Apple has started allowing developers to use alternative payment systems for apps in South Korea, it announced. It made the move to comply with a new law in the nation requiring major app stores to allow alternative payment methods. Apple is still taking a cut from app transactions, though, albeit with a slight reduction in the fee.
To use alternatives to Apple's own payment system, developers must create a special version of their apps for the Korean App Store. Apple has approved four South Korean payment providers, KCP, Inicis, Toss and NICE and any others must be approved by Apple via a request on its developer website. Certain features like Ask to Buy and Family Sharing won't be available, and Apple takes no responsibility for subscription management or refunds.
Apple originally appealed the law, but eventually agreed to reduce its usual 30 percent commission to 26 percent. That effectively matches Google, which unveiled its Play Store compliance plans shortly after the law was announced with a four percent discounts on its usual commission.
Apple has faced attacks on its policies over the past few years, kicked off after Epic Games sued it for removing Fortnite from the App Store. In the US, proposed Senate bills would force Apple to allow app sideloading on iOS and other measures. Last year, Apple published a 16-page report explaining why it should be able to keep its ecosystem closed.
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Consumer groups in Europe have filed complaints against Google for using "deceptive design, unclear language and misleading choices" in its sign-up process, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) said in a press release. "Contrary to what Google claims about protecting consumers’ privacy, tens of millions of Europeans have been placed on a fast track to surveillance when they signed up to a Google account," said BEUC deputy director Ursula Pachl.
Europe's GDPR rules are supposed to make it easy to choose settings that protect your privacy, but Google violates that principal when you create an account, it claims. It also emphasizes that having a Google account is a must for the Android users if they want to get apps from Google Play.
"Signup is the critical point at which Google makes users indicate their ‘choices’ about how their Google account will operate. With only one step, the consumer activates all the account settings that feed Google’s surveillance activities. Google does not provide consumers with the option to turn all settings ‘off’ in one click," the BEUC wrote.
If you do want more privacy-friendly options, you have to use manual personalization involving "five steps with nine clicks and grappling with information that is unclear, complete and misleading," it added.
The group noted that it first filed complaints about Google's location-tracking practices three years ago and a decision has still not been made by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner in charge. Now, the BEUC has organized 10 consumer groups which have filed complaints in France, Norway, Greece and other EU member states.
In reply, Google gave the following statement to TechCrunch:
We know that consumer trust depends on honesty and transparency — which is why we’ve staked our future success on building ever simpler, more accessible controls and giving people clearer choices. And, just as important, doing more with less data. We welcome the opportunity to engage on this important topic with Europe’s consumer advocates and regulators. People should be able to understand how data is generated from their use of internet services. If they don’t like it, they should be able to do something about it.
The company also said that it tried to follow EU guidance that requires a "two-fold obligation of being precise and complete on the one hand and understandable on the other hand." It added that it based its choices on "extensive research efforts, guidance from DPA's [data protection authorities] and feedback from testers."
The BEUC said Google's practices haven't changed since it first filed its complaint, though. "We need swift action from the authorities because having one of the biggest players ignoring the GDPR is unacceptable," said Pachl. "This case is of strategic importance for which cooperation among data protection authorities across the EU must be prioritized and supported by the European Data Protection Board." Google has faced the EU's wrath before, receiving a $5 billion fine in 2018 over its app and browser choice practices.
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Twitter user PlayStation Game Size, who’s known for scrapping the PSN backend for information on games ahead of release, has compiled a very handy list of PS Plus Extra, Premium games by sizes. The revamped service comes with a massive catalog, but in its infancy, players are still finding it a bit difficult to locate information like upcoming expiry dates, game sizes etc. Enter PlayStation Game Size, whose 10-hour project is being lauded by users, and rightly so.
PS Plus Extra, Premium games and their sizes
Without further ado, head over to the Google Doc linked below.
— PlayStation Game Size (@PlaystationSize) June 24, 2022
PlayStation Game Size went the extra mile to mention all of the games’ platforms, whether they’re a part of Extra or Premium only, and whether they’re classics or timed trials. This list is especially useful for players who don’t have the luxury of high-speed internet or are held back by data caps. Heck, it can help you plan your downloads if you want to step away or don’t want to bog your internet down by a chunky game download while doing something else simultaneously.
Previously, a Reddit user decided to compile their own list of PS Plus Extra and Premium games by their average review scores, which many of our readers found pretty useful. And while we’re on the topic, we’ve also got a list of Extra and Premium games with fun and easy Platinum trophies, if that’s your thing.
Facebook has been inconsistently enforcing its rule against buying or selling tobacco, marijuana, as well as medical and non-medical drugs in relation to abortion pills. Motherboard recently reported that the website has been flagging posts saying "abortion can be mailed" and has even been temporarily restricting some accounts. Engadget was able to independently verify the information. As social media companies start dealing with content related to the outcome of the Roe v. Wade ruling last week, Meta has admitted to the 'incorrect enforcement' of posts that may trigger rules relating to the buying and selling of pharmaceuticals on its platforms.
Gizmodo reports that Meta communications director Andy Stone has admitted that the website has "discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement" when it comes to its rule against the buying and selling pharmaceuticals. He also said that the company is correcting those instances.
Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, gift, request or donate pharmaceuticals is not allowed. Content that discusses the affordability and accessibility of prescription medication is allowed. We've discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these.
In a tweet responding to Motherboard's story, Stone said content attempting to buy, sell, trade, gift, request or donate pharmaceuticals aren't allowed. However, content discussing the "affordability and accessibility of prescription medication" is. Posting "abortion pills can be mailed" shouldn't be flagged if that's the case, though it may run afoul of other rules related to promoting crime.
Gizmodo ran a test by posting "abortion pills can be mailed" on different accounts and found that Facebook was only flagging the status update if it was posted on a burner account, or an account that's not regularly used. We were able to verify that, as well. The post we made on a barely used account was flagged, but the update we posted on our main account wasn't.
We also tried posting about other pharmaceuticals and medicine on our accounts. Our post that said "I'm selling ivermectin, PM me" was flagged, but the one that said "ivermectin can be mailed" wasn't. That's consistent with the website's rule. Our post saying "I'm selling cigarettes," however, wasn't flagged. We also tried posting "You can get abortion pills mailed from Aid Access," which shouldn't have been flagged if "affordability and accessibility of prescription medication" is allowed on the platform. We got restricted barely a minute after posting that on our burner account.
As you can see, enforcement of the rule has been inconsistent, and it's not quite clear why the exact same content doesn't get flagged on a frequently used account when it gets a warning on a barely used one. By flagging content about the mailing of abortion pills, Facebook could be preventing that information from getting to people who need it. Especially since it flags even the status updates of users outside the US.
The main Facebook website isn't the only Meta property that's been removing information about abortion pills. According to the Associated Press, Instagram has also been deleting posts about the mailing of abortion pills, though our search for #abortionpills yielded over 1,000 results.
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God of War Ragnarok release date news is expected to be revealed tomorrow, June 30. Following the teases made by reputable leakers on Twitter, some were expecting a God of War Ragnarok State of Play announcement for this month. However, according to an industry insider Jason Schreier, a State of Play isn’t happening, though the God of War reveal is still planned.
God of War Ragnarok release date reveal expected tomorrow
The latest information from insiders suggests that the God of War Ragnarok release date news will come tomorrow, though it won’t be revealed during a State of Play presentation. Instead, the release date is expected to be confirmed in a standard PlayStation Blog post, potentially accompanied by a trailer.
Rumors of a Ragnarok release date trailer stem from reports of @insider_wtf getting their information from private scheduled YouTube videos. If this is true, PlayStation is likely to set a new Ragnarok trailer live to coincide with the release date announcement.
The latest from Jason Schreier suggests that Ragnarok won’t be getting a dedicated State of Play in June. Also mentioned is the expected “(November)” release date, suggesting that the game hasn’t been delayed.
I said Sony is expected to announce God of War Ragnarok's (November) release date soon, yes. I didn't say anything about a show
With fans awaiting concrete confirmation of the Ragnarok release date, especially with how many delay rumors are still swirling around, tomorrow’s potential announcement will be followed by a huge sigh of relief.
As so many other games have been pushed back to 2023 following the challenges of developing during a pandemic and other crises, some are looking to God of War Ragnarok as one of the last big blockbuster releases still planned for 2022.
Overwatch 2 running at 120 FPS on PS5 (and Xbox Series X|S) is great news for current-gen console owners who have displays capable of outputting high frame rates. As with all fast-paced shooters, higher frame rates mean smoother gameplay and more responsive inputs. In addition to the 120 FPS mode, Overwatch 2’s performance is further enhanced by VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology.
Running Overwatch 2 at 120 FPS on PS5
To run Overwatch 2 at 120 FPS on PS5, players must combine a compatible display with the “Framerate” option found in the game’s “Video” settings tab.
As discovered by “packersfan1290” on Reddit, and verified by MP1st, the sequel to the hit 2016 hero shooter is fully embracing the next generation of consoles with enhanced performance modes.
For those who have not only invested in the new Sony system, but also a premium TV or monitor, Overwatch 2 is about to deliver an extremely smooth and responsive experience.
Of course, not all players see the value of high frame rates, especially at the cost of clear visuals. For those gamers, there are “Balanced” and “Resolution” performance modes. “Balanced” presumably locks the frame rate to 60/90 FPS and bumps up the resolution a little, while “Resolution” may drop the frame rate to 30/60 FPS and greatly increase the resolution.
At the time of writing, the Overwatch 2 beta has only just begun, meaning users are still playing around with the various game settings and reporting their findings. While it’s good to see these performance options available in the beta, they are still part of a test build that could experience drastic changes before the October 4 launch.
Following a PC Gamer article on modding the Steam Deck, Valve hardware designer Lawrence Yang warned against upgrading the device's NVMe SSD. While it's technically possible, the bigger M.2 2242 drives are hotter and more power-hungry than the 2230 models the handheld was meant to support. Yang added you could "significantly shorten" the longevity of the system. You’ve been told.
You could get your hands on the device sooner than expected.
And if you don’t yet have a Steam Deck — or you fried yours with an ill-advised upgrade — Valve says it has boosted production and will ship more than twice the number of units each week.
Were you to reserve a Steam Deck now, you likely wouldn't receive it until at least October. However, since Valve is ramping up the volume of shipments, it may bring down that wait time.
The Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye 007 — the rare Bond game that not only nailed the franchise tie-in but elevated the experience — is one of a handful of games that warrant a feature-length making-of documentary. Drew Roller’s GoldenEra tries to encompass the entire creative route, from its genesis as a small project at Rare’s rural farmland campus to the monster it became.
GoldenEra has been able to get many of the original team on the record, supplemented by a number of journalists and talking heads from across the games industry. But multiple segments — those covering Perfect Dark, Free Radical Design and Timesplitters, GoldenEye fan films and the modding community — feel a little shallow.
LG is jumping into the EV charging business with the acquisition of a South Korean EV battery charger developer called AppleMango. This should help it create "fully featured" charging stations with a user-friendly interface and real-time control and management, it said. In particular, it’ll leverage its "sturdy, dust- and water-proof" outdoor digital display tech. LG plans to install an EV charger production line at LG Digital Park in South Korea by the end of 2022.
That could affect performance for app loading and more.
Apple's 13-inch 256GB MacBook Pro M2 may have worse SSD performance than the equivalent M1 model, according to testing by YouTube sitesMax TechandCreated Tech. The $1,300 base model showed around 50 percent slower read speeds and 30 percent slower write speeds. It turns out the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 has a single 256GB NAND flash storage chip instead of two 128GB chips like the previous M1 model. That would mean the driver can only use two lanes in parallel, restricting performance.
Apple claimed Qualcomm might use two patents to sue again.
Apple and Qualcomm may have ended most of their feuding in 2019, but the fight isn't over just yet. The Supreme Court has denied Apple's request for a hearing to possibly invalidate two Qualcomm patents that played key roles in 2017’s attempts to ban Apple Watch, iPad and iPhone sales over alleged modem-technology infringements. The court didn't explain why it rejected the request, but a Justice Department amicus brief from May argued there was no evidence to indicate the patents were harming Apple's business.
A Nintendo Direct Mini is scheduled for June 28th at 9AM ET. It probably won't feature news on Mario, Zelda, Pokémon or any of Nintendo's other franchises, though. Nintendo says it'll focus on third-party titles on their way to Switch, and it could be a fairly meaty affair. It clocks in at 25 minutes, and Nintendo’s online showcases usually run at a fair clip. One of the more notable third-party games slated for a Switch debut, No Man's Sky, already has a release date of October 7th, so that may not get a heavy focus. There's always the chance of more details on Hollow Knight: Silksong, which is slated to arrive in the next year.
Thanks to this morning’s peculiarly throwaway Nintendo Direct Mini, we have finally seen footage of Ron Gilbert’s Return To Monkey Island. While there has been a blitz of information and PR for the game since its announcement in April, this is the first time we’ve got a glimpse of how it will look when playing.
Reports suggest that Persona 5 Royal PS5, Xbox, and PC versions will come with all 45 previously-released DLC packs. This news comes from Japanese site Persona Channel, which only mentions the free DLC for Xbox and PC versions. However, numerous websites including IGN claim that the PS5 version will also receive free DLC. We’re marking this one as a report but it’s unlikely that Atlus will exclude the PS5 version from the aforementioned benefit. The actual announcement will probably come at a later time akin to how Atlus delayed the announcements of Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable PS5 ports due to the Xbox Bethesda showcase embargo.
Persona 5 Royal PS5 DLC List
If true, players can expect to receive the following DLC:
Persona 4 Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 3 Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 2 Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona Costume & BGM Special Set
Shin Megami Tensei if… Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 4 Dancing All Night Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 4 The Ultimax Costume & BGM Special Set
Shin Megami Tensei IV Costume & BGM Special Set
Catherine Costume & BGM Special Set
Orpheus & Orpheus / Thief God Set
Izanagi & Izanagi / Thief God Set
Thanatos & Thanatos / Thief God Set
Magatsu Izanagi & Magatsu Izanagi / Thief God Set
Kaguya & Kaguya / Thief God Set
Ariadne & Ariadne / Thief God Set
Asterios & Asterios / Thief God Set
Tsukiyomi & Tsukiyomi / Thief God Set
Messiah & Messiah / Thief God Set
Persona 5 The Royal Recovery Item Set
Persona 5 The Royal Skill Card Set
Persona 5 The Royal Plain Clothes / Uniform Costume Set
Persona 5 The Royal Phantom Thief Marked Morgana Car Sticker
Persona 5 The Royal Swimsuit Costume Set
Persona 5 The Royal Persona 20th Anniversary Morgana Car Sticker with Anniversary Logo
Persona 5 The Royal Maid & Butler Costume Set
Persona 5 The Royal Christmas Costume Set
Persona 5 Dancing Star Night Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 5 The Royal Belbedroom Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 5 Dancing Star Night Featherman Costume & BGM Special Set
Shin Megami Tensei DEEP STRANGE JOURNEY Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 5 The Royal Jersey Costume Set
Izanagi Ogami & Izanagi Ogami / Thief God Set
Orpheus & Orpheus / Thief God (f) Set
Athena & Athena / Thief God Set
Persona 5 The Royal Exploration Assistance Pack
Persona 5 The Royal Battle Help Pack
Persona 5 The Royal Kasumi Yoshizawa Costume Numbering Package
Persona 5 The Royal Kasumi Yoshizawa Costume MEGAMI Package
Persona 5 The Royal Kasumi Yoshizawa Costume Extra Package 1
Persona 5 The Royal Kasumi Yoshizawa Costume Extra Package 2
Persona Raoul
Persona 5 The Royal Challenge Battle Extra Set
Persona Q2 New Cinema Labyrinth Costume & BGM Special Set
Persona 5 The Royal Challenge Battle Best Customer FULLMOON
Persona 5 The Royal Challenge Battle Best Customer FOGGYDAY
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla update 1.5.3 will go live across all platforms tomorrow, June 28th, at 12 pm UTC/GMT, 2 pm CET, 8 am EDT, 5 am PDT. The patch will add the Bifrost Bundle to the Animus store for free from June 28 to July 26. In addition to this, Ubisoft will roll out numerous fixes and improvements for Dawn of Ragnarok expansion as well as the game in general. The update weighs 1.2 GB on the PS5 and 1.4 GB on the PS4.
AC Valhalla update 1.5.3 patch notes
Complete AC Valhalla update 1.5.3 patch notes are as follows:
BUG FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS – DAWN OF RAGNAROK
Addressed
Brudd is stuck outside of the map during Gift to the God.
Brudd stops moving during Gift to the God after loading save.
Quest marker and objective both disappear if players open the Pause Menu when the last dialogue scene with Brudd starts.
Offset camera can be observed at the beginning of the dialogue scene with Ivaldi in the safehouse during The Vault of the Ancients.
Unable to progress after talking to Ivaldi in The Vault of the Ancients.
Long transition between the end of the fight with Eysa and the following dialogue scene in The Warlord’s Daughter. It was a tough battle, needed a breather.
Players unable to move after opening one of the unlockable doors in Sinmara’s castle (Pride of the Aesir).
Fast travel is locked if players do not fully complete the World Event The Seed of Travi. Unable to interact with Banski in the Not Today, Jotun World Event.
WORLD
Addressed
Crew members would ask for players’ help to loot and raid even though the raid has already been completed. “We’ve had one yes, but what about second Raids?”
Various incorrect AI behaviors.
VALKYRIE ARENA
Addressed
Dying before reaching the completion screen would cause players to remain stuck underground.
Dead bodies of NPCs appearing when loading the autosave of a newly started tale.
The Bear of Blue Waters does not spawn and the Glacial Bear Encounter tale skips from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2.
The lynx stops attacking players during the Shapeshifters of Legend tale.
Finisher animations for the first wave of lynx are not working properly.
GRAPHICS, ANIMATION, AND AUDIO
Addressed
Eivor’s name being mentioned by allies instead of Havi in certain locations.
Offset animation when performing a finisher on a Slayer with the Dane axe and an Atgeir weapon.
Muspel Slayers not holding their weapons correctly upon being resurrected. Significant lack of discipline.
Resurrected NPCs not holding any weapons upon leaving and returning to their location.
Various issues where Havi would remain stuck in a free-fall animation and/or get desynchronized.
UI/HUD
Addressed
The Block Stat line is missing on the inventory page for the All-Father’s Guard shield.
Incorrect Altar completion message in England upon completion of the Dawn of Ragnarök expansion.
ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA BASE GAME
WORLD
Addressed
Instances of grass and/or foliage disappearing as players approach.
ARMORY
Addressed
Armory loadout feature is not available after travelling to Svartalfheim.
Loadouts are not available in the Mythical Worlds.
MASTERY CHALLENGE
Addressed
Level Scaling option is automatically switched to Harder upon participating in any Mastery Challenge.
Long loading time when reloading or exiting any challenge.
Leaf Bow and Raven Sickle reappearing in Hildiran’s shop after completing the Dawn of Ragnarök’s introduction quest.
Players don’t have enough currency to purchase all the sets from Hildiran’s Wares.
Uffentune Challenge: Mastery Challenge assets are present outside of the trial.
Anderitum Hideout Raven Challenge: Unable to loot the key from the Destroyer if players acquired it once and restarted the trial without unlocking the cell door.
MAIN QUESTS, WORLD EVENTS, AND SIDE ACTIVITIES
Addressed
Enemy and Ally NPC remains idle during the quest Kingdom’s End (Hamtunscire).
ASSASSIN’S CREED CROSSOVER STORIES
Addressed
Online Service Error received upon trying to see a photo taken during the introduction scene.
GRAPHICS, ANIMATION, AND AUDIO
Addressed
Flowers from the Vikingr Braids hairstyles are missing during dialogue scenes if players have equipped a helmet.
Eivor goes into a T-pose when dropping down from the eastern viewpoint in Cent.
Numerous clipping issues.
Numerous graphics, texture, animation, or lighting issues.
UI/HUD
Addressed
Silver and XP boost buff not appearing above the adrenaline bar after initiating a feast.
Numerous UI/HUD issues.
DISCOVERY TOUR: VIKING AGE
UI/HUD
Addressed
The Tracked Quest banner overlaps with all quest names in the Pause Menu when Text Size is set to large.
For more on AC Valhalla update 1.5.3, head over to Ubisoft’s website.
In other news, a dodgy new report blames Cyberpunk 2077 bugs and issues on a QA company, and Sony has introduced new PS Store cards for the revamped PS Plus.
Over the weekend, Forbes published an article quoting YouTuber Upper Echelon Gamers who claims to have been contacted by a “whistleblower” with the accusation that Cyberpunk 2077 bugs and issues are entirely the fault of an external QA partner named Quantic Lab. The report has since been picked up by a number of websites but it all sounds sketchy at best and we’re not quite sure there’s much truth to it.
What the report says about the infamous Cyberpunk 2077 bugs
Image credit: Twitter user PolaczekAdam
According to Upper Echelon Gamers, they were sent a 72-page document by someone that works (or worked) at Quantic Lab. According to them, the QA company misled CD Projekt RED about the size of the team involved in the project in order to keep the contract. Allegedly, the staff members that were involved in Cyberpunk 2077 QA work were inexperienced (under six months of experience) and there were no seniors keeping a check on things. Upper Echelon Gamers’ source further claims – and this is the most bizarre one – that Quantic Lab had a quota system for how many bugs its team had to report in a day, leading to CDPR devs being inundated with thousands of pointless reports that led to critical and game-breaking bugs being shafted.
That last claim is, quite frankly, enough for me to dismiss this report. But wait, there’s more. Upper Echelon Gamers’ entire channel seems to be dedicated to controversy (or stirring it, really), with several videos dedicated to Cyberpunk 2077 that favor CDPR. The YouTuber also has a history of attacking games media with gems like this:
Maybe you were finally able to get your hands on a PS5 not too long ago, but now you find yourself quickly running out of space on it. Now's a good time to invest in an SSD that can expand your console's storage because one of our favorites from Samsung is back on sale for an all-time-low price. The Samsung 980 Pro drive in 1TB is 33 percent off and down to $140. A few other drive we recommend from brands like PNY, Patriot and Crucial are also on sale right now, too.
Normally priced at $210, Samsung's drive comes in a compact, M.2 form factor and supports read speeds up to 7,000 MB/s. It uses a special thermal control algorithm and a nickel coating to manage heat levels, plus a heat spreader label to help manage the temperature of the NAND chip. It's also compatible with Samsung Magician, which is management software that lets you monitor its overall health and keep it up to date.
The biggest issue for PS5 owners is that the drive's standard configuration doesn't come with a heatsink, which you'll need to install it in the console. However, you can get the SSD with said heatsink for only $170 right now, which is 26 percent off its normal rate.
Also on sale is our favorite PS5 SSD, the Patriot Viper VP4300: the 1TB version is down to $130 and the 2TB model is on sale for $255. This drive supports sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s, plus it comes with a heatsink preinstalled so it's ready to use with the PS5. If you've got a tighter budget, a couple of Crucial and PNY drives might be better fits. Crucial's P5 Plus SSD in 1TB is 20 percent off and down to $128, while PNY's XLR8 CS3040 SSD in 1TB is a whopping 42 percent off and down to $105.
If you've been waiting for Google's highest-end Pixel 6 model to drop below the $800 mark before you buy, you now have your chance. Woot is selling the 128GB Pixel 6 Pro for $780 ($119 off) today only. That's better than an Amazon discount we saw earlier this month, and a good deal if you're looking for a powerful large-screen phone.
Much of what we said about the Pixel 6 Pro at launch remains true today. It mates top-tier (if polarizing) design with superb cameras, a good screen and Google's definitive Android 12 experience, including smart Assistant features. It's also relatively light for a phone this size at 7.4oz, if not quite as featherweight as Samsung's Galaxy S22+ (6.9oz).
Software updates have tackled many of the Pixel 6 Pro's early problems, although the fingerprint reader might still be too finicky for some tastes. The bigger concern simply revolves around timing. Google has already teased the release of the Pixel 7 Pro this fall — you might want to hold off if you're interested in its improved performance and other as yet unannounced upgrades. If you're just looking for a good value, though, the current-generation phone is hard to top.
Those looking to upgrade their home's WiFi system can save a bunch on Nest WiFi packs right now. Amazon has most of Nest WiFi configurations on sale, with some at new all-time lows. You can pick up one router for $115, a two-pack with one router and one access point for $149, or a three-pack with one router and two access points for $199. While that's a new low on the router by itself, you'll get the deepest discounts on the multi-packs, which are nearly half off their normal prices.
Google's mesh system earned a score of 84 from us when it first came out and there's still a lot to like about it. Each module has an attractive, minimalist design and setting up the system is pretty simple. Each router can cover up to 2,200 square feet and you'll get an additional 1,600 square feet of coverage with each access point you add. That will likely be the biggest factor in deciding which pack you get; those who live in apartments or smaller homes could get away with a single router, while those with multi-story houses should consider springing for a multi-pack.
In addition to supporting Gigabit internet, the Nest WiFi system also has the convenience of built-in Google Assistant support. In fact, each access point acts almost like a Nest Mini smart speaker. You can tap the top of the point to play and pause, and ask the Assistant to do things like read off calendar alerts and set reminders. And if you don't want to use voice commands, or just want a bit more privacy, you can flip the switch on the back of the access points to turn off the microphone. The only caveat to the Nest WiFi is that it's not a WiFi 6 system, and that could be a dealbreaker if you're set on getting a more future-proof device. However, if you're just looking for a new WiFi setup that's fast, reliable and quick to set up, Google's Nest WiFi fits that bill.
The PS5 stock shortage isn’t showing any signs of subsiding but luckily for grandparents around the world, there’s this fake PS5 – or GameStation 5 – that they can purchase for Christmas. Not only is it affordable at $25 (or $15-20, depending on where you look), it also comes with 200 games so you don’t have to spend a penny on those $70 AAAs.
Let’s watch the fake PS5 in action
The GameStation 5 has been around for a while so it’s nothing new but it caught my attention when I saw an actual video showcasing the console and its games. There are plenty of unboxing videos but none that show the true power of this thing quite like YouTuber Spawn Wave.
I actually became curious and started digging around to see where I can find this GameStation 5 and AliExpress delivered, as always. The package comes complete with a stand like the actual PS5 and knock off DualShock 3s. It’s an 8-bit console so you don’t need any fancy screens, but unfortunately, no game saves. If you die, you die.
The product description I found states that GameStation 5 supports NTSC so it’s a step ahead of PS Plus Premium classics in most regions that are stuck with poorly performing PAL games. Rest assured, GameStation 5 will not be a stutter fest.
Jokes aside, it’s crazy to think that these consoles have enough demand for them to be produced nearly every generation with the same old games. At this point, they’ve got to be more profitable than the PlayStation Classic, which bombed critically and commercially, and ended up going from $100 to a whopping $20 brand-new at retail.
PS Plus Essential July 2022 games lineup has leaked. We’re confident about this one because it comes from the same Dealabs user, billbil kun, who has been accurately leaking the service’s monthly lineup for eons now. It looks like the most basic tier of the revamped service is due to receive Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, and Arcadegeddon.
When will PS Plus Essential July 2022 games go live?
As a reminder, the Essential tier is PS Plus as we knew it before. You’ll get Cloud saves, some basic membership bonuses like discounts, and monthly games. We’re assuming that Essential will follow the same format as before, which means that the aforementioned games will go live on the first Tuesday of the month. That falls on July 5th.
Man of Medan is also part of PS Plus Extra lineup but the other two games aren’t. Nevertheless, the difference between PS Plus Essential and Extra/Premium is that the former allows you to keep the games forever and play whenever you want provided you are an active member. Games in the Extra/Premium tiers aren’t yours to keep. So you shouldn’t really be worried about Essential offering games that have appeared in Extra/Premium. There will inevitably be some dupes considering the sheer amount of games offered in Extra/Premium and the fact that there will be plenty of users who are only subscribed to Essential, so we have to be a bit reasonable with our expectations here.
As previously mentioned, given billbil kun’s track record, we are fairly confident that this leak is accurate. As usual, we’ll update our readers when the lineup is officially confirmed this week.
Good news! Final Fantasy 16 setting and accents will match, ensuring that players don’t complain about immersion, or lack thereof, when they hear American accents while running around in fantasy medieval Europe. Square Enix’s Naoki Yoshida has confirmed that the upcoming game will only feature British accents.
“Medieval fantasy = Europe,” says Yoshida
Speaking to Dengeki Online (translation via Twitter user aitaikimochi), Yoshida said that he wanted to avoid getting complaints from American players who will inevitably question why they’re hearing similar accents if the game is set in fantasy Europe. Square Enix went the extra mile to ensure that every accent was British.
I think what we equate as ‘Medieval fantasy = Europe’ would probably be best represented by The Lord of the Rings. We made sure not to include any American accents. We decided to do this to prevent Americans from playing the game and getting mad by saying something like, ‘I was looking forward to playing a game set in fantasy medieval Europe, but why are they speaking American English!?’ To prevent this, we made sure all the dialogue was recorded using British English.
Yoshida added that Final Fantasy 16 will be the first PS5-only game that tells a full-fledged story set within fantasy medieval Europe. So, you know, the pressure is on to set an example…
Yoshi-P is very aware of specifically Americans +their complaints on English voice acting lol.
For FF16, they made sure NOT to include any American accents to prevent Americans from getting upset thinking “if it’s in fantasy Medieval Europe, why do they speak American English!?” pic.twitter.com/UrFdtN0tzA
The skies overhead could soon be filled with constellations of commercial space stations occupying low earth orbit while human colonists settle the Moon with an eye on Mars, if today's robber barons have their way. But this won't result in the same freewheeling Wild West that we saw in the 19th century, unfortunately, as tomorrow's interplanetary settlers will be bringing their lawyers with them.
In their new book, The End of Astronauts: Why Robots Are the Future of Exploration, renowned astrophysicist and science editor, Donald Goldsmith, and Martin Rees, the UK's Astronomer Royal, argue in favor of sending robotic scouts — with their lack of weighty necessities like life support systems — out into the void ahead of human explorers. But what happens after these synthetic astronauts discover an exploitable resource or some rich dork declares himself Emperor of Mars? In the excerpt below, Goldsmith and Rees discuss the challenges facing our emerging exoplanetary legal system.
Almost all legal systems have grown organically, the result of long experience that comes from changes in the political, cultural, environmental, and other circumstances of a society. The first sprouts of space law deserve attention from those who may participate in the myriad activities envisioned for the coming decades, as well, perhaps, from those who care to imagine how a Justinian law code could arise in the realm of space.
Those who travel on spacecraft, and to some degree those who will live on another celestial object, occupy situations analogous to those aboard naval vessels, whose laws over precedents to deal with crimes or extreme antisocial behavior. These laws typically assign to a single officer or group of officers the power to judge and to inflict punishment, possibly awaiting review in the event of a return to a higher court. This model seems likely to reappear in the first long-distance journeys within the solar system and in the first settlements on other celestial objects, before the usual structure of court systems for larger societies appears on the scene.
As on Earth, however, most law is civil law, not criminal law. A far greater challenge than dealing with criminal acts lies in formulating an appropriate code of civil law that will apply to disputes, whether national or international, arising from spaceborne activities by nations, corporations, or individuals. For half a century, a small cadre of interested parties have developed the new specialty of “space law,” some of which already has the potential for immediate application. What happens if a piece of space debris launched by a particular country or corporation falls onto an unsuspecting group of people or onto their property? What happens if astronauts from different countries lay claim to parts of the moon or an asteroid? And most important in its potential importance, if not in its likelihood: who will speak for Earth if we should receive a message from another civilization?
Conferences on subjects such as these have generated more interest than answers. Human exploration of the moon brought related topics to more widespread attention and argument. During the 1980s, the United Nations seemed the natural arena in which to hash them out, and those discussions eventually produced the outcomes described in this chapter. Today, one suspects, almost no one knows the documents that the United Nations produced, let alone has plans to support countries that obey the guidelines in those documents.
Our hopes for achieving a rational means to define and limit activities beyond our home planet will require more extensive agreements, plus a means of enforcing them. Non-lawyers who read existing and proposed agreements about the use of space should remain aware that lawyers typically define words relating to specialized situations as “terms of art,” giving them meanings other than those that a plain reading would suggest.
For example, the word “recovery” in normal discourse refers to regaining the value of something that has been lost, such as the lost wages that arise from an injury. In more specialized usage, “resource recovery” refers to the act of recycling material that would otherwise go to waste. In the vocabulary of mining operations, however, “recovery” has nothing to do with losing what was once possessed; instead, it refers to the extraction of ore from the ground or the seabed. The word’s gentle nature contrasts with the more accurate term “exploitation,” which often implies disapproval, though in legal matters it often carries only a neutral meaning. For example, in 1982 the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea established an International Seabed Authority (ISA) to set rules for the large portion of the seabed that lies beyond the jurisdiction of any nation. By now, 168 countries have signed on to the convention, but the United States has not. According to the ISA’s website, its Mining Code “refers to the whole of the comprehensive set of rules, regulations and procedures issued by ISA to regulate prospecting, exploration and exploitation of marine minerals in the international seabed Area.” In mining circles, no one blinks at plans to exploit a particular location by extracting its mineral resources. Discussions of space law, however, tend to avoid the term “exploitation” in favor of “recovery.”
from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/KvslmRp
Former PlayStation executive and Sony Computer Entertainment America’s founding member Bernie Stolar has passed away aged 75. News of Stolar’s demise was first reported by VentureBeat and confirmed by his friends. Stolar was also known for his tenure as president of Sega of America after he left Sony.
Stolar had an eventful career as a PlayStation executive
Stolar was no stranger to the video games industry when he was tapped by Sony but it was as a PlayStation executive that he signed a number of major franchises that are loved even today. These include Crash Bandicoot, Ridge Racer, Oddworld Inhabitants, and Spyro The Dragon. Back in 2015, he told VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi that he loved working for Sony but left out of fear of getting fired. At the time of his departure, PlayStation underwent major restructuring that saw a lot of executives ousted. Stolar wasn’t fired but when he got an offer at Sega, he felt that it was the right time to jump ship.
I loved working for Sony, I really did. But when the opportunity came up to go to Sega and help rebuild the business and come up with new hardware, I was very interested in doing it. I wouldn’t have left Sony if I hadn’t also lived in fear of getting fired along with everyone else, though.
At Sega, Stolar was behind the development and launch of Dreamcast, and he later became instrumental in acquiring Visual Concepts to create 2K Sports. Unfortunately, by the end of 1999, Stolar was pushed out alongside another executive, leading to him joining Mattel.
“I love this business,” Stolar said of the games industry. “I love it because I get to work with people who are young and passionate. I’m one of the old gray-haired guys in the industry, but it’s wonderful to work with all this young talent.”
Players in some countries have spotted a promotional image suggesting that Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PS Plus entry is on its way. The screenshot that’s being circulated on Reddit and Twitter doesn’t make it clear if players are getting the full game or just a timed trial but I’m personally assuming the latter considering that it appeared for PS Plus Premium users.
Rift Apart PS Plus – timed trial or full game?
The image in question can be found above (click to enlarge) and it shows that the player is a PS Plus Premium user. Considering PS Plus Extra users haven’t spotted this one yet and timed trials are specifically a PS Plus Premium feature, some fans have decided to keep their expectations in check and have assumed that we’re looking at an upcoming timed trial. But never say never.
If Rift Apart happens to become part of Extra/Premium then it would be a great addition to the lineup. Between this, the upcoming Stray, and games like Returnal, PS Plus is offering a ton of value in a single month. That said, if Rift Apart happens to be a timed trial (bummer if so), it’ll join the likes of Horizon Forbidden West and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
Here are all the timed trials available thus far:
Biomutant
Crusader Kings 3
Cyberpunk 2077
ELEX 2
Farming Simulator 22
Horizon Forbidden West
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Lego City Undercover
MotoGP 22
Olli Olli World
Spellforce 3: Reforced
The Cruel King and The Great Hero
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
WWE 2K22
We’ll update our readers when we have more information. For now, take everything with a grain of salt.
Apple will reportedly not challenge the recent vote by employees at its Towson Town Center retail location in Maryland to unionize. Citing a “person familiar with the company’s plans,” Reuters reports the tech giant will participate in the bargaining process “in good faith.” Apple declined to comment on the report.
On June 19th, workers at the Towson Town Center Apple Store voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Of the approximately 110 employees who were eligible to participate in the election, 65 voted yes. Towson Town Center was the first Apple retail location in the US to vote on unionization after organizers at a store in Georgia called off an election over intimidation claims.
If the reporting from Reuters is accurate and Apple does not plan to challenge the Towson vote, the company’s approach would put it at odds with much of corporate America. Amazon, for instance, quickly came out against the historic vote at its JFK8 facility in Staten Island, saying it would appeal the result over allegations the Amazon Labor Union had intimidated workers and committed “electioneering.” Even if their appeals are ultimately thrown out, companies will typically challenge union votes as a way to delay the bargaining process and pour water on other organizing efforts.
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It looks like Hogwarts Legacy pre-order bonuses have leaked, thanks to a hawk-eyed Reddit user who decided to comb through the source code of the game’s official webpage. Trust internet sleuths to do things you wouldn’t have thought of but they tend to deliver the goods. Nevertheless, Avalanche Software and WB Games have since updated the webpage to remove references to pre-order content, essentially confirming that the report is accurate. Without further ado, here’s what was found.
Hogwarts Legacy pre-order content list
As discovered by Reddit user opalelement, the following content was apparently tied to purchase of Hogwarts Legacy:
Thestral Mount
Dark Arts Cosmetic Pack
Dark Arts Battle Arena
Dark Arts Garrison Hat
72 Hours Early Access to the Game
Kelpie Robe
Steel Case
Floating Ancient Magic Wand with Book
Of the list above, the 72-hour early access bonus is the most interesting one as it seems to be becoming more of a norm in the games industry.
According to opalelement, the source code mentioned labels like “digital only” and “digital deluxe only” suggesting that different editions will come with different pre-order bonuses. Since they were only looking at the source code and not officially released information, they couldn’t tell which bonuses were tied to which edition of the game. Originally, opalelement detailed how they got to the aforementioned information, which allowed other users to verify it. They later wrote that “as of 2022-06-24 09:37 AM Central Time, the data was no longer visible in the page source.”
Hogwarts Legacy still has a generic release window of Q4 2022 so we have no idea when we’ll get more information.
We recently learned that Sony may have begun phasing out prepaid PS Plus cards, which you could simply pop the code in from and activate the subscription for the length of service displayed on the card. Sony didn’t comment on the matter but as folks over at PushSquare have discovered, the company has quietly rolled out a new series of PS Store vouchers that not only serve the purpose of topping up your wallet funds, but also make it a tad easier for folks to just renew their PS Plus Extra subscriptions for a year because they come in those exact denominations.
New PS Plus cards are available in the UK and US
On Amazon U.S., you’ll find PS Store gift cards with new branding that specifically mention PS Plus on top but they aren’t only meant for renewing your subscription. The $110 card, for example, can either be used to simply top up your wallet funds or purchase a year of PS Plus Extra ($110 is the cost of one year of Extra + tax). Other denominations are $70, $55, and $30.
In the UK, PushSquare reports that these cards are available on sites like ShopTo and Amazon. You can purchase a £84 card, which is the price of PS Plus Extra for a year.
Opinion: What was wrong with the old format?
Zarmena writes… I agree with PushSquare’s Sammy Barker when he says that this new format isn’t as straightforward as the old one, which allowed players to simply pick the length of service they wanted, purchase the card, pop the code in, and be good to go. I can see why Sony wanted to streamline the voucher system but I personally would have preferred keeping the month-based cards separate from PS Store wallet top-up vouchers.
Now that the new PS Plus has been rolled out worldwide, players are discovering things that Sony didn’t exactly communicate ahead of time. The company did warn players that PS Plus Extra, Premium games are subject to change but how exactly do we find out what games are leaving the service and when? Well, there are two ways: the Last Chance to Play section and a manual search for a game.
PS Plus Extra, Premium games expiration explained
If you’re subscribed to PS Plus Extra, Premium tiers then you’ll notice a Last Chance to Play section when you pull up your respective catalog. However, this section only lists games that are closer to expiration. As we previously reported, there are games that show an expiration date of September/October, which will be flagged nearer the time. The only way to know if a game of your choice has an expiration date is to execute a manual search for it.
So which games are about to expire soon? So far we have Shadow Warrior 3 and Syberia leaving the service. Games set to expire in September/October are Red Dead Redemption games and expansion, NBA 2K22, and WRC 10. Following PS Plus Europe’s launch, the following games left the service: Evil Genius 2, Y School Heroes: Bustlin’ School life, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, and 428: Shibuya Scramble.
Sony hasn’t said if lineup changes will vary by region but we assume they will in some cases since the catalogs also vary albeit slightly. Whatever the case, don’t expect to be delivered a notification when games are set to leave the service.
In other news, The Last of Us Part 1 file size has been revealed and it’s understandably chunkier than previous entries even without the multiplayer, and there’s a weekend sale happening at the PS Store that you might wanna check out.
A group of Democratic senators is urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Apple and Google over their collection of mobile users' information. In a letter addressed to FTC Chair Lina Khan, the lawmakers — Senators Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Cory A. Booker and Sara Jacobs — accuse the tech giants of "engaging in unfair and deceptive practices by enabling the collection and sale of hundreds of millions of mobile phone users' personal data." They added that the companies "facilitated these harmful practices by building advertising-specific tracking IDs into their mobile operating systems."
The senators specifically mentioned in their letter how individuals seeking abortions will become particularly vulnerable if their data, especially their location information, is collected and shared. They wrote the letter shortly before the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade, making abortion immediately illegal in states with trigger laws. They explained that data brokers are already selling location information of people visiting abortion providers. The senators also stressed how that information can now be used by private citizens incentivized by "bounty hunter" laws targeting individuals seeking an abortion.
Android and Google were built with tracking identifiers that are used for advertising purposes. While the identifiers are supposed to be anonymous, the senators said data brokers are selling databases linking them to consumer names, email addresses and telephone numbers. Apple rolled out an update for iOS last year to implement stricter app tracking privacy measures, requiring apps to ask for permission before collecting users' unique Identification for Advertisers device code.
Google, they said, still enables that tracking identifier by default. The company previously introduced features to make it harder to track users across apps, though, and it recently vowed to refine Privacy Sandbox on Android, "with the goal of introducing new, more private advertising solutions." The tech giant told Ars Technica: "Google never sells user data, and Google Play strictly prohibits the sale of user data by developers... Any claims that advertising ID was created to facilitate data sale are simply false."
Despite the solutions the companies had introduced, the lawmakers said they'd already caused harm. They're now asking the FTC to look into the role Apple and Google played in "transforming online advertising into an intense system of surveillance that incentivizes and facilitates the unrestrained collection and constant sale of Americans’ personal data."
Wyden and 41 other Democratic lawmakers also urged Google last month to stop collecting and keeping location data that could be used against people who've had or are seeking abortions. More recently, another group of lawmakers led by Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Elissa Slotkin asked the company to "crack down on manipulative search results" that lead people seeking abortions to anti-abortion clinics" instead.
from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/HNcdX7i
In this installment of Recommended Listening, Freakonomics Radio begins a three-part series on all things blockchain. The podcast will tackle everything from Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to NFTs and the technology that powers it all.
Shaw takes us inside Spotify's big spending spree, from what was happening behind the scenes, the decision to hand Joe Rogan a mountain of money and a rift between the company and the Obamas over content. "All told, the Obamas recorded about 15 hours of audio for Spotify," he explains. "Technically, they fulfilled their deal, but their output was less than what Rogan releases in a couple of weeks."
The story behind the company that created the Good Grips handle and took over the kitchen "for customers of differing abilities and confidence levels," becoming the top culinary gadget maker in terms of market share.
from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/W2OIzfT
One of my favorite activities growing up as a video game nerd was randomly typing the names of fictional game, movie, or book sequels into Google just to see what came up. I didn’t care if it was real or fake. I enjoyed the daydreaming that came from imagining “what if?”
