Tech News

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Comcast accused of signing thousands up for a protection program without their consent

Back in August of 2016, Comcast was named in a lawsuit alleging that the cable company had deceived hundreds of thousands of subscribers in Washington state into paying $73 million in fees over the past five years for a “protection plan” that they didn’t need. That would have been bad enough, but in an amended complaint this week, the attorney general alleges that “Comcast may have signed up more than half of all SPP subscribers without their consent.”

In theory, the Service Protection Plan protects customers against fees for service visits from Comcast representatives. In actuality, if you read the fine print, you’ll discover that the $6 a month plan doesn’t cover in-home wiring, repair of equipment, installation of new outlets or replacement of wiring destroyed in a natural disaster.

With such a limited scope in terms of what the plan covers, you can see why Comcast was (allegedly) forced to sneak customers on to the program. Here’s a segment of the amended complaint that highlights the severity of the claims:

Many of the supposed “sales” of the SPP by Comcast never occurred. Rather, Comcast deceptively added the SPP to many of its Washington customers’ accounts without their knowledge or consent. On many occasions, the SPP was not even mentioned by Comcast to the customer on the telephone call where the SPP sale allegedly occurred. On other occasions, the customer was offered the SPP and refused it, yet Comcast deceptively added the SPP to the customer’s account. These types of deceptive practices occurred in over 50% of a random sample of SPP enrollments reviewed by the State.

According to the complaint, even when Comcast did disclose that it was signing customers up for the SPP, it would tell them that there was no recurring charge (which was false). And regardless of whether or not they knew they would be paying for the SPP, customers were often given false or misleading information about what it actually covered. In a statement, Washington AG Bob Ferguson said that “the extent of [Comcast’s] deception is shocking.”

I imagine this won’t do much to change anyone’s opinion on Comcast being the most hated company in America.

Comcast accused of signing thousands up for a protection program without their consent was originally published on Tech News Center

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Windows 10 face authentication can be fooled with a printed photograph

Keeping your devices up to date with the latest software is always a good idea, because along with added features and bug fixes, new software also often includes security updates that keep you safe from intruders. Such is the case with Windows 10, as security researchers from German firm SySS discovered recently that Windows 10 systems that have yet to receive the Fall Creators Update are vulnerable to a spoofing attack using a printed photo.

In a report, the firm claims that it was able to defeat the Windows Hello facial authentication system with a modified printed photograph of the authorized user. SySS researchers were able to bypass the security feature on both a Dell Latitude laptop and Microsoft’s own Surface Pro 4, which has “enhanced anti-spoofing” as well.

Thankfully, as you can see in the video demonstration below, the bypass would be extraordinarily difficult for anyone to accomplish. The attacker not only needs a modified headshot of the user, but also needs physical access to the device itself. That said, a security flaw is a security flaw, and it definitely needs to be addressed.

Interestingly, even after applying the Fall Creators Update, SySS was still able to use the photo to access the test devices. The only way to ensure that your device is safe from this flaw is to update to the latest version of Windows 10, enable the “enhanced anti-spoofing” feature and reconfigure Windows Hello from scratch.

“If only the Windows 10 operating system is updated from a vulnerable version like 1607 to the latest revision of 1709 without newly setting up Windows Hello Face Authentication, the simple spoofing attack still works,” warns the firm. So if your computer supports Windows Hello, update and reconfigure ASAP.

Windows 10 face authentication can be fooled with a printed photograph was originally published on Tech News Center

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14 Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play in 2018

With the arrival of consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One X, as well as long-awaited games such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s not an exaggeration to say 2017 was a landmark year for video games. But as the year draws to a close, it’s time to look forward to the games that have been promised for 2018.

From much-anticipated sequels to entirely new productions, here’s a look at what’s coming to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

[Note: This list only contains new games that have been given a launch window for 2018. Games with unannounced release timeframes have not been included. This list also excludes remakes and ports.]

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar’s epic Western open-world adventure is finally getting a follow-up in the form of a prequel. The story follows outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, with the vast heartland of America once again serving as the stunning backdrop. Judging by the trailer, there will be plenty of high-energy horseback chases, gunfights, and side missions to please fans of the original. There’s also a new online multiplayer experience.

Release Date: Spring 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

A Way Out

A Way Out is a story-driven prison break action adventure game with one important twist: You can only play it in split screen co-op mode. That means you must play alongside a friend, whether it be online or on your couch. The game centers on two protagonists, Vincent and Leo, who must team up and learn how to work together in order to escape. But just because the game is co-op doesn’t mean you and your partner will always be on the same page. As shown in the trailer, there are instances in which you’ll both be in different positions in the same situation. The player controlling Vincent, for example, might be in a cutscene while Leo is roaming around the prison.

Release Date: March 23, 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Kingdom Hearts 3

There’s a lot that we don’t know about Kingdom Hearts 3 just yet, but we have learned that Sora, Goofy, and Donald Duck will be visiting completely new worlds. Toy Story, Tangled, and Big Hero 6 are getting their own themed levels in Kingdom Hearts 3, which is launching 13 years after the last numbered sequel arrived in 2005. A trailer shown during Disney’s D23 conference in July included miniature toy-sized versions of Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy battling villains and collaborating with Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and the rest of the gang in Andy’s bedroom.

Release Date: 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Metro: Exodus

4A Games’ upcoming first-person shooter — set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic Moscow — looks to be a bleak tale of isolation and despair. Inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky’s best-selling novel Metro 2035, Metro: Exodus is a survival horror game with rabid creatures and monsters hiding at every turn.

Release Date: Fall 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

God of War

It’s been about five years since the last God of War game was released in 2013, and in 2018 Kratos will finally return — this time with his son Atreus. That father-and-son dynamic will seemingly be a crucial part of the game: trailers have shown Kratos teaching his son about the brutal world they live in. The clip also suggests that Atreus may serve as a companion when slaying beasts, as the child’s voice can be heard alerting his father to incoming enemies. The plot takes place after the events of previous games, with Kratos living as a man in the realm of gods.

Release Date: Early 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4

Far Cry 5

Rather than bringing you to exotic locations like the Himalayas, Far Cry 5 takes place right in rural Montana. Your objective lies in taking down The Project at Eden’s Gate, a fanatical and violent death cult. Early previews of the game suggest that many of the franchise’s beloved elements are still present, such as gorgeous terrain and carefully-designed maps conducive to stealth attacks, as well as a polished weapons system.

Release Date: March 27, 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Anthem

Marking a departure for BioWare, the game developer known for story driven franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Inquisition, comes Anthem, a multiplayer RPG action game. Players in the Anthem universe are known as “freelancers,” a role that involves gearing up in a Javelin exosuit and venturing outside the walled community to explore the unknown. These customizable exosuits give your character superhuman capabilities, and each one has its own particular strengths. One Javelin suit, for example, may have attributes skewed toward strength and power, while another might be more well-rounded. You can play on a team of up to four players.

Release Date: Fall 2018 Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Insomniac Games’ upcoming take on Spider-Man puts Peter Parker right at the center of a crime-ridden New York City in Marvel’s universe. The gameplay appears to be reminiscent of Rocksteady Studios’ Batman-themed Arkham franchise, which is to say it seemingly involves a lot of tracking down thugs and cronies and wiping out bosses to keep the city crime-free. Players can expect to face villains like Wilson Fisk, a.k.a Kingpin, and a mysterious group known as The Demons. Familiar characters like Mary Jane Watson and Mile Morales are also part of the story.

Release Date: 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4

Soulcalibur VI

Bandai Namco is adding a new installment to its classic fighting series with the arrival of Soulcalibur VI next year. Mainstays like Sophitia and Mitsurugi will unsurprisingly be present in the game, while a new Reversal Edge battle mechanic makes it possible to score a counter attack against an opponent if timed properly. Like Bandai Namco’s other fighting flagship, Tekken 7, the new Soulcalibur will be rendered in Unreal Engine 4, which means it should boast smoother and more detailed graphics.

Release Date: 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Detroit: Become Human

From the developer behind Beyond Two Souls and Heavy Rain comes a new choose-your-own-adventure drama: Detroit: Become Human. The story follows an android named Kara living with an aggressive and seemingly dangerous father named Todd and his young daughter Alice. The narrative’s outcome largely depends on the actions you take throughout the game: you can choose to run with Alice, stand up to Todd, and obediently carry on with your android duties. As implied near the end of the trailer, each decision leads the story down a path to a different outcome.

Release Date: 2018 Platform: PlayStation 4

Sea of Thieves

This pirate-themed adventure game challenges players with one overarching goal: build up your reputation to become a pirate legend. Whether you’re successful will depend on how you interact with the treasure hunters, merchants, and mages that have set up trading posts in the surrounding world. You and your crew will also encounter other real players throughout the game.

Release Date: March 20 2018 Platforms: Xbox One, PC

Monster Hunter: World

Capcom’s newest installment in the Monster Hunter series brings the action adventure game back to consoles after living on Nintendo’s handhelds in 2015 and 2016. As usual, players will be tasked with slaying ferocious beasts all while using the game’s comprehensive crafting system to create necessary healing items. Scavenging the world around you, particularly after defeating monsters, will be crucial to the game. Based on early previews, Monster Hunter: World seems to be open and accessible enough to make it easy for those who are new to the series to jump right in.

Release Date: January 26 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (release date still TBA)

Yoshi for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s newest Yoshi title is a platforming game with a new art style that mimics the look and feel of a diorama. Based on the trailer it looks like there will also some light puzzle solving, which combined with the game’s new paper-esque aesthetic gives it a LittleBigPlanet feel. For example, it looks like players will have to find special buttons or switches in order to flip the level around and reveal new areas.

Release Date: 2018 Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Kirby Star Allies

Nintendo and HAL Laboratory’s adorable pink puffball will soon be appearing in a new adventure for the Switch. What makes Kirby Star Allies seem notably different than previous games is that Kirby can recruit enemies to join his side — as the title hints. Gamers can collect up to three enemies by hurling hearts at them, which charms them into joining you as you progress through the level. And, of course, Kirby continues to take on his foe’s special abilities by inhaling them.

Release Date: Spring 2018 Platform: Nintendo Switch

14 Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play in 2018 was originally published on Tech News Center

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The iPhone is getting a bigger battery, but you’re going to have to wait for it

It may be as big as all the other 4.7-inch iPhones, but the iPhone X has a much bigger battery inside, thanks to Apple’s logic board innovations. And while the iPhone X’s battery may last just as long as a Plus battery, but some reviewers are still taxing the device’s battery life when compared to rivals.

A new report from one of the most accurate Apple insiders out there says that Apple plans to upgrade the iPhone X’s battery in the near future, but it might not happen in time for next year’s phone launch.

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors that Apple plans to upgrade the TrueDepth camera system responsible for Face ID and other face recognition tricks in 2019. The new setup will require more power, MacRumors explains, which means Apple will need bigger-capacity batteries come 2019.

From the sounds of it, Apple will continue to shrink down the iPhone’s logic board to make room for more battery power:

Apple capable of designing new system for large-capacity batteries: We believe the adoption of TrueDepth camera for 3D sensing in 2017-18 will create demand for larger-capacity batteries. From 2019, we predict iPhone may adopt upgraded 3D-sensing and AR-related functions, and it will consume more power, further increasing demand for large-capacity batteries. We believe Apple’s key technologies, including semiconductor manufacturing processes, system-in-package (SIP), and substrate-like PCB (SLP), will create the required space for larger batteries.

Kuo doesn’t explain what kind of new features the upgraded TrueDepth cameras will be able to offer, although it’s no secret that AR is going to play a big role in the iPhone’s future.

The same analyst said that all of Apple’s 2018 iPhones will have TrueDepth cameras, which means they’re all likely to feature the same design as the iPhone X, complete with L-shaped batteries. He expects Apple to launch two OLED iPhone X successors next September as well as an LCD model.

The iPhone is getting a bigger battery, but you’re going to have to wait for it was originally published on Tech News Center

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Apple Now Requires Disclosure Of Loot Box Odds On Apps

As the association of loot boxes and gambling continue to spark controversy, Apple is implementing a new requirement to every app submitted that has randomized items for purchase.

If you go to the developer review guidelines, it now lists the following: “Apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase.”

This means you should know the risk you’re taking before you press the purchase button. Apple’s disclosure requirements are similar to those in China, where games like Overwatch have to list the odds. Earlier this year, the ESRB (the industry-created ratings group) declared that it doesn’t see loot boxes as gambling. Still, with more games turning to them for extra monetization, such as Star Wars: Battlefront II that temporarily removed them after backlash, regulation of randomized items continues to be a hot topic.

Time will tell if this will carry over to console gaming or if stricter regulations will be put into place.

Our Take Loot boxes have certainly dominated gaming this year, and it hasn’t been pretty. Consumers have voiced their concerns, and this looks like a step in the right direction. While revealing the odds certainly doesn’t crack down on behavior, at least people know the risk they’re taking every time they put money down on these. Regulations must be in place to ensure that this tactic isn’t abused. On the one hand, it allows publishers to make more money to pour into improving their games and taking on new projects, but it also shouldn’t take advantage of fans by overuse or unfairly stacking the odds against them. You have a right to know what you’re putting your money into, so you can decide if it’s a choice you want to make. 

Apple Now Requires Disclosure Of Loot Box Odds On Apps was originally published on Tech News Center

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Apple Says This Is Why Your Old iPhone Is Being Slow or Suddenly Shutting Down

Apple Inc has addressed claims from an app company that says the maker of iPhones slows down the performance of older phones.

On Monday, the blog Primate Labs, a company that makes an app for measuring the speed of an iPhone‘s processor, published data that appeared to show slower performance in the Apple’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 models as they aged.

Apple on Wednesday acknowledged that the company does take some measures to reduce power demands — which can have the effect of slowing the processor — when a phone’s battery is having trouble supplying the peak current that the processor demands.

The problem stems from the fact that all lithium-ion batteries, not just those found in Apple products, degrade and have problems supplying the big bursts as they age and accumulate charging cycles, Apple said in a statement. The problems with peak current draws can also occur when batteries are cold or low on charge.

“Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions,” Apple said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “We’ve now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future.”

When an iPhone‘s processor makes a big current draw from a flagging battery, the battery can deliver the current in spikes that can potentially damage the phone’s electronics. As a result,iPhones would suddenly shut down to protect the pricey processor from being damaged by the power spikes.

The sudden shutdown problem became widespread among iPhones in late 2016, forcing Apple to issue a software fix that had the net result of slowing the phone somewhat with an old, cold or low-charged battery, the company said.

The problem can be remedied by replacing the phone’s battery. Apple charges $79 to replace batteries not covered under the phone’s warranty. The company has long faced criticism from repair advocates for making its batteries difficult for users to replace on their own.

Apple Says This Is Why Your Old iPhone Is Being Slow or Suddenly Shutting Down was originally published on Tech News Center

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Europe tells Uber it’s a taxi service, so it should start acting like one

2017 just isn’t Uber’s year. Aside from hiring Dara Khosrowshahi, the company doesn’t have much to show for itself, other than a slew of scandals. Khosrowshahi’s arrival marked a change in tune at the top of the company, but the new CEO still has to fix plenty of problems created by the former leadership. And Uber was just dealt a massive blow in Europe, where a court ruled the company has to abide by cab regulations.

This one is an old battle that Uber has been fighting in various countries. Uber always defended itself by saying it’s not a genuine taxi service. Instead, it’s an app that acts an intermediary between drivers and customers looking for rides. Therefore, Uber argued, it should not be regulated like a cab company.

However, the European Court of Justice believes otherwise.

“The service provided by Uber connecting individuals with non-professional drivers is covered by services in the field of transport,” the ECJ said, per Reuters. ““Member states can, therefore, regulate the conditions for providing that service.”

And it’s likely that member states will act accordingly.

The ECJ says that Uber “exercises decisive influence over the conditions under which the drivers provide their service.” Furthermore, without the mobile app, the “persons who wish to make an urban journey would not use the services provided by those drivers.”

Reuters says the decision will not have an immediate impact on Uber’s operations, as the company has cut back the use of unlicensed services like UberPOP. However, it’s still a landmark ruling against the company, which may influence Uber’s future, as well as other companies.

“This ruling will not change things in most EU countries where we already operate under transportation law,” an Uber spokeswoman said. “As our new CEO has said, it is appropriate to regulate services such as Uber, and so we will continue the dialogue with cities across Europe. This is the approach we’ll take to ensure everyone can get a reliable ride at the tap of a button.”

Europe tells Uber it’s a taxi service, so it should start acting like one was originally published on Tech News Center

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Guess how much money Samsung is expected to make selling iPhone X screens to Apple next year

We already know that behind Apple, Samsung is the biggest beneficiary from the iPhone X’s success. Samsung is the only company that makes OLED displays that meet Apple’s requirements, and the only supplier that can meet Apple’s needs.

Apple, meanwhile, is looking for other OLED display makers for the iPhone, in an effort to limit its reliance on Samsung. But that won’t happen in the near future, and a new report says Samsung will continue to receive the bulk of iPhone X display orders. And Samsung probably loves taking Apple’s money, even if the iPhone X threat means losing smartphone market share next year.

According to The Investor, Samsung will supply Apple between 180 million and 200 million flexible OLED screens for iPhones next year. That’s four times the amount of displays it sold Apple this year, and it adds up to between $19.8 billion and $22 billion in revenue.

Think about that for a second. That’s like selling anywhere from 21 million to 23 million Galaxy Note 8 units, the 64GB kind that retail for $929, without actually making and marketing those phones.

The report says that said Samsung’s smartphone share will drop next year, with estimated sales at roughly 4 million fewer smartphones in 2018 compared to 2017. But if it stands to make as much as $22 billion from iPhones alone, then Samsung will hardly be bothered. The Investor quotes IHS Market in saying that each iPhone X display, complete with the cover glass and touch sensor, costs Apple $110. And that cash is going to Samsung.

One of the reasons why Samsung will be able to ramp up OLED screen supply significantly next year is that it improved yield rates considerably at its A3 production plant. Yields went up to 80% in the second half of the year, compared to 60% earlier this year. Samsung is now closing in on 90% yield rates, which would allow it to manufacture 224 million 6-inch OLED panels per year.

Reports did say that Apple will sell two different iPhone X successors next year, and this report only seems to reinforce that idea, given that Apple’s demand for OLED display will increase significantly in 2018.

Guess how much money Samsung is expected to make selling iPhone X screens to Apple next year was originally published on Tech News Center

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Apple confirms that iPhones with older batteries will have worse performance

Over the past few weeks, a Reddit thread has reignited the debate over whether or not Apple intentionally slows down older phones in order to spur users to upgrade. This assertion has been made repeatedly by disgruntled iPhone users for years, but there was something different about this specific thread. For the first time, there was proof.

Days later, Geekbench developer John Poole dove even deeper into the data and discovered that not only was the performance of older iPhones markedly different from that of newer phones, but that it appeared as though Apple had introduced a software feature in iOS 10.2.1 to explicitly limit performance of iPhones with older batteries.

As Poole points out, the goal of the feature is to prevent phones with old, degraded batteries from suddenly shutting down. It was a stopgap solution for power management, but Poole notes that from the standpoint of an average user, all they will notice is that the performance of their phone is dropping. When reached for comment by TechCrunch, Apple all but confirmed the findings, but attempted to paint them in a different light:

Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices. Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components. 

Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions. We’ve now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future.

In other words, Apple isn’t trying to force you to upgrade to a newer, more expensive phone (although I’m sure that the company wouldn’t be opposed to that). The result of this forced slowdown is quite the opposite — even as your battery begins to crap out, your phone will still run, just with lesser performance than it did when you bought it.

Apple confirms that iPhones with older batteries will have worse performance was originally published on Tech News Center

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The Virtual Life – 2017's Best Games Were About Resistance

2017 has been a long year. The longest in my life, it’s felt like. I’ve woken up a lot of mornings, made coffee, and then read one headline after another, each leaving their dizzying, devastating impact. Possible war on the horizon. Discrimination in spades. The continued downplay of the dangers of climate change. The death of one of my heroes. A bevy of personal, medical, and emotional issues haven’t exactly made things bright and sparkly. If I were superstitious, I’d tell you there’s something wrong with this year. That it’s cursed, rancid. A year of anger and distrust and fear.

It’s year where I feel like I’ve sleepwalked most days, bouncing between feeling powerless and delusionally powerful. This is a feeling I know many people share but don’t talk about. What’s the use in giving it a voice, all the dread and fear and anxiety? I’ve never found much comfort in talking with other people about fears. Writing about them, sure. You’re just talking to a bunch of white space and then people happen to read your conversation with the white space and have opinions about it. But talking with real people? About being scared of dying, of economic catastrophe, of failed ambitions, of all those little dreadful, murderous thoughts that sneak into your brain in the dead of night? Not for me. I’m trying to change that, make an art out of connecting with people on an emotional level. But it’s hard.

I’ve waffled back and forth over the power of games as therapeutic devices this past year. They’re potent devices for escapism, video games, and escapism has become a sort of dirty word, this idea that we’re escaping from our responsibilities or from confronting reality. There’s maybe some truth to that, but I don’t think that’s a new thing or something that’s exclusive to the world of video games, and I don’t think escapism is inherently a bad thing. Too much of it? Sure. But I think great art often thematically justifies its existence, even if it has a silly veneer. Great art lifts you up and leaves you with messages that could shock you to your core or inspire you to look inward and face the day with renewed passion.

For me, the best games of 2017 were all about resistance. And I don’t just mean political resistance, which has been the banner for many this year, but all kinds of resistance. In the end, resistance is about tearing down established order, especially unconscionable ones. Take, for example, Persona 5, which stars a group of high school students infiltrating the corrupted hearts of adults to make them confess their sins and turn over a new leaf. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, my personal Game of the Year, is a title that ostensibly has no overt political message but is still an adventure that focuses on the responsibility of renewing a corrupt and broken world.

In Dishonored’s Death Of The Outsider, eventually Billie ushers in a new order free of the Outsider, either through violent means or otherwise. It creates a power vacuum and the potential for further chaos, but this vacuum also allows for more people in Dishonored’s world to take more control over their lives. In these games, resistance is the key tenet. Nier: Automata has its character grapple with the cruelty of their masters as they break away in search of a world to build for themselves in an attempt to break the cruel cycle of existence they’re trapped in. The resistance to things that people know to be inhuman and monstrous, things that exist inside and outside of ourselves.

Of course, there were definitely a few games this year that were explicitly political resistance games. The established order in Wolfenstein II, ruled by the cruel nazi regime, must be torn down aggressively, with hatchets severing sinew and bullets bursting eyeballs because the order is built on bigotry and will not respond to reason. There is no debating this sort of power structure because it feeds on hate so in the end, Wolfenstein’s manner of violent resistance is more than justified: it’s deeply satisfying, especially in a year where nazis have the gall to show up at rallies to spread their garbage.

I felt a fire in my throat during certain scenes of Wolfenstein II, a grin slowly stretching out across my face as I watched protagonist BJ Blazkowicz split a Nazi’s face open with a hatchet. There was glee in my heart. Yes, Wolfenstein II is an escapist fantasy,  with its pulp sci-fi leanings and gleeful violence, but it’s also an experience that lets me play out my ideological values against unhinged, horrific ones and, in that way, lets me reinforce them. It lets me believe that good can triumph over evil. Even if that’s not the case, I need to believe it. I need to believe it so I can get up in the morning.

Everything ends, especially power structures and orders, one way or another. This is what all of mankind’s stories have told us as far back as there have been stories. Armies ransacking countries, demolishing nations. Politicians backstabbing each other. People rising up to put their former masters’ heads beneath guillotines. In a year where I’ve woken up to read headlines, pondering if the people at the controls of the nation I live in had any sense of restraint or decency, the best games that I’ve played weren’t oh-so-serious art games that looked unflinchingly into the heart of despair or pure escapist affair, but something in between. Games that let me escape into a world but also had me grappling with larger issues of despair and hopelessness, of the possibility of restoring beautiful worlds, games that reminded me of the value of looking into the horizon for any sign of hope, hope, hope.

Escapist fantasies are just entertainment. At their best, they’re skillful exercises in ideological instruction and inspiration. In the case of 2017’s video games, these works all exist separate from one another obviously but they all communicate one shared message: do not give up. The world is our responsibility and it’s good and useful to have media that we partake remind of us that important fact now and again. As two characters from Nier: Automata, perhaps the most powerful and uplifting interactive experience this year, say: “A future is not given to you. It is something you must make for yourself.” Let us hope in the years to come, as changes take hold on a personal and global scale, that the good in each of us is more than up to the challenge of keeping the peace and that there’s enough art, both in and out of games, to remind us of the worthwhileness of that struggle.

The Virtual Life – 2017’s Best Games Were About Resistance was originally published on Tech News Center

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New Galaxy S9 leak shows a design that’s so much better than the Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are among Samsung’s best-selling devices of all time. They also feature what is arguably the most stunning smartphone design we’ve seen to date. Most would probably agree that it’s a toss-up between the Galaxy S8 and Apple’s iPhone X, but the X’s notch is a deal-breaker for many gadget fans. Curved glass on the both sides of the Galaxy S8 provide smooth, flowing lines that run from the front of the phone to the back. It looks great, and equally important, it feels great in the hand.

Since Samsung’s Galaxy S8 design is so fantastic, it wasn’t exactly a surprise to learn that the company plans to reuse it next year for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. But while the S9 design will be the same for the most part, a key difference was just confirmed in yet another new leak.

Samsung worked hard to develop a Galaxy S9 with a gorgeous new design. It took the Galaxy S8’s current Infinity screen design and made it even better by further reducing the size of the bezels above and below the display. It was stunning… but sadly it was cancelled. It’s unclear exactly what happened to cause Samsung to cancel the phone, but it could’ve been due to manufacturing difficulties or perhaps a desire to save this bold new design for next year.

In its place, Samsung is expected to release Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ models that look almost identical to their predecessors from the front. The S8 and S8+ are two of the sleekest phones the world has ever seen, of course, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Around back, however, there’s a key change that has been rumored for weeks now, and a new leak appears to confirm it once again.

Posted to Slashleaks late Tuesday night, the image appears to show a Galaxy S9+ render that aligns perfectly with what we’ve seen and heard so far. A dual lens rear camera is clearly visible on the back of the phone, but that’s not what appeals to us most. It’s the centrally positioned fingerprint sensor beneath the camera lenses that we’re interested in. Rear-mounted fingerprint scanners aren’t optimal, but the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8’s off-center positioning made it so much worse this year. Next year, it looks like Samsung is finally going to address this.

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are expected to debut at a press conference in late February ahead of a March release.

New Galaxy S9 leak shows a design that’s so much better than the Galaxy S8 was originally published on Tech News Center

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Report: Apple will combine iOS and Mac apps next year

As successful and revolutionary as the iOS App Store has been for mobile, Apple has not been able to replicate that success on desktops and laptops with the Mac App Store. The selection is limited, the storefront is outdated and for the average Mac user, there’s rarely any reason to visit it. And that’s why Apple is reportedly calling an audible.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple will allow developers to design applications that work seamlessly on iOS and macOS. Sources say that the apps will be able to run on touchscreens or with a mouse, depending on whether a user has downloaded the app on an iPhone, an iPad or a macOS computer.

As it stands, developers have to create two separate versions of an app if they want to get it running on iOS and macOS. Not only is that more work for the developer, but inevitably, more time is going to be spent on the mobile app, which has a far greater chance of success on the iOS App Store. As a result, the apps that do make it to the Mac App Store are often given less attention than their mobile counterparts, which means fewer updates and less upkeep.

By allowing developers to build a single app that will run on any Apple device, this issue disappears. If the Twitter app on my phone is the same as the Twitter app on my Mac, I’ll receive updates at the same time regardless of device.

Bloomberg’s sources claim that the unification of apps will roll out as part of the next major iOS and macOS updates in fall 2018. Dubbed “Marzipan” internally, the plan could be officially unveiled as early as WWDC 2018 this coming summer, and then become available alongside the launch of iOS 12 later in the year. On the other hand, “plans are still fluid,” so the date could change or the project could be canceled altogether.

Whether or not this signals a shift in Apple’s long-term strategy remains to be seen, but it certainly appears as if the Cupertino company is going down the same path that Microsoft took when it made Windows 10 universal.

Report: Apple will combine iOS and Mac apps next year was originally published on Tech News Center

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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Review – Looting, Shooting, And Staying Alive

This is it, the final circle. Five players are left alive. Swinging around a corner into a tiny abandoned house, I stumble upon a prone assailant. He tags me a few times, putting my health in the red zone, but I am ready for a close-range skirmish and make short work of him, grabbing a wealth of healing items and ammo from his corpse. Outside, the sound of a sniper rifle cracking leaves another dead. The play area is miniscule now, forcing the remaining players into a confined space – the house I’m in and the area directly outside on the walls. Is the final player tucked away in the closed bathroom? I shoot the door down but there’s no one inside. No movement from the windows. Where could the last mark be? While I scan intently for any signs of movement, I hear the all-too-familiar metallic tink of a grenade landing at my feet. Boom. A number two placement for me, and Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner for the final foe that peeked around the door to fling in the fatal finisher.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is full of magical moments and stories like this, ranging from teeth-clenching suspense to hilarious mishaps. Creating those tales from game to game keeps you coming back for more. While there are only two maps, this isn’t like other shooters where you may find yourself getting tired of the scenery. These maps are huge and full of things to discover hundreds of hours in. Since games play out in a dynamic fashion each time, map variety isn’t an issue.

Gameplay is spurred on by a field-of-play that continually gets smaller and smaller, forcing remaining players into the same area and creating conflict, so you don’t need to worry about facing 99 campers. Other neat gameplay aspects, like drop crates that contain powerful weapons and armor, create skirmish points along the way. This elegant design keeps the game fast and fun, from the moment you select a drop point to the final kill.

Weapons range from crowbars to machine guns, and you must learn to make the most of whatever you can find. When a game starts, you may be struggling with many other players to slaughter each other over a pistol. Later, as the field is trimmed, a shotgun looks pedestrian against scoped and modded assault weapons. Vehicles provide a fast transportation option perfect for cruising around the map to loot-rich areas, running over players, or screeching through a dangerous position. But you need to weigh the noise aspect – other players can see and hear you coming. The dynamic elements of both weapon and vehicle availability from game to game ensure that every match experience is unique and interesting. Still, there’s nothing quite like rolling up with three of your friends and clearing out another team as they try to secure a crate drop.

Solo survival is fun, but teamplay (you can duo with one friend, or group up to four players in a squad) makes PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds shine. Instead of instantly being killed after receiving lethal damage, if you’re teamed up you go into a downed state, allowing your friends to pick you back up. This leaves them vulnerable to being gunned down by the same people that presumably shot you, so there’s a lot of harrowing strategy involved in limping your way to a safe position where you friends can get to you safely, or experiencing that movie moment where your team struggles to locate the sniper that picked you off (and rather than kill you, leaves you alive as bait).

For all the freedom involved in every session, there are still some glitchy quirks and unoptimized aspects of the game that can appear from time to time, like cars spinning into infinity, crashes, or drops. While these incidents can be hilarious, they can also hit at the worst possible time and cost you a win.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds brings the battle royale genre to a smashing mainstream success, packed with memorable moments and action-packed adventures. Solo or with friends, you’re in for an intense ride that’s different every single time.

This review pertains to the PC version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The game is also available on Xbox One as part of the Xbox Preview Program.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Review – Looting, Shooting, And Staying Alive was originally published on Tech News Center

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Life Is Strange: Before The Storm – Hell Is Empty Review

From grief to mental illness, Life is Strange has always made hardship the core of its experience. The finale of this prequel stays true to that notion, but it also brings a sense of satisfaction and a somber reminder of the original’s impact. Deck Nine has done a wonderful job at calling back to the first game while also making you feel like you have agency over how Chloe evolves as her relationship with Rachel grows. The result is a roller coaster of a finale that’s both touching and tragic, raising questions about what it means to be a good friend. The answers will be different for everyone, which is what makes this story matter – not only for what it adds to the Life is Strange canon, but also for what it reveals about its players.

Hell is Empty picks up where the last episode left off, showing the aftermath of the drama-filled Amber family dinner. Rachel gets some long-awaited answers about her father’s past, while Chloe tries to be supportive. This episode is full of intensity, but the best parts are the tender moments between Chloe and Rachel, where you see how much this fast friendship has changed both of their lives. This finale makes you believe in their bond and root for their success as individuals and as a pair. In the original, we didn’t know much about Rachel except for the few instances where Chloe spoke of her. Now I feel like I know and care about Rachel in a way that makes the first game hit even harder. I also feel like I understand Chloe and her motivations better. The writing is authentic and genuine, showing new sides to even minor characters like Nathan Prescott and Frank Bowers. Nothing is black and white, making these multi-dimensional personalities even more intriguing and sympathetic.

My favorite part of Before the Storm is the impact of my choices. I had a lot of agency over where I wanted to take Chloe and Rachel’s relationship. Should they become romantically involved? How do they show their appreciation for each other? As you make these decisions, Deck Nine tells a well-authored story that acknowledges the role you played in shaping it. Little things like asking Rachel for her bracelet ended up having a nice payoff later on, but the moment still stands on its own. Even things you did in the first episode have impact here, making the time it took to develop relationships worth it. As with the previous game, the finale offers one very big decision in how the end plays out, and this decision really makes you ponder what matters to you. I appreciated how it said something about me as much as it said something about Chloe and Rachel’s relationship.

While the episode has plenty of high points, its repeated environments are disappointing; the junkyard wears out its welcome the most, and even new areas are mostly a part of places we’ve already been. The gameplay is sparse, mainly relying on dialogue options, with a few easy-to-solve puzzles. These mostly entail finding the right item or tool for the occasion. While they aren’t anything remarkable, they also don’t get in the way of the story that’s unfolding either. Backtalk continues to be a way for Chloe to solve her problems, but at least it’s toned down a bit from how over-the-top it was in previous episodes. Still, plenty of scenes play out where Chloe disrespects people in a way that feels campy. We know Chloe is rebellious, but these scenes come across as unnatural.

Even with some foibles, Hell is Empty does a fantastic job filling in the blanks of what happened before Chloe was reunited with Max. As a fan, its references to the original shed light on how many things came to be, such as Chloe’s transformation. Yes, I knew the conclusion, but it still has enough interesting developments to keep me invested. Before the Storm accomplishes what so many prequels fail to do; it tells its own story that leaves you content, while also connecting to the original game in a meaningful way.

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm – Hell Is Empty Review was originally published on Tech News Center

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T-Mobile brought back its best iPhone X and iPhone 8 deals for four days only

Late Christmas shoppers should be thrilled to hear that T-Mobile is bringing back a couple of hot iPhone deals right in time for the holidays. 

So if the iPhone is still on your shopping list, you’d better check out T-Mobile’s renewed iPhone promos, which are going to be valid for a few days only. The good news is that the iPhone X is included in these offers.

The promos kick off on Thursday, December 21st in stores and online, and are valid nationwide through Sunday, December 24th.

T-Mobile is ready to sell the iPhone X for $300 less than its sticker price, if you’re willing to trade in a qualifying iPhone and buy the iPhone X on an Equipment Installment Plan.

Obviously, this deal isn’t that great if you plan on selling your existing smartphone yourself or keeping it in the family. But if you want to avoid the hassle of reselling your current iPhone and you like T-Mobile as your carrier, then you should definitely check out this iPhone X deal.

The iPhone X isn’t the only iPhone you can buy at a discount, however, and T-Mobile also has a promotion that covers the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus. It’s a buy one get one (BOGO) deal, which means you get two iPhones for the price of one. Both phones will have to be activated on T-Mobile and you’ll have to pay for two lines, but that’s how BOGO deals work.

 Sadly, the iPhone X isn’t included in T-Mobile’s BOGO iPhone sale.

The iPhone may be the hottest possible gift this Christmas, especially the iPhone X, but T-Mobile has other smartphone and gadgets deals available for Christmas as well. Hit this link to check them out.

T-Mobile brought back its best iPhone X and iPhone 8 deals for four days only was originally published on Tech News Center

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This iOS trick no one told you about might keep you from losing your mind

When Apple released the first iPhone over 10 years ago in 2007, one of the phone’s main draws was its simplicity. The biggest smartphone platforms at the time were Symbian, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry OS, and they were each overcomplicated messes. “iPhone OS,” as it was called at the time, was a breath of fresh air that made using a smartphone fast and easy. That theme continued to be one of the iPhone’s biggest selling points for years, especially when Apple first introduced the App Store. Installing third-party software on smartphones had previously been a nightmare that involved hunting apps down on websites, downloading them to a PC, and installing them using a sync utility. How crazy does that sound by today’s standards?

As Apple continued to add more and more new features to the iPhone over the years, much of the platform’s simplicity was lost. Now there are so many features that it’s impossible to remember even half of them. It’s gotten to the point where some less savvy iPhone owners aren’t even aware that key features exist. There’s no easy solution, but we always try to share useful tips and tricks as we come across them, and we’ve got a great one for you today.

Some functions in iOS are more user-friendly than others, and rearranging apps definitely isn’t one of the better ones. The concept is simple enough — long-tap on any app icon to enter “jiggle mode,” then drag and drop icons wherever you want — but it’s messy and frustrating in practice. Move too close to a corner and the page will accidentally switch, and forget about trying to drop an app into a folder. Just look at the video from this post on Reddit:

Thankfully, there is a better way and it might just keep you from losing your mind while trying to move apps into folders. As a commenter in that thread explained, it’s simple but it involves two hands. As you tap and hold on one app to drag it around, simply tap on the folder you’d like to drop the app in with a finger on your other hand. The folder will open while you’re still holding the app icon, and you can easily let go to place it in the folder.

This trick works on the iPhone and on the iPad, of course, and it’ll save you a ton of frustration.

This iOS trick no one told you about might keep you from losing your mind was originally published on Tech News Center

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The 2005 PlayStation 3 Killzone Demo Was Not Development Footage, Guerrilla Games Confirms

A core battle of the PlayStation 3 generation’s console wars, the 2005 trailer of Killzone 3, has finally been confirmed as a concept trailer not representative of the game.

NoClip, a Kickstarter- and Patreon-backed studio that focuses on bringing behind-the-scenes looks to tell the stories of games, released their documentary on Horizon: Zero Dawn. As part of telling the story of the game’s development, NoClip looks back at the evolution of the studio, which includes the 2005 PlayStation 3 reveal of the first trailer of Killzone 2.

Guerrilla’s executive producer Angie Smets explains that the CG trailer was their vision for what they wanted Killzone 2 to look like, after initial planning for the game had it set for the PlayStation 2. After waiting a few months for their devkits, the team watched the E3 stage show intended to be Sony’s coming out party for the PlayStation 3. Sony’s now-CEO Kazuo Hirai introduced a segment where he said Sony had asked partners for footage.

Then, the Killzone 2 footage aired, blowing people away at what the PlayStation 3 could apparently do.

Guerilla was not incredibly worried, as they figured no one would believe that could be realtime footage for the game. However, the show was followed by a PlayStation Rep saying exactly that, flat out telling the world that the Killzone 2 footage was running in-game on a PlayStation 3.

“I think we had only rendered a triangle by that point,” Smets said.

The old trailer has long since been removed by Sony, but it would still be impressive from a scripting and animation standpoint today. Smets does remark that the confusion was for the better, as it convinced Guerrilla that they needed to expand to meet the expectations of the new generation of development.

[Source: NoClip – Horizon: Zero Dawn Documentary]

Our Take Now that we have realtime graphics at the level of Toy Story, too, I am fascinated by how much console launch lore we can examine and attain.

The 2005 PlayStation 3 Killzone Demo Was Not Development Footage, Guerrilla Games Confirms was originally published on Tech News Center