Broadcom wants Qualcomm, could increase bid to $120 billion

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Feb 4, 2018 10:24 PM CST

Update: Qualcomm acknoledges it has received the massive bid, with a huge reply in a PR statement just now:

Broadcom wants Qualcomm, could increase bid to $120 billion

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) ("Qualcomm" or the "Company") today confirmed that it has received a revised, non-binding, unsolicited proposal from Broadcom Limited (NASDAQ: AVGO) to acquire all outstanding shares of Qualcomm for $60.00 per share in cash and $22.00 per share in Broadcom stock.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Qualcomm Board of Directors, in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, will review the revised proposal to determine the course of action it believes is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Qualcomm will have no further comment on the proposal until its Board of Directors has completed its review.

Continue reading: Broadcom wants Qualcomm, could increase bid to $120 billion (full post)

US credit card companies block cryptocurrency purchases

Anthony Garreffa | Cryptocurrency & Mining | Feb 4, 2018 9:01 PM CST

Well, here we are: if you're a customer of Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, or Citigroup, you can't use your credit card to purchase cryptocurrency.

US credit card companies block cryptocurrency purchases

Bloomberg is reporting that the banks have now banned the purchasing of cryptocurrency using their credit cards, with BofA already denying use of their cards for crypto purchases on certain exchanges, while debit card transactions seem to still be fine. Citigroup has said that as of Friday last week, they won't be accepting crypto purchases, and JP Morgan Chase's new rules come into effect today.

The reason? JPMorgan spokesperson Mary Jane Rogers said that the bank doesn't want to deal with the risks associated with cryptocurrency, and they're saying they're trying to stop the risks of consumers' spending more than they can afford to pay back on cryptocurrencies, through their credit cards. Good guy banks? Pfft.

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2018 Gold Edition Razer Phone: limited edition costs $699

Razer has just announced a new limited edition version of their first gamer-focused smartphone, something that celebrates The Year of the Dog on the Chinese calendar.

2018 Gold Edition Razer Phone: limited edition costs $699

The new 2018 Gold Edition Razer Phone is a limited edition version of the handset, and arrives in a beautiful red-sleeved box with gold foiling and even a certificate of ownership. There's the iconic triple-headed snake on the back of the phone, but it rocks an awesome gold style.

Razer says that the limited edition 2018 Gold Edition Razer Phone will be available at three Hong Kong-based telcos, the RazerStore Hong Kong, and RazerStore US while supplies last, and I'm sure that won't be long. There will only be 1688 of these new Gold Edition phones, so they will be gone in as fast as that 120Hz display can refresh.

Continue reading: 2018 Gold Edition Razer Phone: limited edition costs $699 (full post)

Tesla to slap Powerwall on 50,000 homes in South Australia

Tesla has been using my home state of South Australia as its testing grounds for the future of its solar and lithium ion battery technology, with the SA government working out a deal with Tesla that would see at least 50,000 homes have their Powerwall technology installed.

Tesla to slap Powerwall on 50,000 homes in South Australia

SA Premier Jay Weatherill is running for the March state election, teasing that Tesla's next-gen solar systems and batteries would be supplied, and installed free of charge. The entire project would be financed through the sale of electricity, given that the solar panels would be taking in the power generated by the sun, with Weatherill saying it would be the largest project of its kind.

The retailer involved would have the ability of using the household batteries that would be installed, and use that power to throw it back into the state power grid. There will be a trial scheme run using Housing Trust properties (government owned), something that has already started, with 100 homes receiving Tesla Powerwall systems by June 30, and another 1000 properties in the next 12 months.

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Final Fantasy XV on PC is a 'generation ahead' of consoles

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Feb 3, 2018 11:34 PM CST

NVIDIA has been pushing the PC version of Final Fantasy XV for a while now, but with the PC version of the game right around the corner - March 6, we're now hearing just how good the PC version will be versus its console counterparts.

Final Fantasy XV on PC is a 'generation ahead' of consoles

In a new video message from the director of Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition, Hajime Tabata, who said that the PC version is not a port, and that it has been developed for the PC from the ground up. This means that the PC version of Final Fantasy XV will be very, very special when compared to the console versions.

Square Enix will be unleashing Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition on March 6, and will include all of the released DLC, as well as additional content that is made for the Windows Edition - and will launch on the same day for the PS4 and Xbox One versions.

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Tesla will sell Powerwall and solar panels at Home Depot

Tesla is wanting to see its Powerwall technology go mainstream, with the company pushing their Powerwall battery packs and new solar panels at 800 Home Depot locations across the US.

Tesla will sell Powerwall and solar panels at Home Depot

Bloomberg is reporting the news, stating that Tesla's solar panels and Powerwalls will be at 800 Home Depot locations soon, with this marking the first time Tesla has inked a major US retain chain to sell their products. Tesla won't be giving Home Depot all the power, as they will just be putting their products on Home Depot's shelves.

Tesla will have their own designated "Tesla-branded selling spaces" in Home Depots, similar to Samsung and Apple with their own specified spots in retail locations.

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Sprint teams with Qualcomm, promises 5G network in 1H 2019

Qualcomm has been leading the 5G game for what feels like years now, and now we have news that Sprint has promised to launch mobile 5G services nationwide in the first half of 2019.

Sprint teams with Qualcomm, promises 5G network in 1H 2019

Sprint boss Marcelo Claure explained during their recent quarterly earnings conference call with investors: "We're working with Qualcomm and network and device manufacturers in order to launch the first truly mobile [5G] network in the United States by the first half of 2019. This development will put Sprint at the forefront of technology innovation on par with other leading carriers around the world... We believe our next-gen network will truly differentiate Sprint over the next couple of years".

US telco competitor T-Mobile has promised nationwide 5G support in 2019, finishing it in 2020, with Sprint now in the lead for the next generation of mobile connectivity.

Continue reading: Sprint teams with Qualcomm, promises 5G network in 1H 2019 (full post)

Benchmark your PC for Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Feb 3, 2018 8:25 PM CST

Final Fantasy XV will be one of the biggest releases on the PC this year, with the Windows Edition of the game to be the definitive version as Square Enix built the game from the ground up for the PC, and have confirmed it is not just a simple PC port.

Benchmark your PC for Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition

Square Enix has released a benchmark tool so that you can see how your PC will handle Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition, which takes over six minutes to run. There are some NVIDIA GameWorks features in the game, with NVIDIA providing serious support to Square Enix for the PC version of Final Fantasy XV.

Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition launches on Steam, Origin, and the Windows Store on March 6, and will cost $50.

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Corsair launches new high-end T2 Road Warrior gaming chair

Anthony Garreffa | Peripherals | Feb 3, 2018 7:34 PM CST

Corsair has just launched its high-end T2 Road Warrior gaming chair, something that comes in five color schemes: black, blue, yellow, white, and red).

Corsair launches new high-end T2 Road Warrior gaming chair

The new T2 Road Warrior can handle up to 300 pounds, with Corsair using an aluminum seat base, steel frame that is coated in polyurethane foam and five rollerblade-style polyurethane. Corsair isn't using genuine leather, but that will also keep the price under $500 which helps for mainstream gamers.

Corsair provides a wider seat this time around, with a taller back and deep cushion that will ensure a great seating experience. The angle of the base and armrests can be tweaked, with the gas-powered light raising or lowering the seat by 3.3 inches.

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Dragon Ball FighterZ sales go super Saiyan, breaking records

Jak Connor | Gaming | Feb 3, 2018 11:00 AM CST

With the recent release of Dragon Ball FighterZ, Bandai Namco have proudly announced Dragon Ball FighterZ has already reached the 2 million total units sold mark, just within the first week of release.

Dragon Ball FighterZ sales go super Saiyan, breaking records

What is more surprising though, is that this number has not been even been influenced by the Asia or Japanese markets, as Bandai is releasing the title into those regions a couple of days ago. It can be almost guaranteed that once Dragon Ball FighterZ hits both of those markets that the 2 million units sold will turn into something much higher.

Already with the recent success of the title, Bandai Namco has deemed Dragon Ball FighterZ the fastest selling Dragon Ball game ever, across all platforms.

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