Sxynix

Development for the next-generation BMW 7 Series is well underway, though that doesn’t mean it’s nearing its reveal. A debut is likely a year or more away, and all we’ve seen so far are camouflaged test vehicles. They’ve been completely covered in camo, though there are noticeable design differences still visible, and a new set of unofficial renderings from Kolesa.ru preview what the luxury offering could look like when it does arrive. Spy photos have shown the automaker attempting to hide the car’s new face, which appears to feature a much more square design. That is translated over to the rendering with the lower fascia design line wrapping up and around the long, flat headlights. The rendering also features a normal-sized grille, avoiding the large kidney grille from the 4 Series. The rendering also features the flush door handles found on the i4. The rear-end rendering takes a few more liberties in its design. Spy photos have shown the car with thick camouflage and cladding at the rear, obscuring the entire rear-end design. However, the rendering features nearly full-width taillights, extending the current design, sitting above a stylized rear bumper and trapezoidal tailpipes. It’s a cleaner rear-end look than what’s offered on the current-generation 7 Series, though the test vehicles will have to drop some cladding and camo to begin to understand its design. There’s a good chance that the new 7 Series won’t debut until 2022, which would put it arriving in the US for the 2023 model year. BMW will offer an all-electric version, rumored to be called the i7, though details about what other powertrains it’ll feature remain elusive. The i7 is expected to offer more than 300 miles of range while pumping 536 horsepower (399 kilowatts) to all four wheels. It’ll compete against the upcoming Mercedes EQS, an electric version of its iconic S-Class, which Mercedes just updated for 2021.

Nickname: @CyBeR Age:18 Link with your forum profile: https://csblackdevil.com/forums/profile/81287-cyber/ How much time do you spend on our channel ts every day?: 6-7 Where do you want to moderate? Check this topic: Free Time . ScreenShot as you have over 30 hours on CSBD TS3 Server (type ''!info'' in CSBD Guard) :https://www.zinguard.net/user/5f99b3143445a3aceebdff07/info Link with your last request to join in our Team: - Last 5 topics that you made on our section: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 .

New Delhi| Jagran Lifestyle Desk: International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 every year and all migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights. As the change is commencing, treating every migrant with dignity is one of the fundamental requirements in today's world. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of commitments during its first-ever summit on large movements of refugees and migrants to enhance the protection of refugees and migrants. These commitments are known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (NY Declaration). However, it was on December 4, 2020, when the UN General Assembly (UNGA), acknowledged the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, and thus proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day. This day is observed to mark the anniversary of the 1990 adoption by UNGA of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. The global migration pact, known as the ‘Global Compact for Safe, orderly and Regular Migration’, was formally adopted by 164 Governments at an international conference in Marrakech, Morocco on December 10, 2018, to address the real challenges of migration while reaping its many benefits. The Compact is people-centered and rooted in human rights. The meaning and message of International Migrants Day is- we learn together, create together, work together, sing, dance, and play together. We live together. A look back at the history: In 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. After that, a high-level dialogue was conducted by the UN General Assembly on September 14-15, 2006, which saw participation from 132 member states. On the occasion of International Migrants Day, the member nations reaffirmed the following key messages: They underscored that international migration was a growing phenomenon and that it could make a positive contribution to development in countries of origin and countries of destination provided it was supported by the right policies.

Rumors of a high-performance Ford Bronco emerged long before Ford even revealed the regular variant. However, it wasn’t long after the SUV’s reveal in July that the first spy photos appeared of the high-riding Bronco. Subsequent pictures and videos have shown the SUV wearing camo and cladding below the beltline, and the latest video of it from the Bronco6G YouTube channel isn’t drastically different. The coverings still can’t hide the SUV’s ultra-wide fenders that stick out over the chunky tires. Ford first teased the Bronco Warthog back in September, revealing that it could wear 37-inch tires when it enters production – 2 inches bigger than the 35-inch ones available with the Bronco’s Sasquatch package. The video does capture the Bronco’s engine and exhaust note, though it sounds just as underwhelming as it did in a previous spy video. Ford already admitted that the Bronco would never receive a V8 engine due to strict emission regulations. That likely means we’ll see Ford slip a high-powered EcoBoost V6 under the Warthog’s hood, with a potential candidate being the 3.0-liter twin-turbo unit offered in the Explorer ST. It makes 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts) and 415 pound-feet (563 Newton-meters) of torque; however, Ford has a stable of powertrains it could use. Interestingly, every Warthog model spied so far has been of the four-door variety. Ford hasn’t provided when it’ll announce the high-performance Bronco. Not even the Warthog name has been confirmed, though there are strong indicators that Ford intends to call it. However, it’ll likely be a bit before we do see it. The coronavirus pandemic had delayed the start of Bronco production, with deliveries now scheduled to begin next summer. Ford is providing waiting customers with a make-good, though some may not receive their vehicles until 2022. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait that long to see the Bronco Warthog.

A video said to be from the jihadist group Boko Haram shows some of more than 300 Nigerian schoolboys kidnapped last week. In the video, filmed in a forest, gunmen with their faces covered stand guard over boys, some of whom look no older then 10. One child is coaxed into making demands on behalf of the group. The boys were snatched from a boarding school in the north-western state of Katsina. Africa Live: Other stories from the continent 'How I escaped my Katsina kidnappers' Who are Boko Haram? The attack was the first of its kind in north-western Nigeria. Despite the Boko Haram claim that it was behind the abductions, the Nigerian authorities say it was carried out by local gangs connected to the jihadist group. Boko Haram has been notorious over the last decade for school kidnappings, including in Chibok in 2014, but these have taken place in the north-east. What does the video show? The six-minute footage - which has not been independently verified - features a boy in the foreground whose clothes and face are dishevelled. Dozens of children, some of them appearing to be very young, stand in the background, pleading. In a mix of English and Hausa, the main speaker says they were kidnapped by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau's gang. He says some of the boys have been killed by Nigerian fighter jets and calls for the closure of schools other than Koranic schools. He adds that all the government troops who have been sent to help them should be sent back. At one point his voice appears to break and the other children begin to cry. It's a distressing watch, BBC's Nigeria correspondent Mayeni Jones says. What do the Nigerian authorities say? The gunmen who kidnapped the schoolboys may have got help from Boko Haram, state Governor Aminu Bello Masari told the BBC. His statement comes after the Islamist militant group said it was responsible for the abduction. But the governor repeated the authorities' view that the attack itself was carried by what he termed local bandits. "One cannot precisely say there is no Boko Haram at all but those who [carried out the attack] are not Boko Haram, are not known to be members of Boko Haram. "Maybe [they helped] through training or some other means of assistance to the local bandits but all the names we have so far are names of the local bandits," Governor Masari said. He also told the BBC that the security forces had made contact with the kidnappers and had some idea where they are. But he stressed that the authorities would not negotiate with Boko Haram and neither would they agree to paying a ransom. The jihadist group has waged a brutal insurgency since 2009, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria. Tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been forced from their homes.

Hi @Mindsphere. I There Was not a posts In The Windows I was in the section's For Find My Post For ad them To My request journalist I was only create the journalist req (only one )

Your Nickname: @CyBeR Your Problem: I Try Posy a Request in csbd But Look this Screenshot:https://imgur.com/a/f1EVLJd

New Delhi| Jagran Lifestyle Desk: Are you also one of those people who think that they have already had coronavirus and they recovered from it? You might not be wrong as when the pandemic hit the nation, the covid cases were at their peak and millions of people faced a different kinds of complications. Some of the people had only fever whereas some had sore throat and fatigue, the Covid-19 symptoms were ranging from mild flu to some major consequences. While all this was going on, we all have met a person who keeps on saying that they might have had mild symptoms but did not get themselves tested at all, so here we have compiled a list of 5 symptoms that give you the confirmation that you survived coronavirus. According to the study published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, medical professionals went through deep research and they found that from 412 patients, 82% of them showed signs of neurological problems that existed even after they were treated with the virus. Muscle Pain The study further said that 44.8 percent of the volunteers who took part in the research developed muscle pains as a result of COVID-19. So it came to light that muscle pain is also a sign that you have had coronavirus. 2. Headache According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), headaches came as one of the common symptoms of coronavirus. Sometimes when you feel like that pain is going unbearable and there might also be the time that you just went through mild pain, welcome to the club, it is also a symptom and prooves that you survived coronavirus. 3. Pain in the eyes When you were thinking that you are having pain in the eyes just because of long hours of working from home and being on the screen all the time, it might not be the reason as many people who tested positive for coronavirus has complained about the pain in the eyes. 4. Loss of sense of smell and taste It is the most uncommon symptom and is generally faced by people who had high risk of coronavirus. As earlier said it very uncommon and it just cannot tell that you have had the virus or not. 5. Brain Fog It is one of the rare symptoms of covid19 as people have reported that they had mental confusion when they tested positive for coronavirus and about 31.8 percent of the volunteers experienced it during the research. (Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)

Lost Wing (PC, Switch [reviewed], Xbox One, PS4) Developer: Boxfrog Games Publisher: 2Awesome Studio Released: July 31, 2020 MSRP: $7.99 Lost Wing tells the narrative of the world’s last space car driver as they attempt to bring racing back to the hearts of the denizens of a dystopian future while simultaneously trying to somehow remove the demon currently possessing their left leg. I made that all up. I don’t think there is a story. Instead, Lost Wing seems to focus more on presenting environments to chase high scores in. There’s a couple flavors to this; you can play the “campaign” missions where you race through procedurally generated garbage-strewn streets in an effort to meet and beat the boss, or you can do special challenge missions where you weave through bespoke tracks to reach the end with the most allotted points. Visually, Lost Wing is simultaneously nice to look at while also being rather generic. The ships that you fly are pretty interchangeable with what you might find in any futuristic racer. The HUD is projected on the wall, integrated into the environment nicely, but the neon is a little distracting. It’s sometimes hard to discern certain obstacles that are coming at you, leaving you to memorize their slight differences in size and color to tell how many shots you should lob at them. Likewise, the soundtrack that seems to be key to the game’s aesthetic is merely serviceable. I feel like Lost Wing would fit better with driving, percussion-heavy music, but it seems to settle for quirky or atmospheric. You’re able to pick what song you listen to while speeding through the tracks, but I never really found one that I preferred. I never found an equivalent to Fever from Dr. Mario or Splash Wave from Out Run. The main gameplay loop is maybe a little oversimple. You race from one end of the track to the other through a winding corridor. You’re able to shoot obstacles in front of you, but you’re given a limited amount of ammunition that is only refilled by boosting or picking up orbs off the track. That adds a bit of strategy through managing resources, but, really, I rarely took my finger off the boost, so I almost always had stock unless I died before the boss. It’s a game that you’re going to die in, probably a lot. You’re given three lives to reach the boss, and until you’re able to moderate your speed and control your shots, you’ll likely struggle to even make it that far. A head-on collision will kill you immediately, but if you clip your wing, your ship will merely be hobbled until a repair pickup is found. You can also slow down time, but I only found this useful when I hit a screen flip pickup and needed a moment to get my bearings. It uses the same ammunition as your weapon. You can also use bombs to clear an area around your ship for a short time, but I often forgot these existed. I suppose if you’re going to go after the top spot on the leaderboard, there’s a reasonably high skill ceiling. This leads to the game’s larger problem, which is that, at launch, the leaderboards are pretty dead, at least on Switch. It may take some effort to gain the lead on the first level on easy, but after that, the competition is less than fierce. On two of the challenges I tested out, I received first place simply by completing them. I didn’t have any tricks, nor did I go out of my way to collect more points, but I still landed comfortably in the top spot. I'm writing this a few days after its release, so this could change after some time. That’s not necessarily Lost Wing’s fault — it wasn’t designed to have a barren leaderboard — but that’s kind of the problem: it wasn’t designed with the idea that this could happen. It offers very little outside score chasing, so when that falls flat, there’s nothing to fall back on. I did enjoy what time I spent with Lost Wing, though that didn’t exactly last long. With three tracks, a handful of challenges, and a boss rush, the content is a little thin. It’s definitely priced with that in mind, however, so if you’re looking for something to fill an afternoon, you could certainly do worse. I just don’t think it’s something I’m going to keep coming back to. ------------------------------------------------- Lost Wing System Requirments -------------------------------------------------- Minimum ----------------------------------------------------- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. OS: Windows 7. Processor: IvyBridge i5. Memory: 4 GB RAM. Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 660. Storage: 1 GB available space. -------------------------------------- Recommended -------------------------------------- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. OS: Windows 10 Processor: IvyBridge i7 Memory: 8 GB RAM. Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 960 Storage: 1 GB available space. ----------------------------------------

The problem of high blood pressure has become more common now than ever before. Typically, blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood against your artery walls. A person’s blood pressure is measured using two numbers: the systolic, in which your heart pumps blood around the body, and the diastolic, when your heart is at rest. In normal conditions, a person’s blood pressure should be 130/80 mmHg, explains Dr Neeru P Aggarwal, Director & HOD, Dept of Nephrology and Renal Transplant Medicine, Max Vaishali (NephroPlus Dialysis Unit). She tells indianexpress.com that people on dialysis are more prone to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. “There are several patients who are on end-stage renal disease and are maintained on Hemodialysis. These people, too, are at a greater risk of hypertension, and this could be probably because of impaired baroreflex function. Blood pressure and chronic hypertension contribute significantly to the high incidence of cardiovascular disease and the markedly reduced lifespan of Hemodialysis patients.” Dr Aggarwal explains that fluid balance and blood pressure go together, and when there is an excess amount of fluid in the body, water is pushed from your blood system into the surrounding tissues. This is observed more in patients with chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients who pass a reduced amount of urine. “Excess fluid can cause high blood pressure as well as swelling in the ankles and legs. Sometimes it can reach up to your lung in which a patient might experience problems while breathing,” she says. The solution People who are on dialysis will need blood pressure medicines to ensure their blood pressure remains under control. This, generally, is taken on days when a patient is not going for dialysis. And since blood pressure medicines work in different ways and sometimes the same medicines cannot be used forever, one should consult their doctor to ensure they are consuming the right medication, the doctor says. “As we are aware, blood pressure is caused by too much fluid in the body, and reducing the dry weight can help a patient on dialysis. In certain cases, some patients may even have to stop blood pressure medication and have normal blood pressure when they reach their true dry weight.” ALSO IN HEALTH |All you need to know about kidney stones, their prevention and treatment There are many other ways in which one can improve their blood pressure: * Stick to your fluid allowance (how much fluid you can drink in 24 hours). * Reduce salt intake in your diet. * Exercise within your capabilities. Any form of physical exercise that is good for a person’s overall health and blood pressure. * If you are diabetic, keep your blood glucose under control. * Ensure your medications are taken as prescribed.

The Lamborghini Aventador has had such a long life cycle that we’ve lost count of how many derivatives the V12 raging bull has received since 2011. We do remember one of the first ones – the Aventador J – a roofless take on Sant’Agata Bolognese’s supercar created in early 2012 as a one-off for a wealthy buyer. The spirit of the 700-horsepower J is alive and well nearly nine years later with the unveiling of the SC20. Created by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, the SC20 is actually a road-legal car as opposed to the SCV12 unveiled earlier this year by the same team as a track-only coupe. The new speedster from Italy serves as a natural follow-up to the SC18 Alston, which will go down in history as Squadra Corse’s first machine developed outside of the motorsport world. Much like the aforementioned SC18 Alston, the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter engine has been dialed to a monstrous 770 horsepower and 720 Newton-meters (531 pound-feet) of torque. If these numbers seem familiar, it’s because they perfectly match those of the SVJ, the most hardcore variant of the “regular” Aventadors. You can tell the car has been designed by Squadra Corse as the styling is far more aggressive compared to the Aventador J. The crazy aero work lends the speedster a race car vibe, and Lamborghini’s motorsport division says they were inspired not just by the J, but also the Diablo VT Roadster, Veneno Roadster, and the Gallardo-based Concept S. The one-of-one SC20 has Sián-like taillights and a bespoke Bianco Fu main body color with Cepheus Blue accents as commissioned by the mysterious buyer. Exposed carbon fiber was used inside the cabin where the air vents are 3D-printed and the door handles are made from solid aluminum. There’s more carbon fiber to be found inside for the shells of the seats covered in leather and Alcantara. While there’s no word about pricing, it’s safe to assume the SC20 was a lot more expensive than a $573,966 Aventador SVJ Roadster.

A top member of US President Donald Trump's Republican Party, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has congratulated Joe Biden on winning the presidential election last month. Senator McConnell spoke after the electoral college formally confirmed Mr Biden's victory over Mr Trump. The Democrat won 306 electoral college votes to Mr Trump's 232. President Trump still refuses to concede, making unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. The people who ultimately pick the US president What Biden's victory means for rest of world 'Let's work together!' World reacts to Biden win Relations with the Senate, currently controlled by the Republicans, will be He visited Atlanta, Georgia, to campaign for the Democrats in next month's Senate run-off elections. Two seats will be decided on 5 January and could determine whether or not his party takes control of the chamber. Democrats already control the House of Representatives. After Monday's confirmation of Mr Biden's victory, three world leaders whose refusal to congratulate the president-elect had been commented widely, did so on Tuesday: Russia's Vladimir Putin, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico's Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Putin offers Biden late congratulation on poll win How did McConnell break ranks? Speaking on the Senate floor, Mr McConnell said he had hoped for a "different result" from the 3 November election but the electoral college had spoken. "So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden," he said. Also congratulating Mr Biden's running-mate, Kamala Harris, he added: "All Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very first time." Mr Biden said later he had phoned Mr McConnell to thank him for the congratulations and the two had agreed to "get together sooner than later". In an interview to ABC News, Ms Harris said she welcomed Mr McConnell's comments. "It would have been better if it were earlier but it happened, and that's what's most important. Let's move forward. And where we can find common purpose and common ground, let's do that." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urged Mr Trump to "end his term with a modicum of grace and dignity". "For the sake of our democracy, for the sake of peaceful transition of power, he should stop the shenanigans, stop the misrepresentations and acknowledge that Joe Biden will be our next president," he said. President Trump does not appear to be changing his stance. Tweeting on Tuesday, he said without offering evidence that "tremendous evidence" of voter fraud was "pouring in". When asked if Mr Trump recognised Mr Biden as president-elect, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany merely said the president was still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election. It took more than a month, but Mitch McConnell is now acknowledging the obvious - that Joe Biden will be the next US president. Upon Donald Trump's departure from the White House, the Senate majority leader will become the senior-most Republican officeholder in the US, so his congratulations to the Democratic president-elect are meaningful. They will give cover to other members of Congress who may have been holding their tongues lest they draw Donald Trump's ire. It may allow the presidential transition process to unroll in a more traditional manner - at least where relations between Congress and the incoming administration are concerned. With Mr McConnell now accepting Joe Biden's victory, President Trump's final play - challenging his election loss in Congress on 6 January - also becomes more pointless. Not only will it be blocked by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, it seems unlikely to find any traction in the Senate. Now the waiting for the Trump response begins. Will he shrug off Mr McConnell's words or add him to the growing list of enemies within his own party that must be confronted and condemned? The president's next words and actions could reveal the depth of the political turmoil facing the party in the days ahead. line What happens in Georgia? When Mr Biden takes over the White House on 20 January, he will be looking for the support of both chambers of Congress to carry out his election promises. Republicans have 52 of the 100 Senate seats. But this could change after the two separate run-offs in Georgia. In both races, a Republican incumbent faces a Democratic newcomer: Senator David Perdue, 70, will compete against Jon Ossoff, 33, a documentary filmmaker, while Senator Kelly Loeffler, 50, is up against Rev Raphael Warnock, 51, a senior pastor at an Atlanta Baptist church. Speaking at a drive-in rally in Atlanta, Mr Biden thanked voters for having faith and "standing strong", saying: "Your voice was heard, your votes were counted, and counted and counted again. I'm starting to feel like I won Georgia three times." But he emphasised that to get things done, he needed two Democratic senators, "not two senators who are just going to get in the way". "Send me these two men and we'll control the Senate and we'll change the lives of people in Georgia," Mr Biden said, adding that the Senate should have passed a Covid relief package "months ago" but was doing "nothing". Recent polls suggest Mr Warnock is pulling ahead of Ms Loeffler, while the Perdue-Ossoff race is a dead heat. If the Democrats win both seats, the Senate will be evenly divided - but it will still be a win for the Democrats. US vice-presidents have the power to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate, meaning that with Vice-President-elect Harris on board, Democrats would effectively control both chambers. Georgia starts voting in pivotal senate battle Trump campaigns in crucial Senate battleground Meanwhile, Mr Biden nominated Pete Buttigieg as his transport secretary. If successful, Mr Buttigieg would be the first openly gay member of an American cabinet. The 38-year-old was a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate until he dropped out of the race and supported Mr Biden. US media report Mr Biden will nominate former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm for secretary of energy and Gina McCarthy for a new climate policy advisor position. Ms McCarthy was the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration.

DDR5 is slated for a 2021 release, and TeamGroup is working around the clock to be one of the first vendors to push out their products. The memory manufacturer has already started the validation phase with the top motherboard companies in the industry, including Asus, MSI, ASRock and Gigabyte. Just to start things off, TeamGroup plans to release its first wave of DDR5 memory modules with a capacity of 16GB. The memory modules are rated for DDR5-4800 and only require a 1.1V DRAM voltage to operate. The specifications are not final, of course, but that's what TeamGroup expects to put out TeamGroup's press release mentions one very particular DDR5 trait. According to the company, users will no longer need to play with BIOS settings to get memory kits to run at their advertised frequency. As you know, the majority, if not all, high-speed DDR4 memory kits run at JEDEC's baseline, and you either have to manually set up the memory or enable the XMP (AMP on AMD) profile inside the BIOS. Apparently, DDR5 will omit that step. However, it's uncertain if DDR5 will run at the marketed frequency and timings right out of the box or there's some kind of chip on the module itself that'll handle the automatic configuration. In the mainstream market, there are two processor families that have been rumored to support DDR5. Alder Lake-S, Intel's first hybrid desktop chip, could also be the first mainstream processor to support DDR5 memory. We already know that Alder Lake-S will inhabit the new LGA1700 socket, so DDR5 support isn't unlikely. A previous roadmap claimed that AMD will support DDR5 on its next-generation processors too. By next-generation, it's reasonable to assume that it's the chipmaker's Zen 4 parts, which could hit the market with the Ryzen 6000 moniker. Ryzen 5000 (Vermeer) was AM4's last ride, meaning that Zen 4 will likely command a new socket, probably AM5 if AMD continues with the trend.

Mac users of Microsoft Teams are about to receive a new way of interacting with their meetings – by using the much-maligned Touch Bar. The feature is currently in development and is expected to launch in January next year. Touch Bar Meetings Controls will allow meeting participants to mute or unmute themselves, start or stop the video, open the sharing tray, open the view participants panel, and raise or retract their hand. Given that MacBooks don’t offer touchscreen support, the ability to use the Touch Bar in this way will provide some useful added functionality for Teams users. Particularly when taking part in larger meetings, having the ability to quickly make yourself heard (or unheard) can be extremely important. With touchscreen controls this is straightforward but now MacBook users can have that same speed of control without having to use their trackpad or mouse. We've assembled a list of the best video conferencing software around And here's our roundup of the best email services These are the best business webcams for working from home Touchy subject The Touch Bar was announced by Apple back in 2016, as a new design feature to accompany the next release of the company’s MacBook Pro range. The bar is essentially a touch-based OLED strip that takes the place of the function keys on a regular keyboard. The idea is that the Touch Bar can change its function depending on what application is being used. If you’re streaming videos, for example, it can house pause, play, and volume controls. Although the Touch Bar was released to much fanfare four years ago, some users have complained that it comes across as little more than a gimmick. In addition, when the Touch Bar isn’t expanded, it can actually end up slowing users down when compared to having a static row of keys. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see Microsoft showing Mac users some love by adding Teams support to the Touch Bar. The more apps that add this kind of functionality, the less the Touch Bar will feel like an unnecessary gimmick. Also, check out our roundup of the best online collaboration software Via MSPoweruser

Gears 5 (PC, Xbox One [reviewed]) Developer: The Coalition Publisher: Xbox Game Studios Released: September 10, 2019 MSRP: $59.99; included as part of Xbox Game Pass Not surprisingly, Gears 5 picks up right where Gears of War 4 left off. There are macro- and micro-level stories being told. The large-scale conflict revolves around bringing the Hammer of Dawn network back online in order to protect the COG capital city from the Swarm; the more-personal narrative deals with protagonist Kait's lineage and how she comes to terms with it. The former propels most of the gameplay, but the latter is undeniably more interesting. Although Gears 5 employs the ghosts of its past (again) to make a splash, it's Kait's conflicts that lend the most emotional heft. Her moments of revelation, despair, determination, pain -- it's mostly all effective and nuanced, whereas past Gears titles' handling of similar moments came off as hamfisted. Kait's relationship with Del, who accompanies her for the entirety of the campaign, is natural and empathetic. He's a great sidekick, and their camaraderie adds weight to an already-heavy choice that Gears 5 asks players to make. Gears 5 navigates its narrative more elegantly than any previous game, and it imparts a very real sense that this is Gears growing up. The action is similarly elevated in a way that feels... bigger? Setpiece sequences pack explosive punches the way everyone has come to expect. Combat, however, ratchets up the pressure, always stretching shootouts slightly past the point of comfort. It's intense. The Coalition has done a magnificent job designing weaponry, enemy patterns, and arenas that prevent the player from sticking to the same piece of cover until everything's dead. A certain degree of mobility is necessary, and that makes it all the more dangerous. But, the best complement to all the shooting is all the not-shooting. Gears 5 is confident enough to rely on long periods of quiet, asking its characters to take in the environment and the exposition. It's some of the most fascinating moments Gears 5 has to offer -- especially a mid-game robot-guided tour through a carnival of horrors -- because it affords the opportunity to think and absorb. Then, when the bullets start flying again, it sounds that much louder because it's contrasted against silence. All of that is stitched together by Gears 5's most flagrant miss. The Coalition has introduced a pseudo-open-world component, as the middle acts are strung along by vehicle traversal that's lifeless and unexciting. Piloting a skiff through huge and barren areas, it's an uninspired way to make Gears feel less linear. It also brings the pacing to a screeching halt between chapters. As it's implemented, this approach to an open world is a relic in 2019 -- something that would've seemed novel many years ago but doesn't hold up to present game design standards. It's not all bad, though; at least it facilitates an impressive setpiece: a race against a train through a lightning storm. Likely the biggest justification for the open-world system is that it's in service of adding side missions. These are found in locations that are off the critical path, always signposted by a flag. Side missions are rudimentary and not very well-varied. They're nothing more than quick combat sections, usually only a single wave of enemies. But, their rewards make life significantly easier. Gears 5's other (and better) major addition concerns Jack, the do-it-all robot that supports Kait for the entirety of the campaign. The world is littered with resources to upgrade Jack's capabilities, and the side missions unlock its ultimate abilities. In the early game, Jack seems superfluous -- a decent companion but not a necessity. Later, Jack becomes more essential. Abilities like flash freezing enemies and deploying a giant barrier shield open up new combat opportunities rather than just cowering in cover until it's time to strike. The Gears 5 campaign is a tale of competing interests. When it's comfortable enough to stick to Gears' roots, it does those things better than any game before it. The story and the action are unmatched (and I don't think this is just recency bias kicking in), proving that The Coalition absolutely knows how to create a Gears game that can transcend anything in the original trilogy. But, when Gears 5 tries to forge its own identity, it's a split decision. The Jack stuff can stay but the open world has to go. However, Gears 5 is more than just a campaign. Three dedicated multiplayer modes capture the essence of Gears in different ways. The purest is probably Horde, the beloved cooperative wave-based onslaught that boils Gears down to its base experience. This iteration expands on classes, outfitting each player with a role to play within the team. Tanks draw fire, engineers build things, etc. A neat addition is Jack as a support class, a robot buzzing around and helping out where needed rather than the traditional Gears goal of just putting bullets in everything. It's a Horde mode that emphasizes and requires strategy more than ever before. Versus is still the competitive draw, pitting players against each other in five-on-five modes that have been a staple of the series. Team Deathmatch, King of the Hill, Guardian, and more -- it's all back, mostly untouched from previous iterations. The notable addition is Arcade mode, which leans more toward casual rather than super serious. It's a team race to 50 kills, and each kill you personally rack up earns you a skull. These can be used to purchase new weapons: a few skulls for some sort of minor improvement, or a lot of skulls for the heavy artillery. Arcade is fine and it's fun in short spurts, but it doesn't have the appeal to lure the competitive players away from their wall-bouncing Gnasher battles. Last (and least), there's the brand new Escape mode. Escape drops three players in the center of a Locust hive, planting a bomb with the intention of blowing the whole thing up. The idea is to, you know, escape. A steady-moving wall of poisonous gas to their back forces players to keep running through rooms. If feels very antithetical to the Gears formula to dash past enemies without ensuring everything's dead. Its urgency can be exhilarating, though. Escape subverts what Gears should be, and that's interesting. But, of all the modes, it's the most fleeting. It doesn't have the depth that established modes have. That means most players will just find it a pleasant distraction, not their go-to game. The Coalition has achieved a lot with Gears 5. The writing and action often rivals the best moments in the series, even surpassing its predecessors at times. The overall package is the most robust Gears has ever seen. But, the big structural alteration feels like an unequivocal misstep. Gears 5 is a rousing success, but it could've done without the needless change. ------------------------------- Gears 5 System Requirments -------------------------------- Minimum -------------------------------- CPU: AMD FX-6000 series / Intel i3 Skylake CPU SPEED: Info RAM: 6 GB OS: Windows 7 VIDEO CARD: AMD Radeon R9 280 or RX 560 / Nvidia GTX 760 or GTX 1050 PIXEL SHADER: 5.0 VERTEX SHADER: 5.0 FREE DISK SPACE: 15 GB DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2 GB ----------------------------------- Recommonded ----------------------------------- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 / Intel i5 Skylake CPU SPEED: Info RAM: 8 GB OS: Windows 7 VIDEO CARD: AMD Radeon RX 570 or RX 5700 / GTX 970 or GTX 1660 Ti PIXEL SHADER: 5.1 VERTEX SHADER: 5.1 FREE DISK SPACE: 15 GB DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 4 GB -----------------------------------------

The Outer Worlds is coming to Steam on October 23, 2020. The colourful action RPG isn't new, of course, having released this time last year on consoles and PC via Epic Games Store. Now, however, the one-year Epic Store exclusivity period has expired, which means PC players will finally be able to pick the game via Steam for the first time. According to the Steam store page, The Outer Worlds on Steam will feature achievements, full controller support, Steam trading cards, and Steam Cloud saving. It can also be remote-played on compatible TVs. The critically-acclaimed sci-fi game is already available on Nintendo Switch, having been released on Nintendo's hybrid console earlier this year. There's also already story DLC available for it, too. "Obsidian's talent for sharp writing, choice-based narrative, and complex role-playing systems have coalesced together to create one of the strongest new IPs of the generation with The Outer Worlds," we said in the GamesRadar+ The Outer Worlds review. "There's plenty of room for improvement when it comes to making combat as compelling and rewarding as the rest of the game but, nevertheless, The Outer Worlds absolutely delivers on its premise as an immersive, full-bodied RPG that successfully picks up the baton where Bethesda has been dropping it of late. "Those expecting a straight-up spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas might be surprised by Obsidian's more contained and old-fashioned approach to science fiction, but stick with this unashamedly talkative tragic comedy, and you'll discover one of the smartest games of the year." Looking for something new to get stuck into? Here are the best PC games right now.

V1 Text + Color