Bank card and EMI transactions. ICICI Bank is also offering nine months of no-cost EMI. This deal is live on OnePlus.in. Amazon also lists this ICICI Bank deal and additionally offers a Rs. 5,000 coupon code that gives users an upfront discount at checkout. If both the offers are availed, the OnePlus 9 Pro can be bought at a price cut of Rs. 10,000 in India. The OnePlus 9 Pro starts at Rs. 64,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration. The phone also has a 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model that carries a price tag of Rs. 69,999. It comes in Morning Mist, Pine Green, and Stellar Black colour options. OnePlus 9 deal The OnePlus 9 is listed with an Rs. 8,000 instant discount when bought using ICICI Bank cards including on EMIs. ICICI Bank is offering nine months of no-cost EMI on the OnePlus 9 as well. This deal is live on OnePlus.in. Amazon also lists this ICICI Bank deal and additionally offers a Rs. 5,000 coupon code that gives users an upfront discount at checkout. If both the offers are availed on Amazon, the OnePlus 9 can be bought at a price cut of Rs. 13,000 in India. The OnePlus 9 comes with a starting price of Rs. 49,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, while its 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model is priced at Rs. 54,999. It is available in Arctic Sky, Astral Black, and Winter Mist colours. OnePlus Nord CE 5G Review: The Core Experience OnePlus Nord CE 5G deal Lastly, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is listed with a Rs. 1,500 instant discount on ICICI Bank card and EMI transactions. ICICI Bank is also offering three months of no-cost EMI on the OnePlus Nord CE. This deal is live on OnePlus.in and Amazon. OnePlus Nord CE 5G costs Rs. 22,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, Rs. 24,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model, and Rs. 27,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. It is offered in Blue Void, Charcoal Ink, and Silver Ray colours. OnePlus 9 Pro Review: Aiming for the Moon OnePlus 9 Review: History Repeats Itself Amazon mentions that the ICICI Bank card offer on OnePlus phones will be live till December 31. Is OnePlus cannibalising itself with the Nord 2 5G? We discussed this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.techradar.com/news/cameo-app-prices-how-to-use A world in which Kevin from The Office, Jay from the Inbetweeners, and Karl Kennedy from Neighbours rule the roost may sound like the hazy figment of a beautiful imagination, but that's exactly what the Cameo app has made a reality. Cameo saw its po[CENSORED]rity explode during lockdown, as thousands of bored stars of film, TV, music and sport rushed to Cameo to showcase their talents, make a buck or two, and brighten fans' days in the process. Want to try it? Head to the Cameo website to search for celebs Dunder Mifflin's slickest accountant has lined his accounts to the tune of more than $1 million purely from his Cameo appearances and, having seen him in action, it's little wonder why fans of The Office can't get enough. If You Like to Play on Your Computer, this Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game But what is Cameo, how is it any different to Instagram, Twitter and any other social platform, and what can you use it for? Keep reading for all you need to know about Cameo. What is the Cameo app? Have you ever dreamed of getting a pep talk from your team's star player? Fantasized about your favorite movie star reenacting *that* iconic line, just for you? Or wanted to be serenaded by your 90s crush? Cameo is a website and app that is specifically dedicated to making your most outlandish, niche and even your dullest celebrity-oriented daydreams come true - within reason of course. The video-first platform literally allows you to pay famous stars (current and former) to either record a personalized video message, or chat one-to-one on a video call. It's the latest evolution of social media, and what many of us rather over-ambitiously envisaged when Twitter and Instagram first emerged all those years ago; only now camera phones are good enough and data speeds fast and reliable enough to make that vision a reality. As well as making you feel like you've got a direct and intimate line to your idols, it gives bored and out-of-work celebrities something to do. How does the Cameo app work? Performers as they may be, your favorite celebs won't be able to churn out a personalized video on the spot. You instead need to submit a request, which you can do on behalf of yourself, as a gift to somebody else, or for an entire company, by visiting their Cameo page. They'll then have up to seven days to fulfil it, although many guarantee a 24-hour turnaround. They also have the option to decline requests. The request process itself includes plenty of guidelines, but the trick is to be clear and concise. For instance, you won't need to set out that your request is for a birthday message, as there are dedicated special occasions toggles, which also include holiday, pep talk, and roast. However, you may want to explain any potentially tricky name pronunciations, specify the tone of the message, and include precise details to make the video message or call as personal as possible. Or if you'd prefer them to freestyle, or to say or do something specific, say so in your request. When your request has been fulfilled, you'll receive a link to your personalized video message, which you can download and share online. A selection of the available celebrities on Cameo What celebrities are on the Cameo app? Hollywood royalty, sporting idols and global megastar musicians have flocked to the platform in their thousands. Think you've got what it takes to withstand both barrels from Logan Roy himself? Brian Cox from Succession is a relative newcomer to Cameo, and will happily sling a few f-words your way, whatever the occasion. Tony Hawk, Magic Johnson and Brett Favre are just some of the legendary sportspeople on the app, plus you could just get Bruce Buffer to shout "Iiiiiiit's TIIIIIIIIIIME!" over and over again, if you wanted to. Unless you'd rather "Get rrrrrrrready to RRRRRUMBLE!" instead, of course, in which case Michael's also available. Gloria Estefan's rhythm really could get you, while you no longer need wonder how you might live without LeAnn Rimes. And let's not forget about the smooth, sultry tones of Kenny G, who'll pull out all the stops if the price is right. And who else but Caitlyn Jenner heads up Cameo's superabundance of personalities from reality TV? RuPaul's Drag Race's Divina de Campo and NYC's realest housewife Sonja Morgan are also immensely po[CENSORED]r on the app. But Cameo's biggest draws aren't necessarily who you might expect them to be. Cult TV actors James Buckley (Jay from The Inbetweeners), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy from Neighbours), and the undisputed king of Cameo, Brian Baumgartner (Kevin from the US version of The Office), are amongst the app's star attractions and despite getting perfect reviews pretty much across the board, they're also far cheaper than many others. In fact, when USA Today published a list of the biggest TV stars on Cameo in 2020, there were certainly some surprising names on there: The Cameo app is free to download, but the rich and famous don't just give away their time and energy for nothing. They set their own fees, which vary wildly. Video messages, either for yourself or another individual, are by far the most affordable service available on Cameo, with prices starting at $15 per message at the time of publication. The, ahem, celebrities around this price point tend to be niche comedians and lookalikes, although in most cases they have excellent reviews. The $50 mark is where you'll start recognizing household names. As a general rule of thumb, the more you're willing to spend, the more famous the face - though you'll find a few exceptions along the way. Some celebrities have a higher opinion of themselves than others (more on this below), and charge several hundred dollars, or even thousands per message. Live video calls tend to be a little pricier than pre-recorded messages, but not outrageously so. However, they do have the potential to be much more awkward. Commercial bookings are by far the most expensive. Several hundred dollars would be at the cheaper end of the scale, with these types of bookings regularly climbing into the thousands. Who is the most expensive person on Cameo? He long ago made the pursuit of money, money and more money the central pillar of his persona, so it's little surprise that Floyd "Money" Mayweather is one of the most expensive people on Cameo, a fact that he's very proud of. The former champ's prices are set at $15,000, though he only accepts commercial bookings. However, fellow boxing Hall of Famer Mike Tyson has thrown his hat into the ring by charging $20,000, also strictly for business requests. The one-time "Baddest Man on the Planet" has rather mellowed out in his later years, and for that extra $5,000, is likely to deliver a few more pearls of wisdom than the abrasive Mayweather, a suspicion backed up by their ratings.

https://www.pcgamer.com/best-gaming-laptop-deals-heading-into-the-holidays/ While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have mostly packed up, there are still a bunch of gaming laptop deals that are still pretty good. Even though most of the best gaming PC deals have been ransacked, it's still possible to nab a portable machine—even some of the best gaming laptops are still available for a discounted price. To be clear, the absolute best savings died along with the main portion of the deals season. But a few 'extended' Black Friday deals have survived, and gaming laptops are one of those categories that hasn't been utterly extinguished. Even in wake of shortages, stock seems to be doing alright. So, now may be a good time to swap out your old gaming rig for a more portable option: a fully-fledged gaming laptop, with all the bells and whistles. And unlike the lappys of yesteryear, a machine powerful enough to replace your desktop PC might not necessarily be as bulky as you might expect. If you're considering switching to a more portable lifestyle, or just want to supplement your battlestation with something you can shift about the house, here's the last round of gaming laptop deals we've spotted this year. Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model 2021 Razer Blade 15 Advanced | Nvidia RTX 3070 | Intel Core i7 10875H | 360Hz 1080p | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | $2,599.99 $1,799.99 at Microsoft (save $800) That's a colossal saving on a prime slice of gaming real estate, packing quality hardware from Intel and Nvidia to make sure it demolishes your games. The RTX 3070 is a great option for this thin and light chassis, as it'll knock out killer frame rates and make the most of the 360Hz display for a buttery-smooth experience too. A great saving on a great laptop. Gigabyte A5 X1 | 15.6-inch | Ryzen 9 5900HX | RTX 3070 | 1080p | 240Hz | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | $1,799 Gigabyte A5 X1 | 15.6-inch | Ryzen 9 5900HX | RTX 3070 | 1080p | 240Hz | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | $1,799 $1,499 at Newegg after rebate (save $200) This is another one of the cheapest RTX 3070-based machines we've found so far, and the rest of the package makes it one of the finest, too. The AMD CPU is an eight-core stunner and the 240Hz screen is a pro-move as well. Our only issue is the slightly miserly 512GB SSD. Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED (2020) Gigabyte Aero 15 | Nvidia RTX 3080 | Intel Core i7 11800H | 15.6-inch | 4K AMOLED | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | $2,999 $1,999 at Newegg after rebate (save $1,000) This beauty may only come with a 60Hz screen but it's 4K and AMOLED (even better than OLED). That GPU will spit up mega frame rates, even at such ultra-high resolution, too. And paired with a powerful 11th Gen Intel CPU, plenty of RAM, and masses of storage, it's great value even before the rebate. Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR YD | Nvidia RTX 3080 | Intel Core i9 11980HK | 32GB RAM | 1TB + 512GB SSD | 4K IPS | $3,649.99 $2,749.99 at Newegg after rebate (save $900) This is worth making the most of considering it's a machine with an RTX 3080 and 11th Gen Core i9 chip. That's topped with a gorgeous 4K IPS screen and boatloads of RAM—so great for multitasking any high-res antics. Plus lots of space to store all your games, and their high fidelity textures. This really $2,399 Gigabyte Aorus 15P YD | Nvidia RTX 3080 | Intel Core i7 11800H | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | $2,399 $1,899 at Newegg (save $500) No immense 4K screen here, only 1080p, but who needs super high resolution when you can have speed? This RTX 3080 and Intel 11th Gen lappy is topped with a 300Hz panel and more ram than you could shake a... stick at. Right now, at under $2K, its worth a look. MSI GP66 Leopard MSI GP66 Leopard | Nvidia RTX 3080 | Intel Core i7 11800H | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | $2,299 $1,799 after rebate at Newegg (save $500) For a laptop with an RTX 3080 and 11th Gen Intel CPU, this is a pretty good get. Not only do you get a smashing 240Hz screen to cater for the sky-high framerates it'll be pumping out, you also get a good amount of storage, too. Alienware m15 R6 | Nvidia RTX 3080 | Intel Core i7 11800H | 15.6-inch | 1080p | 2TB SSD | 32GB RAM | $2,859.99 $2,610.71 at Dell (save $263.27) With an RTX 3080, and an 11th Gen Intel core i7 11800H you'll be flying through those frame rates with the gaming laptop. And it's topped with a super speedy 360Hz panel, with 1ms response and Nvidia G-Sync for a competitive edge, along with boatloads of RAM and 2TB of M.2 PCIe storage to keep it all chugging along nicely. Razer Blade 14 | RTX 3070 | Ryzen 9 5900HX | 1440p | 1TB SSD | 16GB RAM | $2,199.99 $2,000.99 at Microsoft (save $199) Listed as the 'most desirable compact gaming laptop' in our guide, the Razer Blade 14 is a juicy gaming companion in any configuration. This one combines an AMD CPU and Nvidia GPU to take on today's top games even at 1440p, that's with a tasty 165Hz refresh rate, too. MSI Pulse GL66 MSI GF65 Thin | Nvidia RTX 3060 | Intel Core i7 10750H | 15.6-inch | 1080p | 144Hz | 16GB RAM | 512GB NVMe SSD | $1,299 $1,199 after rebate at Newegg (save $100) A decent CPU combined with an RTX 3060 for just over a grand, you can't go wrong really. With a nippy 144Hz monitor, and 16GB of ram keeping it chugging along, you can bet it'll see you right for most gaming as it's been one of our favourites for a while. As you can see, the shortages really don't seem to have touched laptops all that much; retailers still trying to get rid of excess stock after the mess that was Black Friday weekend gives us hope that supply should continue to outweigh demand. Still, this might be your last chance to bag a powerful, portable gaming laptop deal until next year. If you're not in such a rush to get your portable machine through the door, you could wait until CES 2022 to see what goodies that has in store for us—there will likely be some cracking laptop announcements to keep an eye out for.

¤ Nickname: @YEEZUZ tr ¤ Video author: PlayStation ¤ Name of the game: Monark ¤ Video link: ¤ Short description of the video: -

https://www.pcgamer.com/this-icarus-clip-takes-drop-in-co-op-to-a-new-level/ Icarus launched on Friday, the new survival game from Dean 'Day Z' Hall and Rocketwerkz, and has been steadily climbing up the Steam and Twitch charts ever since. It's not all plain sailing: the reviews remain mixed and there's been grousing about various performance issues and glitches but, for the most part, folk seem to be enjoying it. That's certainly the case in this clip from streamer ButterIsPro (great name) who is doing what any survival player likes to do: Crafting the heck out of a nice house in the middle of nowhere, which will then be used as a forward base for exciting forays. Then their friend joins the game. In Icarus, new players spawn via means of a capsule from 'space' (the game has a space station hub, and then the main action is on the planet of Icarus). Perhaps you can guess what happens next. Oh well, it was a nice house before it got spawn killed, talk about a home invasion, this is the epitome of drop-in co-op, and so on. On another note though, who needs a wooden hut when you've got some super high-tech drop pod? Sponsored Links If You Need to Kill Time on Your Computer, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game Doubtless this feature will be somehow ameliorated, in order that friends aren't constantly pissing each other off by collapsing each others' buildings when joining. Since launch Rocketwerkz has been extremely active in pushing out small hotfixes and patching glitches, while also promising additional content this weekend because, of course, people have somehow managed to complete all 35 missions the game launched with. "We will release new missions for this weekend for players who have already worked their way through Icarus," Hall wrote. "You’ve given us vital feedback about the existing missions and we’ll apply this to the new mission challenges when you return."

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/tecno-spark-8t-india-launch-soon-official-teaser-reveals-2639605 Tecno Spark 8T launch in India has been confirmed by the company via an official teaser on Twitter. There is no information on the specifications and the launch date of the smartphone, however, it is expected to debut in India soon. The poster also reveals a few design elements of the phone. Tecno launched the Tecno Spark 8 and Tecno Spark 8 Pro in September and November, respectively. The company has also unveiled multiple variants of the Tecno Spark 8 at various points in the recent months. As per the image posted in a tweet by Tecno Mobile India, the Tecno Spark 8T smartphone is coming soon. The image shows the device in a Blue colour option, and reveals that it may sport at least two rear cameras. The volume rocker and power button are situated on the right spine of the smartphone, the poster shows. In November, Tecno launched the Spark 8 Pro smartphone with a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 48-megapixel primary sensor, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. The Pro variant is an upgraded version of the Tecno Spark 8 that made its debut in India in September. Tecno Camon 18T With Triple Rear Cameras, 5,000mAh Battery Goes Official Recently, the company launched the Spark 8 4GB RAM variant in the country. It features a 6.56-inch display, AI dual rear cameras highlighted by 16-megapixel primary sensor, and MediaTek Helio G25 gaming SoC under the hood. The smartphone is also available in a 2GB RAM variant and a 3GB RAM variant. The handset also offers support for various Indian Languages allowing users to interact in their languages. The smartphone packs a 5,000mAh battery that is claimed to deliver a standby time of up to 65 days.

https://www.techradar.com/news/tiktok-secret-algorithm-is-a-big-duh TikTok’s powerful algorithm steering the social media activity of millions of daily users is no longer a mystery. In a new New York Times report that outlines information gleaned from what’s been verified as an official document, TikTok’s algorithm is laid bare. Wait for it: It prioritizes retention and time spent, and is insanely obvious. Boiled down to its essence, the TikTok algorithm looks for video likes, comments, and how much of the video you watch (a fully watched video is obviously worth more than one you stop or scroll past before it’s complete). If You Need to Kill Time on Your Computer, this City-Building Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game Donald Trump is looking to take on Facebook with Truth Social The system understands, based on tags and other details, what each video is about. If you like a certain kind of video and watch it all the way through, or even pause it repeatedly and then still complete playing it, those are positive signals for the algorithm. Since TikTok’s goal is to bring you back to the platform as often as possible, and retain your attention once you’re there, the algorithm will then feed you more of the kind of videos you’ve indicated that you like/prefer through the TikTok algorithm It’s an addictive, virtuous circle, right? Videos that string together a story – and get you to watch all of them – can supercharge the influence of that topic in the algorithm to give you more of that kind of meaty content. A path to content addiction When I started watching TikTok videos a few years ago, virtually all of them were 15 seconds or less. My feed was full of magic tricks, DIY, and people doing dances. None of this, even back then, was random. I was interested in learning new magic tricks (I’ve been an amateur magician almost all my life), I love home hacks, and couldn’t get enough of the dances because I appreciated the skill, and wondered how people of all ages (including mine!) had the skill and energy to learn and do them. What I watched fed all the videos I saw. To this day, my youngest child often comments that I see a very different TikTok than they do. Nowadays, I watch longer, storytelling videos, like those from Elise Meyers, whom I stumbled on a few months ago when she told this lengthy and hilarious tale about a blind date who picked her up, drove them to Taco Bell, and then bought 100 tacos. She’s a brilliant storyteller. I know this because now I’ve consumed dozens of her videos thanks to the algorithm, which is feeding me more and more of them (along with other long-form story-telling videos). These three-minute TikToks are obviously a boon for TikTok’s core goal of collecting and retaining more users. Time spent as a metric isn't unique to TikTok. Anyone who runs a content website knows the value of more time (and pages) consumed, which usually translates into more served ads. Down the rabbit hole What’s notable, though, is that TikTok’s algorithm still allows for discovery. Yes, there’s a lot of showing you more of what you clearly like or want (to the possible detriment of those who may be in a dark place and are gravitating to depressing/angry/harmful videos). On the other hand, TikTok retains a bit of serendipity. Every once in a while, I see a video that has nothing to do with my likes or interests (at least as I express them on TikTok), but I get hooked. That’s how Elise Meyers happened. These random videos are usually a product of extreme po[CENSORED]rity elsewhere on TikTok, which then drives that content into your feed, for you to feed the algorithm with fresh attention info. The downside of this fairly simple algorithm is that it can appear to get stuck. Suddenly, I have five or six Elise Meyers in one feed session, and even I can’t slog through that many minutes of her crazy stories. I usually take a break and then come back to them. I’ve also found that, once you understand the TikTok algorithm, you can untrain and retrain it. If I find too much of one kind of video in my feed. I do some hashtag searches and then rabbit-hole down a few fresh topics. This usually works until I gravitate back to my old haunts (magic, DIY, FX, Elise Meyers) – and then I’m back to where I started. Looking for something to watch this weekend? Check out our guide to the best new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and more

https://www.pcgamer.com/intel-alder-lake-h670-b660-and-h310-motherboard-specifications-revealed/ Let's begin with the H670 chipset, which sits one step below Z690. Most of the core functionality remains the same, including DDR4 and DDR5 support. The H670 chipset lacks the ability to overclock the CPU, which is difficult anyway unless you have very good cooling. Thankfully, H670 retains the ability to overclock the memory. The DMI link remains at 8x, meaning it will be possible for manufacturers to make H670 boards with up to four or five M.2 slots. The USB count is the disappointing part as the H670’s USB 3.0 count is lacking compared to Z690. Of course, thanks to a high number of chipset PCIe lanes, board manufacturers are free to include auxiliary USB controllers. Some H670 boards are likely to be priced at pretty steep levels making them strong entry/mid range Z690 competitors. If You Like to Play on Your Computer, this Vintage Game is a Must-Have. No Install. Forge of Empires - Free Online Game B660 is the chipset that most DIY’ers on a budget will look at. Compared to Z690 it loses the ability to overclock the CPU, while retaining memory OC capabilities. It includes only one PCIe 5.0 slot, which at this point in time means very little—it's possible PCIe 5.0 support will be optional or limited to high end models. The DMI link drops to 4x, half that of Z690 and H670, so board makers are unlikely to include more than two or three M.2 slots. The USB count drops only a little from H670.