Shyloo

i will vote to DH1

PS5 haptics gives it a big advantage over Xbox Series X — the creator behind the tech explains A lot has been made of the tech going on inside the PS5 DualSense controller. Along with the considerably faster SSD, it appears that the controller might be one of the few hardware advantages Sony will enjoy over the Xbox Series X in this console generation. Unfortunately for Sony, advanced haptics is less easily quantified than teraflops or frames per second. In a recent financial earnings call Ramzi Haidamus, the CEO of Immersion, the company responsible for the haptics in the PS5 DualSense, weighed in on the matter, saying of the controller that it "is a brand-new experience, and that is singularly differentiated by haptics" (via TechRadar). PS5 DualSense vs. Xbox Series X controller: Which is best? Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time: Release date, gameplay, pre-orders and more The weirdest PS5 games that I can’t wait to play Haidamus is hardly an impartial bystander here, but it is an interesting insight into the thought process behind the haptics inside the PS5 DualSense controller and gives us a slightly better understanding than someone trying to describe to us the feeling of a controller giving the feeling of ice or sand beneath you. Part of the message from Haidamus was simply that the overall video and audio experience with the consoles "is pretty much maximized" meaning that while it continues to push forward, it isn't creating a significant shift in the gaming experience. For that, the PS5 turns to haptics as "the third experience to get you more immersed in that game." There's certainly some truth to this statement, particularly with the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, as these consoles already deliver reasonable 4K performance and most users aren't going to experience 8K gaming on the next-gen consoles until the prices of those TVs come down to earth. How will the PS5 create a more immersive experience? Where Sony might differ slightly is when it comes to audio. Kenji Kimura, the director of Ghostwire: Tokyo, praised the 3D audio on the PS5 while the PS5 DualSense and its haptics appeared to top his list as the most transformative addition to the PS5 saying, "they allowed for us to feel and experience the various actions and attacks like never before." In fact, his statement regarding 3D audio was quite similar to that regarding haptics, indicating that "You'll be able to feel like you are there and 'feel' the things that are there with 3D audio." These more holistic descriptions of the PS5 and its capabilities as compared to the raw power discussion with the Xbox Series X have certainly defined the back and forth from various gaming luminaries regarding the consoles over the last couple of months. There are two distinct problems for Sony with these features as a major selling point for the PS5. One is simply that they really boil down to "you have to experience it to appreciate it" which I'm sure is a selling point that VR companies will happily tell you isn't ideal. The second is that both of these features require developer buy-in. We've heard from those that really love the advanced haptics and 3D audio and are clearly investing time in delivering an excellent experience on both fronts, but is that going to be the case with all or most developers? As we edge closer to the eventual launch with rumors of the PS5 price and release date reveal coming soon, the rhetoric on both sides is sure to keep heating up. We look forward to seeing if Sony has any additional tricks up its sleeve to convince gamers who are on the fence about the two consoles that the less powerful option is still the more meaningful upgrade.

Using games to study law of motions in mind At Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, researchers have successfully established relationships between games and law of motions in mind through analogy of physics and game refinement theory. Establishing several physics quantities (such as mass, speed, and acceleration) relative to the game progress model allowed for the player's entertainment experiences for a specific game to be determined through the Newtonian laws of motion, specifically the Force, Momentum, and Potential Energy. Such a law of motion reveals the feeling of a player in their mind. Mapping different games originated from different cultures to the state of the human mind; a measure of sophistication that leads to a natural yet pleasurable experience. Uncovering the fundamental mechanisms of game playing mechanisms had been the primary goal in the IIDA laboratory. Game refinement theory is the fruit of labor for several years—the relationships between game progress and entertainment experience from the perspective of game design. Several sub-branch of the study had been explored through board games (e.g., Chess, Go, etc.), sports (e.g., Basketball, Table tennis, etc.), and video game (e.g., action games). From a non-game context had also been previously explored (such as business, education, and loyalty programs). Interestingly, all of those studies found that game refinement measure converges to approximately similar "zone" value (a region named as the noble uncertainty). Based on the notion of the uncertainty of the game outcome and gamified experience, several models have been introduced to fundamentally capture the essence of game playing in a variety of contexts. The move selection model and scoring model were established for the board games and sports, via the ratio of solved uncertainty over the game's length. Hence, the game refinement (GR) measure can be obtained concerning the magnitude of gravitational acceleration felt in mind. Then, the notion of speed in the game was established. The difficulty of solving the outcome uncertainty defines mass in mind. With mass, speed, and acceleration, the Newtonian laws of motion can be analogously measured, which mainly reflects motion in mind. Through games, the level of engagement, thrills, and competitiveness, can be successfully illustrated according to the interplays of the momentum, energy, and force in the game. The third derivative of the game progress model is also demonstrated from the jerk quantity (a derivative of acceleration), which is an essential measure in mechanical engineering and influences the force quantity, where the notion of effort, achievement, and discomfort felt in our mind is established. "It is exciting to understanding how people think and feel inside (mind and body) when playing game, and it is especially curious as to why most game revolves around the established 'zone' value," says Hiroyuki Iida, Trustee and Vice President for Educational and Student Affairs, Head of IIDA Laboratory, and Director of the Research Center for Entertainment Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Under the guidance of Dr. Mohd Nor Akmal Khalid and Prof. Hiroyuki Iida, colleagues in Research Center for Entertainment Science, as well as various interactions between current and previous students, the research frameworks through the game refinement theory had successfully been established as a multidisciplinary and emerging research field for design and analysis of games. At present, the IIDA laboratory opened its arm to various multi-national students from multiple backgrounds. Also, current design and development are focused on expanding the notion of game refinement theory to a variety of game types, related fields of education, business, engineering, system design, artificial intelligence in games, search algorithms, and many more. "The establishment of the link between game refinement theory and flow theory is a start, where we hope the current framework will open-up more opportunity for collaboration and at the same time generalizes as a cross-disciplinary field while contributes to the society at large in a more meaningful ways. At present, most work is still fundamental in nature," says Mohd Nor Akmal Khalid, assistant professor, Research Center for Entertainment Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

2020 Skoda Enyaq: exterior previewed in official images The classic concept-style exaggerated design sketches make it difficult to draw conclusions on what the production model will look like. Skoda claims it will feature "emotive lines and balanced, dynamic proportions", however. The Czech brand's exterior design boss, Karl Neuhold, claims the Enyaq iV features proportions that "differ from those of our previous SUV models". The car's shorter front end and longer roofline "creates a very dynamic look and transforms it into a proverbial 'space shuttle'". Neuhold claims the MEB platform and the lack of a combustion engine allows for short front and rear overhangs. The body is "more elongated and extremely aerodynamic", with drag coefficient rating of just 0.27. The new SUV, which uses the same underpinnings as the new Volkswagen ID 3 hatchback, is said to have an interior that "reflects modern living environments". Designers have exploited the MEB platform's lack of transmission tunnel and long wheelbase to create a cabin that's "visually even airier and to create a feeling of even more space," Skoda claims. New features making their debut on the Enyaq - and which can be expected to appear on future Skoda EVs - include a storage cubby underneath the centre console and a multi-level dashboard. Skoda has also revealed that the SUV will have 585 litres of boot space, a 13.0in central touchscreen and a head-up display with augmented reality. It also claims that rear passengers will benefit from "exceptionally generous" leg room. Skoda also says it has done away with the conventional trim level structure of its current line-up in favour of a range of new 'design selections', which each use sustainably produced and recycled materials. They will be clearly split into separate 'themes', with a range of option packages available additionally. The Enyaq, which Autocar has already driven in prototype form, is due on sale in 2021 and will be a key part of Skoda's plan to launch 10 electrified models under the iV sub-brand by the end of 2022. Skoda has confirmed that, similar to other MEB-based machines, the Enyaq will be offered with a choice of rear and four-wheel drive, three battery sizes and five power outputs. The largest battery will be a 125kW unit giving an official range of 310 miles. The Czech firm said the model "combines brand-typical virtues such as a generous amount of space, emotive design and well-balanced proportions with a sustainable yet fun driving experience." It added that the machine offers similar interior space to the Kodiaq SUV, while being shorter than the Octavia hatchback.

Belarus election: Police beat protesters as EU condemns vote Protesters set up barricades in the Belarus capital Minsk and clashes were reported in several cities on Tuesday night, after main opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled. A BBC team in Minsk was attacked by police, who were accused by protesters of brutality. Protests erupted hours after Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko was awarded victory in Sunday's presidential vote. The EU said the election was "neither free nor fair". EU 'considers sanctions' Sweden's foreign minister said EU foreign ministers would meet on Friday to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus. Mr Lukashenko won 80% of Sunday's vote, according to election officials, but there were widespread allegations of vote rigging and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Belarusians had shown "the desire for democratic change" in the election campaign. When Ms Tikhanovskaya went to the electoral committee to complain about the results that gave her just 10% of the vote, she was detained for seven hours. By Tuesday morning she had left Belarus for neighbouring Lithuania. Mr Borrell accused authorities of using "disproportionate and unacceptable violence causing at least one death and many injuries". Websites, which have been jammed in Belarus for days, were widely reported to be back online on Wednesday morning. There have been numerous reports of police violence, with people seen being pulled out of cars on a third night of unrest. One protester has died and 200 others have been wounded, some seriously. Two thousand more have been detained. The brutality of the crackdown has shocked observers. However, official newspaper Belarus Segodnya, said the protest "co-ordinators" had been detained, including one Minsk resident said to have organised the "mass disturbances" from a hotel room. What happened at the scene? By Abdujalil Abdurasulov, BBC News, Minsk Protesters gathered spontaneously on Tuesday night near Kammenaya Gorka metro station in central Minsk that quickly turned into a battleground of new clashes. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades before fanning out across the street to push demonstrators back. Some people fell while trying to flee, but were quickly picked up by others running behind. Police chased them into the yards of apartment blocks where many tried to hide. When they caught up with fleeing protesters, officers surrounded them and beat them violently with batons. Residents watching from their windows booed and swore at officers, shouting at them to leave. Someone even threw a wooden ladder at riot police who were beating a man under their window. Earlier, our BBC team was also attacked by men dressed in black who appeared to be security forces. "Take the camera away," they shouted as they approached us. We showed them our government-issued accreditation, but one of the officers ripped our colleague's card from around her neck, took her camera and attempted to break it. When we demanded the accreditation document be returned, one of them lashed out with his baton at us and our remaining camera. Luckily, none of the team was badly hurt and the camera remained intact. Several other journalists in Minsk also reported harassment and intimidation by security forces on Tuesday night. Opposition website Tut.by said journalists were detained in the cities of Brest and Grodno, as well as in the capital. Many had their equipment broken or confiscated. Tut.by said its own reporter and cameraman were targeted. Mr Lukashenko, 65, who has ruled the former Soviet country since 1994, has described opposition supporters as "sheep" controlled from abroad. There were some reports of workers going on strike but state media said it was fake news. What has happened to the opposition? Svetlana Tikhanovskaya galvanised the opposition, attracting big rallies ahead of the vote. The 37-year-old former teacher was a stay-at-home mother until she entered the race after her husband was arrested and blocked from registering for the vote. She was one of three women who pooled their resources to spearhead the opposition. Veronika Tsepkalo fled Belarus on the day of the vote and Maria Kolesnikova remains in Belarus. Five things you might not know about Belarus How protests shook up the election Europe's longest serving ruler facing unfamiliar pressure According to her campaign partner, Ms Tikhanovskaya had been escorted from the country by the authorities as part of a deal to allow the release of her campaign manager, Maria Moroz, who was arrested on Friday evening. After she had arrived in Lithuania a video appeared online in which she addressed supporters (in Russian), stating that she had overestimated her own strength. "I thought that this campaign had really steeled me and given me so much strength that I could cope with anything," she said. "But I guess I'm still the same weak woman that I was." "Not one life is worth what is happening now," she added. "Children are the most important things in our lives." Ms Tikhanovskaya had sent her children to Lithuania for safety before the election. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told the BBC: "The option to leave the country was found as the only rational [one], I understand." Speaking of her visit to the electoral authorities, he said "to [say] she was visiting the electoral committee with a friendly visit would be too good. She was detained." A second video later emerged that appeared to have been made during her detention. The images show her, head lowered, reading nervously from a script as she urges her supporters to "obey the law" and stay away from street protests. Anger towards Mr Lukashenko's government this time has been in part fuelled by its response to coronavirus. The president has downplayed the outbreak, advising citizens to drink vodka and use saunas to fight the disease. Belarus, which has a po[CENSORED]tion of 9.5 million, has reported nearly 70,000 cases and almost 600 deaths.

Game Information : Initial release date: March 28, 2019 Engine: Unity Developers: Hopoo Games, PlayEveryWare Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows Genres: Third-person shooter, Roguelike Modes: Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game As we prepared to take on Risk of Rain 2's final boss, we took a moment to take stock of our Survivors. My co-op partner had three syringes filled with glowing green slime jutting out of his hip, a sword at his side and a crown on his head. A leech was suctioned onto my head, a teddy bear stuck to my shoulder and John Lennon glasses stretched around the front of my domed helmet. Each of these baubles represented a perk we had acquired over the course of our headlong rush to the final boss. This is the kind of game Risk of Rain 2 is. At the end of a run, you can see every advantage that you have collected, all hanging off of your once-simple character model like fuzzy dice on a car mirror. And, as it launches into 1.0, Hopoo Games' third-person shooter roguelike has a year-and-a-half of early access in its rearview. I didn't play the game during pre-release, so I can't testify to how much content this version adds to what was already there. But I can say that Risk of Rain 2 is a breakneck experience that builds and builds and builds. This is not a game of peaks and valleys. Risk of Rain 2 is all climb until you reach the summit. That's its greatest strength--and its only real notable weakness. Each run begins with your Survivor emerging from an escape pod onto a hostile alien world. This landscape is largely empty. Lo-fi music plays. It's generally pretty chill and evocative for the first few seconds. But then you're assaulted by a horde of low-level creatures. At the top right corner of the screen, a meter slowly moves right, upping the difficulty from Easy to Medium to Hard (and up and up and up until the difficulty bar just reads "HAHAHAHAHA") as a run progresses. Each level ends when you find and activate a teleporter, summoning a boss monster, which you must defeat to use the portal. In between entrance and exodus, Risk of Rain 2's world is full of interesting decisions and secrets. You may want to sacrifice half your health at the Altar of Blood for rewards down the line. Or you might summon double the boss monsters for a shot at double rewards. Get lost long enough in your search for the teleporter and you may find an underground passage where you can find a hidden code etched on a tablet, which can be used to access a secret realm. As you explore, the world is gradually filling up with enemies; the music is, smartly, slowly building to an all-out guitar-wailing crescendo. That difficulty slider never stops ticking up, so it's in your best interest to find and defeat each boss as soon as possible. The catch is that if you run headlong into a boss fight, you're likely to get stomped. Each boss is a bullet sponge on its own, and the standard enemies don't stop attacking just because you're in a boss fight. To turn the tables in your favor, you need to kill enemies to collect money, then take that money to the various crates that litter each level for an unlockable boon. This is where Risk of Rain 2 is at its fascinating best. As in most roguelikes, each run is the process of creating a build and leaning into different strengths and weaknesses as you progress. So, if you want to transform the glass cannon Huntress into a non-glass cannon, you can buy and equip healing perks that help to shore up the class' defensive deficiencies. Or, you could go all-in on offense, collecting damage modifiers until you're taking boss monsters out in a matter of seconds. Unlike other roguelikes, Risk of Rain 2 doesn't require many sacrificial choices. In similar games, I frequently find myself doing cost-benefit analysis upon finding a new weapon. Should I swap out the slow, but powerful Broadsword, in favor of the Blood Sword, which will leave my enemies bleeding out? But, in Risk of Rain 2, your core weapons never change.You will, at times, need to decide what special attack you want equipped. But, the majority of the upgrades you pick up along the way are additive. The nuances of your build are determined by the perks you pick up along the way. And, gloriously, everything stacks. So, a perk that causes enemies to suffer bleed damage can stack on top of a perk that causes fire damage, reducing your enemies into a bloody, burning mess of flying damage numbers. Or you could buy two bleed perks and watch the numbers bounce off at twice the rate. This makes the shooting here substantially more engaging than it would be otherwise. Risk of Rain 2 is a roguelike first and foremost, but its third-person shooting wouldn't feel out of place in a loot-shooter. Boss opponents here require an armory's ammo to take down. Normal enemies similarly can absorb a full clip before expiring, and their animations don't really betray the damage they're taking. Or, at least, if they do, they're covered up by the flashy numbers that fly off enemy bodies like fireworks. I was generally unimpressed by the act of pulling the trigger. What makes Risk of Rain 2 interesting is the way that your choices affect what the shooting does. In addition to the process of stacking perk on top of perk until your build sways like a late-game Jenga tower, there are other choices to make during a run and before it even starts. Initially, you only have access to the Commando, a bubble-helmeted space warrior, with a stable (if unremarkable) pistol, a burst fire ability and a powerful plasma shot. This Commando is a solid all-rounder. On the other hand, MUL-T, a bulky robot you unlock after playing five runs, has a massive health bar and painfully slow default movement speed. I say "default movement speed" because he can pull his metal limbs into his boxy body and boost into enemies like a dumpster speeding down a mountain. There's a substantial roster of Survivors, and so far I've only unlocked a little over half. I've learned the basics of their skillsets, but the prospect of learning to master their skills and synergies is exciting. That variety is echoed in the roster of enemies. The act of shooting can be a little dull, as you take on bullet-sponge after bullet-sponge. But, the diversity of enemy size, movement and abilities helps keep combat fresh. You're frequently switching between different abilities as you're confronted by different monsters. I often used the Commando's burst fire to take out the fiery eggs that fly over your head like a flock of angry, spherical sea gulls. And, when I got swamped by enemies as MUL-T, I could launch a bomb into the crowd, then use my boost to barrel through them like a bowling ball. The variety of enemies is smartly complemented by the variety of each Survivor's base skills. The game's greatest asset is also its greatest weakness. As you progress through the difficulty ranks, enemies begin to spawn with ridiculous regularity. At certain points, they can mob and destroy you easily, biting huge chunks out of your health bar at a time. So, staying alive requires constant vigilance. Runs can often last for an hour or longer. While other roguelikes include a brief respite between missions during which you can buy upgrades and tinker with your build, the only break you'll get in Risk of Rain 2 is the brief load that separates one hostile alien world from another. Other than that, you can sleep when you're dead. It all contributes to a game that feels like it never stops crescendoing. And that's exciting! But it also meant that I often felt spent after a single run. There is no real rest to be found here. Risk of Rain 2 is lo-fi beats to relax to with the bass boosted until the subwoofers catch fire. And explode. And bleed? What begins as a chill loot-shooty time quickly escalates to a frantic fight for your life where everything is burning and there's a big red target on your back. The lack of any strategic layer between the action did leave me feeling burned out. But the additive nature of the game's builds give Risk of Rain 2 the feeling of a pebble skittering along a rocky cliff. When the avalanche begins, enemies would be well advised to get out of your way. Leave Blank System Requirements : Minimum : CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD FX-8350 CPU SPEED: Info RAM: 4 GB OS: Windows 7 or newer, 64-bit VIDEO CARD: GeForce GTX 580 / AMD Radeon HD 7870 PIXEL SHADER: 5.0 VERTEX SHADER: 5.0 DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 1536 MB Recommended : CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X CPU SPEED: Info RAM: 4 GB OS: Windows 7 or newer, 64-bit VIDEO CARD: GeForce GTX 680 / AMD Radeon HD 7970 PIXEL SHADER: 5.0 VERTEX SHADER: 5.0 DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB

Contra

Xbox Series X: specs, price and how it compares to gaming laptops The Xbox Series X is just a few months away. The next-gen console promises to bring improved graphics, faster load times and more connectivity options to gamers, along with a handful of other compelling features. And let's not forget, with every new console is a fleet of new games to go with it. We're getting close to the Series X release so Microsoft has already revealed a surprising amount of information about the console, including its name, design, specs and even early game launches. Based on what we know, the Series X could be an excellent alternative, or complement, to one of the best gaming laptops. But there's still much we don't know about Series X, so we've compiled the official details Microsoft revealed along with the most credible rumors to give you a comprehensive picture of what to expect when the console releases in late 2020. Here's what we know so far about the Xbox Series X. Xbox Series X name and release date Formerly known as Project Scarlett, the console's official name is Xbox Series X. Microsoft announced the name (and other details) at the annual Game Awards in a move that shocked fans and media alike. It's possible the Series X is only one of multiple next-gen Xbox consoles. Rumors about a mysterious entry-level model codenamed Lockhart (possibly the Xbox Series S) have been floating around, and are all but confirmed. In fact, we're just waiting on Microsoft at this point because a next-gen controller leak verified by The Verge has "For Xbox Series X|S" written on the side of it Microsoft still hasn't given a more specific release date to the Xbox Series X than Holiday 2020. We probably won't have a specific date until its official announcement, but we can be fairly certain of a November launch. Why November? Looking at the release date of previous consoles, the original Xbox launched on Nov 15, the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One were both launched on Nov 22 and the Xbox One X was made available on November 7. We'd be surprised if Microsoft broke this trend for anything other than a late October release. After all, we need the console to ship in time to place it under the tree on December 25. Microsoft and Sony both confirmed a 2020 ship date, stating that coronavirus hasn't pushed the next-gen consoles into next year. Xbox Series X price Pricing will be an important piece of the Series X's commercial success. While we don't know exactly how much the console (or consoles) will cost, Microsoft promises to not repeat the same mistakes it made with the Xbox One. “I would say a learning from the Xbox One generation is we will not be out of position on power or price,” Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s Xbox and gaming chief, said in an interview with The Verge. When the Xbox One launched, it was sold with a 500GB hard drive, a controller and a Kinect sensor for an eye-popping $499. That made the Xbox One at $100 more expensive than the PS4 ($399). If we had to guess, the next console will cost between $350 and $550. This is the Xbox Series X, Microsoft's next-gen console | Laptop Mag If there are two versions, the entry-level model would likely be near the bottom range while the Xbox Series X could be closer to the high range. Xbox Series X specs Xbox revealed the Series X's specs in a March blog post. Here is a list of the specs: CPU: 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU GPU: 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU Die Size: 360.45 mm Process: 7nm Enhanced Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320mb bus Memory Bandwidth: 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s Internal Storage: 1 TB Custom NVME SSD I/O Throughput: 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) Expandable Storage: 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly) External Storage: USB 3.2 External HDD Support Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive Performance Target: 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS Before we get into the details, it's worth mentioning that some rumors claim there will be not just one, but two separate versions of the upcoming Xbox: a lower-end SKU nicknamed "Lockhart" and a premium model internally named "Anaconda." For the higher-tier model, we now know it will come with a 1TB SSD, which matches the Xbox One X's current storage. However, the Series X will have a custom NVMe SSD drive that should provide significantly faster speeds, which means shorter load times. In fact, a video demonstration compared load times between an HDD and SSD. The loading times in State of Decay 2 were about 9 seconds on the Xbox Series X vs. around one minute on the Xbox One X. If 1TB of storage isn't enough, there is an expandable storage slot in the back, which can give you an extra 1TB of storage, adding up to 2TB. We're also getting USB 3.2 external HDD support, which is nice for those who want to expand storage even further. Microsoft also shared how its "Quick Resume" feature would work with five games all in a suspended state Microsoft is targeting around 12 teraflops (TF) of power in the higher-end Xbox Series X, or twice that of the Xbox One X (the current most powerful console) and many times greater than the Xbox One S. The Xbox Series X will feature a custom AMD Zen 2 processor (7nm) with a custom Navi RDNA 2 GPU that supports ray tracing, 4K gaming at 60 frames, frame rates at up to 120 frames per second, 8K resolution support and the fastest GDDR6 memory, along with variable refresh rates. The console will come with 16GB of RAM and 10GB of memory bandwidth @ 560 GB/s or 6GB @ 336 GB/s. Ray tracing is critical in making next-gen games look better than ever. For those who aren't familiar, ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates how light bounces off an object. The result is lighting effects and shadows that look practically photorealistic. Microsoft revealed the power of ray tracing with a GIF of a Gears 5 screenshot on the Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series X. Additionally, Microsoft talked up how it's improving latency by relying on the Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) functionality, which automatically enables your display’s lowest latency mode when you start playing (this is a feature on current Xbox One consoles). The company also talked about Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is a new feature for HDMI 2.1 that helps eliminate screen tearing and reduces latency. These are incredibly important, especially when you're gaming at high resolutions, as you don't want to experience any sort of input lag. The lower-end "Lockhart" console will reportedly slot between the Xbox One X and One S in terms of power, with 4 teraflops of computing power. However, a recent report claims Lockhart, also called the Xbox Series X, could get up to 7.9TF. Xbox Series X games The next Xbox won't be released for another year, but we're starting to get a clear picture of its launch titles. We've already compiled all of the confirmed Xbox Series X games, and there are quite a few of them. The game on everyone's mind is Halo Infinite, the next journey for the beloved soldier, Master Chief. The type started with a teaser trailer shown at E3 2018 and a brief glimpse of the faceless protagonist in the Xbox Series X announcement video. We then got a revealing gameplay trailer at Xbox's big first-party games event. Reactions to the extended clip were mixed. While most people agree that Halo Infinite is staying true to the franchise's roots, many criticized the presentation. The response was so vocal that the devs at 343 Industries promised to make improvements in the future. When Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Series X, it did so alongside the reveal of Senua's Saga: HellBlade 2, which became the first game officially announced for Xbox Series X. The footage shown at The Game Awards look absolutely stunning and was captured directly on the console in real-time. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine was confirmed at E3 2019 then delayed until 2020-2021. Given the new release date, we'd be surprised if Rainbow Six Quarantine wasn't available on both current and next-gen consoles. The same goes for Gods and Monsters and Watch Dogs: Legion, both of which were delayed into 2020-2021. Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most anticipated upcoming games, could also come to next-gen consoles. CD Projekt Red president Adam Kicinski said to VG247 last year, “The game is developed in such a way that it can use very powerful future equipment, but I can not tell you more beyond that today, as no future generation of consoles have been announced so far.” That doesn't confirm anything, but it certainly suggests an intent to bring Cyberpunk 2077, which is set to be released on April 26, 2020, to Xbox Series X and the PS5. Xbox Game Pass for PC: Is It Worth It? | Laptop Mag Bethesda, the studio that brought us The Elder Scrolls and the Fallout franchise is set to release Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, although details on those titles are sparse. EA confirmed that Dice will have extra time to make Battlefield 6, and that the upcoming first-person shooter would arrive on next-gen consoles in 2021. Specific consoles weren't named but we'd be shocked if the Xbox Series X wasn't one of them. What about virtual reality? The next Xbox will not support virtual reality. While Microsoft has championed VR on PCs, the company is less keen about its place on consoles. Xbox lead Phil Spencer said an interview with Stevivor that "nobody is asking for VR" and that customers know to go to PC if they want to play VR. He went on to say “nobody’s selling millions and millions [of VR units]...“I think we might get there. But yeah, that’s not where our focus is." if you want to play VR games on a console then buy a PlayStation 5 as Sony is expected to double-down on the budding technology with a PlayStation VR 2 headset. Xbox Series X vs gaming laptops The AMD Navi GPU powering the Xbox Series X is expected to rival Nvidia's RTX 2080 GPU, which means it should be able to keep up with the best laptops when it comes to graphics performance. Alienware's Area-51m gaming laptop played Rise of the Tomb Raider at 92 frames per second while the Asus ROG Mothership notched 84 fps at 1080p resolution on Very High settings. Unless the Navi GPU somehow blows the doors off the RTX 2080 powering those beastly gaming rigs (we doubt that), the Xbox Series X will need to dial down the settings to reach Microsoft's 4K at 60fps goal. Still, what Microsoft is claiming can't be ignored: the Xbox Series X will be crazy powerful and should offer better graphics-per-dollar than any gaming laptop on the market. Xbox Series X design We already know exactly how the Series X looks about a year before it's set to launch. The console's simple rectangular "tower" design is reminiscent of a desktop PC. There really isn't much to the design, which is exactly why it's so bold. Microsoft is replacing the aggressive angles and odd shapes of previous consoles with a refined, clean aesthetic that follows the same design principles as its laptops. On the front of the Xbox Series X is an illuminated Xbox logo and a disk slot, which will be a relief to folks who still buy physical copies. The top of the console is more interesting. Hiding under a centered top grille is a bright green circle. It's hard to tell from the reveal trailer, but it appears to be green LEDs or a painted component. The Best PC Games to Play Right Now | Laptop Mag There is a heated discussion about the Xbox Series X's size. It looks massive in the renders but the folks at Gamespot say the console is three times taller than the new controller and about as wide. That makes the Series X relatively small, but still potentially problematic if you're trying to fit it in an entertainment center. It helps that the Xbox Series X can be positioned vertically or horizontally. Also, the larger size allows for a single, massive fan that pushes hot air out the top. As a result, the Xbox Series X should be no louder than the Xbox One. "There's always this tension between design and the kind of acoustics and cooling and function of the console," Spencer told Gamespot, "and we were not going to compromise on function. I'm just incredibly impressed with the design that they came back with." Xbox Series X controller While the console is daring in its simplicity, Microsoft made only minor updates to the next-gen controller. At first glance, the Series X controller looks identical to the one for the Xbox One. There are some minor but important differences. The biggest update is the addition of a share button. Located in the center of the new controller, the new button will let Xbox gamers instantly send content to friends with the press of a button, much as you can do with the PS4's DualShock 4. Other updates we won't notice until we've gotten our hands on the new controller include a new hybrid D-pad and improved input latency, so there is no delay between when you press a button and what happens in the game. The new controller is also a touch smaller than the previous, which Microsoft says will be more comfortable for most people. Microsoft is making up for past mistakes with decisions that benefit gamers. Not only is the old Xbox controller compatible with the new Xbox Series X but the new controller is backward compatible with the Xbox One.

Google suggests trust tokens as part of ending support of third-party cookies Google has announced that as part of its effort to provide users with more ad transparency, it will begin testing the idea of using "trust tokens" which, unlike cookies, will allow website owners to authenticate users to advertisers without giving up their identities. The effort is part of its Privacy Sandbox initiative launched in response to user complaints about advertisers and unknown agents tracking their actions on the internet. When you go to a website and create a login, software run by the owner of the website creates a cookie—a smile data file—that is saved to your computer. It is how the website is able to remember you the next time you visit. But very often, another entity on a web page creates a cookie, generally with the express purpose of tracking your web activity. This kind of cookie is called a third-party cookie, and in addition to tracking your activity, it can sometimes be used for fraudulent purposes. Because of this, the makers of browsers such as Safari and Firefox have already blocked them. Google, on the other hand, has been slower to block them because they have been used as part of anti-bot and anti-fraud systems by website owners. In this new effort, Google is working to provide a means for preserving such abilities while still blocking third-party cookies—trust tokens, they suggest, should do the trick—but it will take some time. Google's timeline calls for removing support for third-party cookies in 2022. Google describes its trust token technology as an API that can generate unique cryptographically signed tokens for each user of a website—it can be used by a website owner to let advertisers know if a visitor is a user or a bot—but would not be of any use to third parties. Most importantly, trust tokens could not be used to track user activity on the internet, because to third parties, they would all look the same. Google notes that the API and the software is still a work in progress—the company posted an intro for interested parties on its blog page last month.

Updated: Ford Kuga PHEV deliveries halted due to battery fires The plug-in hybrid SUV arrived in showrooms only a couple of months ago but has been deemed a success so far, accounting for half of the Kugas registered across Europe in the second quarter of this year. However, Ford has released a statement admitting the sale of Kuga PHEVs built prior to 26 June 2020 has been suspended "temporarily". The statement also says "information from the field indicates that four vehicle fires are likely to have been caused by the overheating of the high-voltage batteries". The "potential concern" has not only led to deliveries and sales of new models being stopped; buyers who have received their cars have also been contacted and told not to charge their high-voltage battery "until further notice". They have been asked to keep the car in its "EV Auto" drive mode until further The brand has now issued a safety recall for all affected models, and is writing to customers to book vehicles in for remedial work from later this month once the required parts are available. It's not yet known how difficult the problem will be to resolve, with unverified suggestions claiming it's related to the battery's charging module overheating. Ford admits that this overheating can occur "when the vehicle is parked and unattended or is charged". Although it's not believed that any injuries have been reported as a result of the fires, the fact that multiple fires have been reported on a relatively new car is cause for concern. Also unclear is why the problem affects only Kugas built prior to the end of June. It's believed that up to 27,000 cars globally are affected. Fires in combustion-engined vehicles are nothing new, but they're rarer in EVs, due to their relatively small numbers. EV fires can be volatile, however, with first responders and firefighters now provided specific EV training to ensure the high-voltage power system is switched off as a priority.

Coronavirus and South Africa's toxic relationship with alcohol South Africa's ban on alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the BBC's Vumani Mkhize to reflect on why he and his country have such a toxic relationship with drink. I was a 17-year-old in my penultimate year at school when I had my first blind-drunk experience, which led to my expulsion in 2002. I was returning to Ixopo High School in KwaZulu-Natal province, which is surrounded by undulating green hills so famously described by anti-apartheid writer Alan Paton in the seminal novel Cry, the Beloved Country. Paton was actually a teacher there in the 1920s and a handwritten first page of his novel hung in the school library. It made me want to emulate him - to have pages from a book I would write on the library's walls. But that was before I got distracted. Disembarking from the minibus taxi after the school holidays, my best friend and I took off our ties and blazers and headed straight to the town's nearest bottle store where we bought two quarts of beer and a half-bottle of vodka. The shop assistant had no qualms about selling alcohol to two wet-behind-the-ears boys, which says a lot about how negligent some establishments can be when it comes to serving underage children. We drank behind an abandoned building - and I loved the feeling immediately, even if I wasn't so enamoured with the taste. By the time we dragged ourselves up the hill to the boarding school, it was dark and the gates were closed. The headmaster was summoned; our fate sealed. I wish this had been the last such incident, but in the years to come I had many more blackouts and unseemly experiences. But I felt no shame - I wore the blackouts as a misguided badge of honour, shared amongst friends while boasting how many cases of beer I drank in a weekend. Apartheid-era drinking ban In the broader South African context my experience is not unique and I'm sure countless people will have more harrowing stories to tell. The paradox when it comes to South Africa's drinking culture is that while the majority of adults abstain, those that drink, do so heavily. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the majority of drinkers in the country as binge drinkers. This means around 59% of alcohol consumers drink more than 60g of pure alcohol on at least one occasion a month - that is six alcoholic drinks, four more than the daily recommended amount for men. Alcohol consumption comparisons Source: WHO's Global status report on alcohol and health 2018 South African Medical Research Council's Charles Parry, who has spent more than two decades researching the country's fraught relationship with alcohol, believes there's an inextricable link between our drinking culture and our past. "There was a period of time when alcohol was not available to black South Africans," Prof Parry tells me about the days before white-minority rule ended in 1994. This led to drinkers going to illegal bars, with many black people seeing it as an act of defiance against the apartheid regime. In the Cape Winelands, coloured (mixed-race) labourers were often paid in alcohol in what was called "the dop system". Although long since abolished, the harmful legacy of that system is still pervasive in many coloured communities across the Western Cape. While restrictions on alcohol in the past were largely based on racist policies, current restrictions are a matter of life and death.

Oddly Satisfying Video Made with Your Mental Relaxation in Mind

i will vote to DH2

Game Information : Initial release date: June 1, 2020 Composer: Inon Zur Genre: Role-playing video game Platform: Microsoft Windows Developers: GATO STUDIO, Gato Salvaje S.L. Publishers: GATO STUDIO, Gato Salvaje S.L. The first meeting between the Celts and their gods, the Tuatha de Danaan should have been a time of celebration and enlightenment. But, when the negotiations go catastrophically wrong, you find yourself near death- and untethered from time! The land has been overtaken by magickal corruptions, and the kingdom, once peaceful, has splintered into multiple factions warring for the throne. The Celtic culture- a complex tapestry of different religions, cultures, mortal and immortal human races, werewolves, druids, goblins, and monsters threatens to tear at every seam. Will you support the immature yet rightful heir, or the pragmatic general? What alliances will you forge, what friendships will you foster, what romances will you pursue, and… what will you do when you are suddenly thrust into Medieval Spain? You discover, because you have been untethered from time, that you are able to travel between the Celtic and Medieval eras. Things look pretty different in Galicia under Christianity than they did under Celtic rule. Where are your immortal allies now, and what has become of the souls of your mortal friends, reincarnated? Could the corrupt magicks that interfered during your meeting with the Tuatha have led to the destruction of all the Celtic world held dear? Or was a larger force of politics and religion at fault- or, perhaps, to thank for the changes the world has experienced? MAIN FEATURES The Waylanders is an exciting fantasy RPG inspired by classics such as Dragon Age: Origins and Baldur’s Gate. * Unique, party-based experience that time travels between two distinct eras: Celtic and Medieval * Story: written by international acclaimed scriptwriters: Emily Grace Buck (Lead Writer) and Mike Laidlaw (Consultant) * Music by an Emmy award-winner,3 times BAFTA nominee and Fallout’s main theme composer, Inon Zur. * Multiple endings: choices made in one time period can have dire consequences in the other, meaning players will feel the impact of their decisions in surprising and shocking ways. * Strategy and innovation: gameplay features unique formations for deep, tactical combat * Full character customization: 6 basic and 30 advanced classes, 5 playable races based on Celtic mythology and different origins for your character * Companions: they are an integral part of any RPG experience, and The Waylanders offers a variety of traveling companions that can join you on your journey. The player will be able to talk to their companions in-depth, discover their past, play loyalty missions, and even experience romances with them. Mature Content Description The developers describe the content like this: This game contains partial nudity and may not be appropriate for all audiences Technical Specifications of This Release. Game Version : Initial Release Interface Language: English Audio Language : English Game File Name : The_Waylanders.zip Game Download Size : 31 GB MD5SUM : 637ec1054ee3fae1fc1f4abb5d1635b1 System Requirements of The Waylanders Minimum: Memory:4 GB. Graphics Card:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050. CPU:Intel Core i5-7600K. THE WAYLANDERS File Size:40 GB. OS:64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or 64-bit Windows 10. Recommended : OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or 64-bit Windows 10. Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-7600K 3.8Ghz / Ryzen 7 1700. Memory: 8 GB RAM. Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060. Storage: 40 GB available space.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class E450 cabriolet 2020 review What is it? Since the demise of the BMW 6 Series Cabriolet, roofless versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class have enjoyed something of a monopoly in the posh, four-seat convertible marketplace. An Audi S5 Cabriolet is smaller, and not quite as plush; while Munich’s latest 8 Series drop-top is considerably pricier, a bit more focused in its dynamic character, and more or a natural rival for the likes of Mercedes’ own S-Class Cabriolet anyway. This absence of any bonafide competitors has given the E-Class a healthy dose of breathing room, then. And while Mercedes-Benz will no doubt appreciate that space, it hasn’t afforded the men and women of Stuttgart an opportunity to sit back and let this fifth-generation, ‘W213’ series model tick over unchanged until the end of its lifespan. For 2020, the E-Class range has been facelifted, and in the case of this range-topping E450 Cabriolet (AMG’s E53 models firmly to one side), that facelift is a fairly significant one. In addition to that snoutier, more visually aggressive looking front end and lightly updated interior that’s common to all new E-Class models, Mercedes has also seen fit to swap the previous E450’s twin-turbocharged V6 out for its new 3.0-litre, single-turbo in-line six. Codenamed ‘M256’, it’s the same motor that has already appeared in the likes of the latest CLS, S-Class and GLE models; and features the same 48v integrated starter-generator technology - which Mercedes has dubbed EQ Boost - to provide a degree of extra punch and help fill any accelerative flat spots. In E450 guise, the engine alone kicks out a meaty 362bhp and 369lb ft, while the EQ Boost system can dish out an additional 22bhp and 184lb ft at a moments notice. As was the case in the old E450, this is all directed to the road via a nine-speed automatic transmission and Merc’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. What's it like? As a machine for lazily wafting about from place to place, this left-hand-drive E-Class is really rather lovely. Drop down into its plush, expansive cabin and the first thing you’ll notice is a redesigned steering wheel. There’s now a much larger centre boss, while new capacitive controls replace many of the physical buttons that adorned the previous model’s helm. Upholstered in leather, it complements the E450’s lightly revised interior wonderfully; this is an environment that balances the more traditional wood and leather finishing elements with the sharp, responsive digital screens that straddle the dashtop with impressive finesse. The chairs themselves are large and comfortable, but with ample support should you decide to ditch the E450’s naturally laid-back disposition and press on a bit. Adjustability is excellent, and the presence of seat-heaters and Mercedes’ ‘airscarf’ neck warmers will go a long way to keeping you toasty when it’s cold out and you decide to brave the elements. Which you’ll likely be inclined to do most of the time. Sure, with its folding canvas roof locked in place, it’s hard to imagine that the convertible E450 loses out on much in the way of refinement compared with its hard-top sibling; but fold it away (a job that takes 20sec and can be done at low speeds), and the E-Class continues to do a fine job of shielding you from the outside world. There is of course a lot more wind noise when travelling at pace, but with Mercedes’ ‘aircap’ wind deflector in play, any lengthy lockdown hairdo you might be sporting won’t be blown about too ferociously. Although that new EQ Boost-assisted straight-six is good for a 5.2sec 0-62mph time, the E450 Cabriolet is very much a car for sauntering about in. There’s an appealingly relaxed, yet aristocratic nature about its motive character, which sort of puts me in mind of the hookah-smoking caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. With the roof down you get a better taste of the straight-six motor’s sonorous, tuneful soundtrack, which develops from a languid growl into a rich roar as you use the extent of the throttle pedal’s travel. Acceleration is wonderfully creamy and consistent, and the engine pulls strongly right the way through its rev range. Hook-up from step-off is graceful enough to avoid complaint, and Mercedes’ 9-speed auto ‘box swaps cogs with slick efficiency while on the move. Use the steering wheel-mounted paddles to change gear yourself, however, and you’ll find the E450 does so willingly, although the transmission is a bit too over-eager to revert back to automatic mode if left unattended. This can be remedied by opting for the Manual drive mode, but it proved difficult to then match this with the sportier engine mapping settings. This was a bit disappointing, but perhaps not entirely surprising given this car’s natural target audience. Our German-market test car’s optional adjustable air suspension lent it a ride that was wonderfully soft-edged and absorptive when set to comfort, but not drastically short on body control when ramped up to Sport and Sport+ modes. With the dampers set to their most aggressive setting you’re certainly still aware of the car’s mass, size and body roll; and combined with a steering rack that’s less up on its toes and more reclined on a chaise lounge in its responses you certainly get the sense that the E450 Cabriolet isn’t a car that’s been set-up with fast driving at the forefront of its mind. But that said grip levels are high, that slower steering rack is still accurate and it weights up rather nicely through fast, gradual corners. The Mercedes’ width does give you something to think about though, and in truth it proves a far more enjoyable machine when you’re simply punting about. That said, if grandad does happen to be feeling a bit randy on his way to the golf course, there’s still some fun to be had here. Should I buy one? If you prefer your four-seat convertibles to be more relaxed and comforting in their demeanour, but with an imperious punch up their sleeve, then sure. As a long-distance, open-top cruiser there really isn’t much that competes with the E450 Cabriolet save, perhaps, the BMW 840i Cabriolet. But again, that’s more of a natural rival to the drop-top versions of the larger S-Class. Although Mercedes hasn’t announced exact UK pricing just yet, based on the figures attached to its predecessor you’d expect this E450 Cabriolet to be a fair bit cheaper than the BMW too. In AMG Line trim, the old E400 had a sticker price of £55,715 - so perhaps this new E450 will come in at just over £60,000 or so. By contrast, the BMW starts at £80,935. And if the E450 is a bit pricey? Well, there’ll be a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel alternatives to choose from too. But really, in a car like this, it’ll be the six-cylinder that you want, won’t it? Mercedes E450 Cabriolet 4Matic AMG Line specification Where Bedfordshire, UK On sale Autumn 2020 Price £60,000 (est) Engine 6 cyls, 2999cc, turbocharged, petrol, plus electric starter/generator Power 362bhp at 5500-6100rpm (plus 22bhp) Torque 369lb ft at 1600-4500rpm (plus 184lb ft) Gearbox 9-spd auto Kerb weight 2040kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 5.2sec Fuel economy 34.4mpg CO2 tbc Rivals Audi S5 Cabriolet, BMW 840i Cabriolet

Greece floods: At least five killed after Evia island storms At least five people have been killed in flooding caused by thunderstorms and torrential rains on the Greek island of Evia. Officials said victims included an eight-month-old baby and two people in their 80s. Rescuers found their bodies in houses in the village of Politika. Search efforts are continuing for two other people reported missing. The flooding has blocked roads and damaged houses on the island, north-east of Athens. Officials said the baby died after floodwaters submerged a ground-floor flat. The parents were unharmed. Hours earlier, a man and woman in their 80s were found unconscious in two separate houses. They were later pronounced dead in hospital, the fire service said. Two other unidentified bodies have been recovered by rescue workers. Dozens of people have been evacuated from affected areas, and rescue workers used bulldozers to lift some stranded residents to safety. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his "profound pain for the loss of lives". He said he would visit the island - the country's second largest after Crete - on Monday. Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias earlier told reporters that his thoughts were with "the people who didn't make it". "We are faced with phenomena that we haven't experienced before," he said. Storm Thalia hit several regions of mainland Greece on Saturday, but the weather was improving on Sunday. Local officials in Evia said two rivers had burst their banks and filled roads with mud.

Protection against terrorist attacks with homemade explosives Terrorist attacks often feature the use of homemade explosives. For the police and security forces to be able to take appropriate precautions and assess the damage after an attack, they need access to the right kind of tools. A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI, has now developed a sophisticated risk-analysis system to help prevent such attacks. At the same time, the software-based system assists with the forensic investigation of such incidents. It can therefore support the police to foil attacks with homemade explosives and protect the public at major gatherings and other events. In recent years and decades, there have been many terrorist attacks in the EU that have involved the use of homemade explosives. Not only are the materials for such explosives readily available, but the resulting devices—which can differ substantially in construction and size—can be easily deposited almost anywhere. While homemade bombs are a constant threat, the actual risk posed by an explosive device may vary sig-nificantly. In order to protect people at major events such as Christmas markets or city marathons, the police need to be able to analyze this risk in advance. On the other hand, when it proves impossible to prevent an attack, forensic experts are called in to assess the level of damage and gather evidence for a future court hearing. Here, it may be necessary to perform a reconstruction of the explosion, which is costly and time-consuming. A software tool to fight terrorism Researchers from Fraunhofer EMI working on the SUSQRA project have therefore developed a software tool that analyzes and quantifies the expected damage from a homemade bomb with almost no need for reconstruction. This gives the police a system that helps not only with the prevention of an attack but also with the forensic assessment of the potential damage. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and coordinated by VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH. "After a bomb attack, the BKA (the Bundeskriminalamt, Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office) has to perform a reconstruction of the explosion so that the court can determine the appropriate penalty," explains Dr. Katharina Ross, mathematician and research fellow at Fraunhofer EMI. "But with our tool, you can calculate the damage that would be caused by a specific explosive device. This is also useful in the case of bombs that do not actually detonate. We use simulations to generate information on parameters such as the distance traveled by flying shrapnel, the type and amount of explosive, and the type and thickness of the material used to encase the explosive. It is not always possible to dispense with an actual reconstruction of an explosion, which is costly and time-consuming, but our software tool does substantially reduce the requirement for this." The work of the research team focuses on homemade explosive devices. These can vary enormously in type, ranging from repurposed beverage cans to pipe bombs. To evaluate the potential damage of an explosion, it is necessary to determine the impact of the resulting pressure wave and flying shrapnel. As a rule, the thicker the material encasing the device, the heavier and more dangerous are the fragments produced by the explosion. Two of the key factors that affect the scale of damage are the mass of the fragments and their velocity. A unique feature of the software tool is its ability to analyze the behavior of not only rounded but also angular and intricately shaped fragments, about which little research exists. Test denotations to check the accuracy of simulation To assess the degree of danger, a distinction is made between three different types of shrapnel: harmless, liable to cause injury and fatal. The potential damage of an explosion is calculated on the basis of special numerical simulations. This in turn delivers a risk assessment. "We can calculate which fragments are produced and accurately predict their initial velocity and angle of projection," Ross explains. "On the basis of this information, we can then develop precise algorithms." The findings from these numerical simulations are supplemented by actual test explosions performed with a typical homemade explosive corresponding to the one used in the device. Various applications for supporting the police work Not only will the police benefit from this expert tool, but it will also enable event organizers and municipal authorities to review various safety concepts in advance of mass events such as city marathons or large-scale religious gatherings. Based on a range of variables, they can determine, for example, whether and where runners and spectators are safe, as well as factor in the impact of preventive measures or evacuation zones. At the same time, should the attack be foiled by police intelligence, the tool can be used to reconstruct the incident and quantify the damage that would have been caused. At present, the research team is working to optimize the user interface of the demonstration software on the basis of feedback from project partners (see box). An initial test series with explosive devices of complex geometries has shown that the simulated results are a close match to the actual explosions. Further simulations for the creation of forensic and preventive scenarios are to take place this fall.

New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 video leaks — and people are complaining about this pesky feature Leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 video highlights controversial crease To Samsung’s credit, the Korean tech giant listened to the critiques that haunted the original Fold. The Galaxy team learned from their mistakes, refined the foldable smartphone and consequently created the Galaxy Z Fold 2. As a result of Samsung’s tweaking, the next-gen iteration now features a larger 6.2-inch cover screen instead of the 4.6-inch panel that many critics lambasted. When you unfold the book-like, second-gen smartphone, you’ll discover a tablet-like screen that’s been upgraded to a 7.6-inch display — its predecessor sported a 7.3-inch panel. Samsung also managed to shrink the notch, previously a thick eyesore on the original Fold, into stunning a Infinity-O design with a small front-facing camera. However, there is one flaw that Samsung hasn’t been able to resolve, and that’s the tablet-mode groove found in the middle of the Fold. Some people aren’t bothered by it, but others don’t like the feel of running their fingers over an intrusive crease while navigating through the UI. While the crease was damn-near invisible when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 2 during the virtual Unpacked event, a new leaked video posted by Ben Geskin revealed that the groove is still conspicuous — and people aren’t happy about it. “The crease in the middle is still prominent as ever,” Twitter user ArmApple said. “Honestly, that crease puts me off. The phone looks so so good, but I don't want my display having that down the middle,” Tom Mercer tweeted. That being said, I have a soft spot for the Korean tech giant. While the crease may be a minor inconvenience, we can't ignore that Samsung achieved some incredible feats this year, including the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s bendable-glass display using Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) technology. We are still in the infancy stages of foldable smartphones, so I’m willing to cut Samsung some slack as it continues to discover innovative ways to fix its products’ defects. I look forward to the day Samsung says, “We’ve gotten rid of the crease!” If you're curious about the Galaxy Z Fold 2's price tag, as of this writing, it is unknown. But for reference, the previous Fold cost $1,980 at launch. Samsung revealed that it will share more details about the Galazy Z Fold 2 on Sept. 1.

Oddly Satisfying Video that Relaxes You Before Sleep - Most Satisfying Videos 2020

Razer Cynosa V2 RBG Gaming Keyboard: Gear Review Razer’s original Cynosa keyboard was an instant classic, a best-seller that took RGB lighting and delivered it to an entry level market. The Cynosa V2 expands on the fan favourite with a number of innovative, unexpected, and much-appreciated new features. The V2 upgrade seems focused on quality of life improvements, meaning the keyboard doesn’t have an altogether different feel to its predecessor. That said, when you experience the new features, you’ll find it difficult to turn back. So what has changed? Let’s dive in. Individually lit keys, media shortcuts, cable routing, and more: Razer lift a fan favourite that little bit higher on the Cynosa V2 RGB gaming keyboard. Like its little brother, the Cynosa V2 uses quiet, cushioned keys that won’t be heard a couple of rooms away, or picked up by your mic if you’re streaming or plugged into voice chat. They’re nice to the touch, sitting flat by default but able to propped at an angle if that’s your preference. The cherry-on-top improvements start with an upgrade to your RGB functionality. The V2 uses Razer’s same Chroma software to power the RGB engine, but this time each key is able to be individually lit, allowing for exponential new levels of customisation. The software, as many users will know, is user-friendly and ultra-deep, not to mention compatible with over 100 games straight out of the box. Dedicated media keys are also new, a super useful addition for anyone who games while listening to their choice tunes. Not having to tab out of your game to pause, change songs, or adjust volume is a huge life-saver – especially in higher-stress or super immersive titles. Another welcome upgrade is the three cable routing options – meaning you can choose whether your cable comes out of the keyboard’s top left, top centre, or top right. Chase that neat setup! The build feels sturdy is and apparently spill resistant – though admittedly, I’m always a little too timid to test that one. It’s a full-length keyboard with the numpad included, and the media keys fit nicely into the layout without increasing the unit’s overall size. With a retail price of $119.95 AUD, the Cynosa V2 is aimed at entry-level keyboard buyers, offering huge bang for buck. An RGB keyboard can be a huge improvement to your gaming space, and with a few welcome new features swirling in the mix, the Cynosa V2 is destined to be as po[CENSORED]r as its wonderful predecessor.

Apple’s Surprise iPhone 12 Pro Upgrade Suddenly Confirmed We already have a lot of information about the (expanded) iPhone 12 line-up and (with two exceptions) they look ready to impress. But now we know Apple has added a surprise upgrade which no-one saw coming. According to new supply chain images and schematics attained by hugely po[CENSORED]r YouTuber Filip Koroy (aka EverythingApplePro), Apple is fitting a ring of magnets into the chassis of its iPhone 12 models. Moreover, the discovery has left industry insiders baffled over its function. 08/06 Update: EverythingApplePro has released a further image of an official iPhone 12 case, which shows the same circular magnet system built in. This confirms the new system to ensure easy alignment with wireless chargers. Moreover, it may just answer the secret of how Apple has managed to resurrect its AirPower wireless charger. Originally, Apple planned to cover the charger in wireless rings so devices could be placed anywhere and charge, but the sheer number of them caused excessive heat build up. Integrating magnets sidesteps this, enabling easy alignment of iPhone 12 models on the mat while also reducing the number of wireless charging rings Apple needs to fit into AirPower. The move also feels like a clear placeholder for the company's 2021 port-less iPhone. 08/07 Update: having taken one step forward, the iPhone 12 line-up has suffered a clear step back. Consistently reliable display analyst Ross Young states that "Our sources indicate no 120Hz hardware on new iPhones. You need 120Hz driver ICs." This would be a significant blow because, while 120Hz was not expected to be available on iPhone 12 models at launch, the phones were tipped to ship with the necessary hardware to enable it at a later date. Ruling out the feature completely is likely to be a consequence of Apple's decision to equip iPhone 12 models with surprisingly small batteries. High refresh rate displays have proved po[CENSORED]r on rival phones over the last year due to their superior response and smoothness, so it is disappointing to learn that Apple has failed to bridge this gap in 2020. Koroy theorizes that it is “Potentially mounting or charging related, possibly even for a 'snap in' wireless charger solution”. This is highly plausible, especially if Apple is looking to road test options ahead of the iPhone going wireless-only in 2021. Could it even be related to their surprisingly small batteries? That said, other leakers disagree with iHacktu Pro saying it is for inverted charging while Komiya specifically states it is “Not for reverse charging” but doesn't offer an alternative use. Consequently, for the first time in several years, Apple appears to have stumped the leaker community. Personally, I feel Koroy has the best explanation but will this come to all models or make the final design? Either way, the discovery has added some genuine curiosity given what we already know about the iPhone 12’s new design, performance upgrades, radical camera tech, expanded screen sizes and faster charging. But could it also be a factor in their higher prices? With the iPhone 12 range officially delayed and the release likely fractured, at least we now have a little more time to work it out.

New Bentley Bentayga Speed to be unveiled next week Bentley has confirmed that the facelifted Speed variant of its Bentayga SUV will touch down next Wednesday (12 August) and released official images of a camouflaged prototype. The outgoing Bentayga Speed is the fastest production SUV on sale, with its 190mph top speed giving it a 0.5mph edge over the Lamborghini Urus. It has only been on sale for around a year but will now be brought into line with the updated standard car, revealed in June. Given how recently the model was added to the range, it is unlikely to receive any substantial mechanical tweaks. That means the current version's 6.0-litre W12 - a tuned variant of that found in the standard car - will be carried over largely unmodified, with a power output of 626bhp and 664lb ft. If that's the case, the Bentayga Speed will not go on sale here, following Bentley's decision to retain just the 542bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 for the facelifted SUV in Europe. The standard car will also receive a V6 petrol-electric plug-in hybrid option later this year. Despite the prototype's camouflage wrap, it's apparent that the top-rung Bentayga will be marked out by black trim elements and wheels, a quad-exit sports exhaust and subtle front and rear diffusers. As with the current car, a large downforce-enhancing rear wing will also feature. Inside, the Speed will gain the same upgraded touchscreen-based infotainment system as the standard car, along with extended rear leg room, a digital instrument display and reshaped dashboard. Expected bespoke features include contrast stitching, Speed badging, an illuminated 'Speed' treadplate and Alcantara upholstery. Pricing and specification details have not yet been announced, but the Speed should go on sale in core US, Middle East and Asian markets later this year, with options including carbon-ceramic brake discs, mood lighting and 22-way adjustable front seats.

Coronavirus: Preston young people targeted as lockdown imposed Young people in Preston are being urged "Don't kill Granny" as new lockdown measures come into force. Extra restrictions were imposed after Covid-19 infections rose in the city. Adrian Phillips, chief executive of Preston City Council, said it was "alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate". "I know our director of public health has said 'Don't kill Granny' to young people to try and focus the message,'" he said. Since midnight, residents in the Lancashire city are banned from mixing with people from outside their social bubble in homes, gardens, and indoor venues, such as pubs. They can meet in groups of up to six - or more than six if they are from two households - in outdoor areas such as parks and beer gardens. The restrictions will be reviewed next week, with any changes due to be announced by Friday. It comes after similar rules banning residents from visiting people's homes and gardens in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire came into force on 31 July. Socialising between people from different households in pubs and homes had been seen as the main cause for the spike, local authorities said. Impact among poor Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire's director of public health, told BBC Breakfast that "47% of positive cases are in younger people - 30 years and below". "Contrary to the common myth that this affects the south Asian groups the most, we have found that it's roughly affecting white ethnic backgrounds as well as south Asian groups in Preston almost equally," he said. Local officials said the spike was particularly among those living in poor socio-economic conditions, including inner city and rural areas. There were 61 new cases in Preston in the seven days to 4 August. This is the equivalent of 42.6 cases per 100,000 people - up from 21.7 per 100,000 in the previous seven days. Mr Phillips said younger people "often have less symptoms but they do take it back to their household". He said local authorities were working with community groups who were doing "peer-to-peer communications". "It's just trying so many different ways to get the message to all communities, to all areas of our city that the virus is still something to be really wary of," he added. 'Calm understanding' Nadeem Ashfaq, from inter-faith group the Light Foundation, said parts of the city had been "really quiet" overnight and on Saturday morning. "Everywhere I have been, I see people with masks," he said. The announcement of new lockdown restrictions had not been a shock, he said, as people had been made aware of the city's rising infection rate in recent weeks by local authorities. "If you look at other towns and places, you can sense there was an upheaval. I think in Preston there seems to be a calm understanding," he added. Hannah Heaton, 28, said she thought the new restrictions were confusing. "It doesn't make sense that you can't go to houses but you can meet people outside or go to pubs," she said. "My grandparents rely on me to help them and now going to see them has been taken away from me. "There's nothing I can do about it. I think certain people haven't been taking it seriously because they don't think it will affect them." Charlene Gardner, 38, said: "The pubs around us were still 30 or 40-deep outside last night. "It won't mean any changes for us because we haven't been seeing family anyway, but I saw some reaction online last night and I think a lot of people aren't going to listen to it." Many people in the main Fishergate shopping street were wearing masks, and a face mask seller, who did not want to be named, said the city was less busy than the previous weekend. "You see the older people wearing masks but the younger ones don't. The problem is in the pubs and they don't wear masks there," he said.