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One of the founders of Magic Leap left the company this month

Kevin Carbotte | Extended Reality (XR) | Dec 22, 2020 11:56 PM CST

Sam Miller, one of the founding partners at Magic Leap, has left the company he helped run for eight and a half years. He's now the President of a med-tech company.

One of the founders of Magic Leap left the company this month

Miller helped launch Magic Leap, and for the better part of the last decade, he has helped steer the company in one way or another. Miller joined the company as the Principal System Engineer in August 2012. He held various titles through the years, including Lead System Architect, Director of System Engineering, Sr. Director, Systems Engineering, and Sr. Director, Product Experience and Platform.

Miller's most recent and final role at Magic Leap was Vice President, Product Strategy, which he took on in April 2020, when the company when through a big shakeup that included Rony Abovitz, another Magic Leap founder, stepping down from his role as CEO.

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Continue reading: One of the founders of Magic Leap left the company this month (full post)

VR Cover now sells controller grips for Quest 2 Touch controllers

Kevin Carbotte | Extended Reality (XR) | Dec 22, 2020 10:58 PM CST

VR Cover today revealed its new Controller Grips for Oculus Quest 2. These new grips transform your Touch controllers with Index-like hand straps that let you loosen your hold without dropping your controllers.

VR Cover now sells controller grips for Quest 2 Touch controllers

The Oculus Quest 2 is a fantastic VR system, but it lacks some creature comforts that some other headsets offer. For example, Valve's Index controllers offer an over-the-hand strap that attaches the controllers to your palm so you can loosen your grip for specific interactions. Primarily, the straps make it far less likely to throw your controllers when you try to throw something in VR.

The Index controllers are the only controllers with that strap feature, but VR Cover's new accessories bring that option to the new Touch controller. The VR Cover Controller Grip for Quest 2 features a fabric strap to secure the Touch controllers to your hand. They also feature a textured non-slip material to give you a more secure grip on the handles.

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Anker just released a magnetic charge dock for Oculus Quest 2

Kevin Carbotte | Extended Reality (XR) | Dec 22, 2020 9:58 PM CST

Are you tired of plugging in your Quest 2 when you're done playing with it? With Anker's new Charging Dock for Quest 2, you will never have to worry about that again.

Anker just released a magnetic charge dock for Oculus Quest 2

When Facebook announced the Oculus Quest 2 headset, the company also revealed that it would work with partners to launch a series of officially supported accessories for the Quest 2 headset. At launch, we learned of the VR Cover face cushions and some Logitech headphone options, along with the Oculus brand Elite head straps.

Today, Anker joined the pack with a magnetic charge dock for the Quest 2 headset and the Touch controller.

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Flight Simulator VR is out but your computer might not be ready for it

Kevin Carbotte | Extended Reality (XR) | Dec 22, 2020 8:58 PM CST

The highly anticipated VR update for Microsoft's Flight Simulator dropped today. Flying a plane in your basement has never been so realistic!

Flight Simulator VR is out but your computer might not be ready for it

Microsoft's Flight Simulator got a big update today, which included the long-awaited VR support. And it's not just a minor add-on. You can play the entire game in virtual reality, including everything from the beginning menu to the cockpit view.

The VR update for Flight Simulator is compatible with any OpenXR-compatible headset, which means it should be OK with basically any headset that works with SteamVR. Microsoft said that the VR update is currently optimized for the HP Reverb G1 and G2 and the Samsung Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality headsets. In other words, If you have one of those headsets, you won't need to do any additional setup.

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Continue reading: Flight Simulator VR is out but your computer might not be ready for it (full post)

Dirt 5 update improves visuals, 120FPS mode on Xbox Series X included

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 8:22 PM CST

Codemasters has just pushed out the v2.00 update for Dirt 5, which has the new 'Snow Limits' free content pack, and some tasty improvements for the 120FPS mode on Xbox Series X.

Dirt 5 update improves visuals, 120FPS mode on Xbox Series X included

The new Dirt 5 update includes new Playgrounds items, new liveries, new Ice Breaker circuit, new customization options and the included option of Snow conditions in Playgrounds all added. The patch includes wheel support on the PC, PlayStation and Xbox consoles including major brands like Thrustmaster, Logitech, and Fanatec.

But it's the visual improvements for Dirt 5 in the v2.00 update that are of note with "Further general visual and performance improvements across the board, including visual updates to the 'Prioritise Frame Rate'/120hz mode on Xbox Series X".

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Continue reading: Dirt 5 update improves visuals, 120FPS mode on Xbox Series X included (full post)

Gran Turismo 7 boss wants to 'deliver the best to everyone' on PS5

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 7:51 PM CST

We know that Gran Turismo 7 will push the next-gen PS5 console to its limits, where back in June 2020 we reported that Sony Europe exec Simon Rutter confirmed Gran Turismo 7 would be the PS5's crowning game.

Gran Turismo 7 boss wants to 'deliver the best to everyone' on PS5

Rutter said at the time: "Gran Turismo 7 is going to benefit from almost every single technological enhancement that we have in PlayStation 5. The loading times will be next to nothing compared to what they have been in the past".

Now we have even more confirmation, with Gran Turismo 7 director and series creator and Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi said the team is "applying an incredible amount of attention" was what Polyphony Digital is all about.

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Apple scoops up 80% of TSMC's new 5nm production capacity for 2021

Anthony Garreffa | Processors | Dec 22, 2020 7:29 PM CST

Right at the beginning of 2020 we reported that Apple's next-gen A14 processor would be made on 5nm at TSMC, and it seems Apple has scooped up a huge 80% of TSMC's 5nm supply for 2021 as we round out the year.

Apple scoops up 80% of TSMC's new 5nm production capacity for 2021

But according to a fresh report from Taiwanese sources and then published by CnBeta, Apple has reportedly secured itself 80% of the 5nm production capacity at TSMC for 2021. We are to expect the third phase of TSMC's new plant to be in mass production in Q1 2021, with Apple securing 80% of TSMC's 5nm production capacity for 2021 against competitors like Qualcomm, MediaTek, Broadcom, and others.

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Cyberpunk 2077 sells 13 million, beats Witcher 3 sales by 225%

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 3:33 PM CST

Cyberpunk 2077 has sold an estimated 13 million copies after digital/physical refunds and returns, CD Projekt RED today announced.

Cyberpunk 2077 sells 13 million, beats Witcher 3 sales by 225%

Cyberpunk 2077's massive ongoing controversy hasn't deterred sales, and the game has moved a thundering 13 million copies after refunds were subtracted. The new FPS has outsold The Witcher 3 by 225% in a comparable period; Cyberpunk 2077 sold 13 million copies in less than two weeks of launch, and Witcher 3 moved 4 million copies in two weeks.

It's unclear if the game's pre-orders are included in this figure. CD Projekt RED previously disclosed Cyberpunk 2077 had 8 million pre-orders across all platforms since the company started collecting pre-orders.

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Continue reading: Cyberpunk 2077 sells 13 million, beats Witcher 3 sales by 225% (full post)

Scalpers made nearly $30 million profit from PS5, Xbox Series X sales

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 2:27 PM CST

Scalpers are once again taking advantage of short supply and manipulating markets with big markups. Data suggests scalpers made nearly $30 million from PS5 and Series X/S sales as of December.

Scalpers made nearly $30 million profit from PS5, Xbox Series X sales

Scalpers are using extensive bot networks and their knowledge of digital storefronts to take control over the next-gen console market. In a bad twist of fate, scalpers typically have more stock than most retailers and are selling consoles at big markups on sites like eBay.

To give an idea on how much profit scalpers are making, one industrious data expert put together some startling figures on console sales. According to Dev.to's Michael Discoll, scalpers made an estimated $29.12 million from PS5 and Xbox Series X/S sales on eBay in two months from October 1 - December 1, 2020.

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Rockstar Games: Quality of home life comes first, work life second

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 1:40 PM CST

Now that developers are working at home, Rockstar Games has put a greater emphasis on the quality of life for its employees.

Rockstar Games: Quality of home life comes first, work life second

Like practically every games developer, Rockstar Games has moved its work out of studios and into homes. Developers are now working in the comfort of their own homes and it seems to have a positive effect on morale. Certain things are harder, like putting together the new GTA Online Cayo Perico update entirely from home, but the new COVID-19 measures have gone a long way as part of Rockstar's new crunch reforms.

In a recent interview with GQ, Rockstar director of design production Tarek Hamad said that Rockstar's new work-at-home policies protect employee's quality of life. This is a big step towards stamping out the crunch that led to overwork during the development of games like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

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KFC's new chicken bucket console/PC takes on PS5, Xbox Series X

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 12:35 PM CST

Remember the KFConsole we reported on in June? Well it's a real thing, and it's pretty powerful.

KFC's new chicken bucket console/PC takes on PS5, Xbox Series X

The new KFConsole wants to play a game of chicken with the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The system is real, and it packs some serious horsepower with Intel's NUC 9 platform alongside an ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 2070 MINI GPU. KFC boasts the chicken-bucket console can hit 240FPS, deliver 4K gaming with ray tracing, and is VR-ready to boot.

The rig is built in a specially-designed CoolerMaster case and features patented Chicken Bucket Technology that will literally warm up your tendies as you game. The future is here and it's pretty delicious.

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Continue reading: KFC's new chicken bucket console/PC takes on PS5, Xbox Series X (full post)

PS5 with liquid metal lasts 24% longer in heat test than thermal paste

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 22, 2020 11:48 AM CST

Surprise: The PS5's liquid metal thermal compound increases longevity in thermal tests.

PS5 with liquid metal lasts 24% longer in heat test than thermal paste

A new heat test by TronixFix illustrates some of the advantages of the PS5's new liquid metal cooling. The PS5's cooling solution is pretty advanced and uses three main parts: a dual-sided 120mm intake fan, a complex vapor-chamber heat sink design, and a layer of liquid metal that conducts heat from the PS5's main processor chip and passes it to the heat sink. The result is a remarkably quiet, efficient, and cool machine that can perform higher-end 4K 60FPS loads.

The stress test aims to see which thermal interface material (TIM) is better at conducting heat and maintaining longevity. The test includes two PS5s: A stock model with liquid metal, and an altered model with traditional thermal paste. Steve from TronixFix disabled both fans from each PS5 and ran the consoles to see how long they would last before shutting down. Predictably, the PS5 with liquid metal lasted longer.

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Continue reading: PS5 with liquid metal lasts 24% longer in heat test than thermal paste (full post)

Scientists detect 'first serious candidate for alien communication'

Jak Connor | Science, Space, & Robotics | Dec 22, 2020 2:36 AM CST

Humans have been searching the vastness of space for quite some time for any signs of extraterrestrial life, and now we think we have found the first serious candidate for alien communication with Earth.

Scientists detect 'first serious candidate for alien communication'

Astronomers have detected a narrow beam of 980 MHz radio waves back in April and May 2019 at the Parkes telescope in Australia. According to Scientific America, this signal appeared once and was never detected, and is important because that band of radio waves is usually lacking signals from human-made craft and satellites.

Breakthrough Listen is the $100 million effort being made to hunt for radio signals that are not Earthly. As you can probably imagine, Breakthrough Listen detects many radio signals bouncing around space, examples include the Sun's natural radio output. The signal that has astronomers scratching their heads appears to have come directly from Proxima Centauri, the closest star system to the Sun. Additionally, Space.com reports that "The signal reportedly shifted slightly while it was being observed, in a way that resembled the shift caused by the movement of a planet".

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Hey, Halo fans: US Space Force members will be called 'Guardians'

Anthony Garreffa | Science, Space, & Robotics | Dec 22, 2020 1:26 AM CST

It's official: we have Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and now... Guardians. The US Space Force will be calling its members Guardians, Vice President Mike Pence announced.

Hey, Halo fans: US Space Force members will be called 'Guardians'

During a recent White House event, VP Pence marked the one-year anniversary of the US Space Force by announcing the news of Guardians. Pence said: "It is my honor, on behalf of the President of the United States, to announce that, henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as 'Guardians'.

There are around 4000 Guardians in the US Space Force, all from the Air Force. The Trump administration signed the first US armed force since the Air Force was created in 1947. VP Pence said: "That historic moment was a culmination of an effort that began from the early days of this administration - from almost the first moment that the president and I spoke about space when we were campaigning for these jobs".

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NVIDIA taps Samsung again for new Ampere GPU production on 8nm in 2021

Anthony Garreffa | Graphics Cards | Dec 22, 2020 1:00 AM CST

NVIDIA has reportedly signed a new deal with Samsung for the production of more Ampere GPUs on the 8nm process technology.

NVIDIA taps Samsung again for new Ampere GPU production on 8nm in 2021

The Korea Economic Daily reports that "Samsung, the world's second-largest foundry player, has clinched a deal to make NVIDIA's next-generation graphic processing unit (GPU), the Ampere GeForce RTX30 series, using its 8-nanometer process technology".

"Analysts said the contract is significant in that Samsung won the deal amid market talk that NVIDIA's new GPU has been in tight supply due to unsatisfactory 8 nm process yield rates at its foundry partner Samsung, raising speculation that the US company may award the contract to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the industry leader".

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Continue reading: NVIDIA taps Samsung again for new Ampere GPU production on 8nm in 2021 (full post)

Sabrent's awesome M.2 NVMe Thunderbolt 3 discounted from $90 to $60

Anthony Garreffa | Storage | Dec 22, 2020 12:45 AM CST

Sabrent's tool-free Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSD enclosure is currently on sale, with the Sabrent EC-T3NS (our review here) down from its price of $90 to $60.

Sabrent's awesome M.2 NVMe Thunderbolt 3 discounted from $90 to $60

Store4PC via Amazon.com has the Sabrent EC-T3NS on sale right now for $59.99, down from $89.99. You'll need to use our own TweakTown code to get the discount, with the code being "20TWEAKT". That's a decent discount of $30 if you're in need of a super-fast, thin Thunderbolt to M.2 NVMe SSD tool-free enclosure.

You're going to see speeds of up to 1600MB/sec out of the Sabrent EC-T3NS, which is pretty damn good, with a nice and easy tool-free installation.

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Continue reading: Sabrent's awesome M.2 NVMe Thunderbolt 3 discounted from $90 to $60 (full post)

SpaceX launches classified payload into orbit for the NRO

Anthony Garreffa | Science, Space, & Robotics | Dec 22, 2020 12:29 AM CST

SpaceX has just launched a new Falcon 9 rocket carrying a classified payload known as 'NROL-108' for the US government agency that controls spy satellites, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

SpaceX launches classified payload into orbit for the NRO

Spaceflight Now reports that the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) normally sends payloads into space through the US Space Force's National Security Space Launch Program -- but this time did it on its own and commissioned SpaceX and used the Falcon 9 for its new mysterious payload.

The site explains: "In some cases, the NRO uses alternative methods to procure launch services after making a cumulative assessment of satellite risk tolerance, needed launch dates, available launch capabilities, and cost - all with a purpose of ensuring satellites are safely and securely delivered to orbit in a timely manner".

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Apple Car to debut in 2024 with 'next level' battery technology

Anthony Garreffa | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Dec 21, 2020 11:52 PM CST

Apple Car rumors are hot right now, with rumors flying that production on the Apple Car will begin in Q3 2021 -- unveiled at the same time, and released in the years after sometime near 2024.

Apple Car to debut in 2024 with 'next level' battery technology

Reuters is now reporting from unnamed sources that Apple is developing a next-generation battery design that could not just "radically" reduce the cost of the batteries, but increase the range that the Apple Car can drive on a single charge. Apple is working on a "monocell" design that will see more battery cells packed together, ope

The site reports: "Apple plans to use a unique "monocell" design that bulks up the individual cells in the battery and frees up space inside the battery pack by eliminating pouches and modules that hold battery materials, one of the people said".

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Apple rumored to unveil its Apple Car in Q3 2021, release in 2024

Anthony Garreffa | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Dec 21, 2020 11:28 PM CST

Apple has been working on a car-related project for over 5 years now, something that started as an autonomous car -- morphed into AI for autonomous cars, and then it kinda just disappeared.

Apple rumored to unveil its Apple Car in Q3 2021, release in 2024

But the Apple Car is back in the headlines with Taiwan-based Economic Daily News reporting that Apple is planning to launch its new Apple Car in Q3 2021. The news is coming from components suppliers in Taiwan who said that production is being scaled up for the Apple Car in Q2 2021.

Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the Apple Car would be out somewhere near 2024-2025, so if this did happen we're looking at Apple being many years ahead of schedule. We could see Apple unveil the new Apple Car towards the end of next year, with a roll out of vehicles in the years to come.

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Continue reading: Apple rumored to unveil its Apple Car in Q3 2021, release in 2024 (full post)

It's so cyberpunk running Cyberpunk 2077 on a Nintendo Switch

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Dec 21, 2020 10:49 PM CST

Cyberpunk 2077 runs like hot trash on the original PS4 and Xbox One, dipping into 15FPS at times and looking like something from the NES days. Well, what about Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch? Check it out:

It's so cyberpunk running Cyberpunk 2077 on a Nintendo Switch

Nintendrew has managed to get Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Nintendo Switch, but it's not like everyone can easily do it. You will need a modified Nintendo Switch, with Nintendrew warning that getting Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Switch "does involve some modifications that are not endorsed or supported by Nintendo" and adds that "any mod has the potential to brick your system".

He's using a modified version of Android on the Switch (something he goes into during the video) and says that once Android is installed onto the Switch it's "almost too easy to get Cyberpunk 2077 up and running". He notes there are different ways to get Cyberpunk 2077 working on the Nintendo Switch, but he used Google Stadia as the catalyst.

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Continue reading: It's so cyberpunk running Cyberpunk 2077 on a Nintendo Switch (full post)

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