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TiVo Stream 4K has a voice remote and Chromecast built-in
TiVo has announced a new TV dongle that supports the streaming of content from various applications and services. The device has debuted at $69.99, but TiVo is offering it with a $20 discount for a limited time, bringing the purchase price as of writing down to $49.99. It supports live TV from Sling along with streaming movies and shows from the biggest apps on the market, including Netflix, Prime Video, and more.
It features integrated Google Assistant and a built-in Chromecast. The TV dongle supports 4K UHD, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos. The TiVo Stream 4K ships with a voice control remote and requires no additional monthly TiVo fees.
Under the hood, the TiVo Stream 4K has an Amlogic S905Y2 chipset, 2 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage. It supports 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi on both 2.45 and 5 GHz networks along with Bluetooth 4.2. Video outputs include an HDMI 2.0a port, and most major video formats are supported. Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus sound are supported along with Atmos, DTS, WMA, and WMA Pro.
Continue reading: TiVo Stream 4K has a voice remote and Chromecast built-in (full post)
Nintendo Switch software sales spike by 40% in FY2020
Nintendo's latest financials show big growth in both hardware sales and software adoption, leading to tremendous Switch growth across the board.
As Switch hardware breaks 55 million sales worldwide, the system has pushed many more times that in software purchases. Nintendo sold 168.72 million Switch games both physically and digitally in FY2020, up 42.31% from last year.
Total cumulative Nintendo Switch software sales skyrockted by 89% in FY2020 to an incredible 356.24 million units, inching it closer to the 3DS' mighty handheld mark. Right now the Switch is number eight in Nintendo's total software sales charts, and will surpass the Game Boy Advance, 3DS, and SNES next year.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch software sales spike by 40% in FY2020 (full post)
Sony WF-SP800N true wireless headphones aim at the active
Sony has unveiled its latest headphones aimed at active users called the WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for Sports. The headphones (most would say earbuds) are offered in blue, white, and black colors, according to the official UK website. An orange pair is noted in images with a disclaimer saying that color availability varies by region. The headphones have an IP55 rating to survive splashes, sweat, and dust.
Sony says they are durable enough to be washed after a tough workout. The WF-SP800N headphones come with a charging case that adds nine hours of battery life to the nine hours of run time the earbuds have by default. That means the entire usage time is 18 hours, with noise canceling on. Users who turn off the active noise canceling can get up to 13 hours of music on a full charge, and an extra 13 hours from the charging case.
Sony's quick charging tech gives 60 minutes of music playback with noise cancellation from a 10-minute charge. The headphones connect to smartphones and other devices using Bluetooth. Since the earbuds are aimed at active users, they feature a soft arc supporter and three-dimensional curve design to ensure a comfortable fit and prevent them from falling out during workouts.
Continue reading: Sony WF-SP800N true wireless headphones aim at the active (full post)
Techland is doing just fine, and yes, Dying Light 2 is still happening
Rumor has it Techland is in shambles, and Dying Light 2 is a total wreck. There's also stirrings that Microsoft could buy Techland and secure the Dying Light IP. These rumors are totally false.
A bit ago a Polish website put up an expose discussing issues at Techland. The essentially tge articlesays Techland is lost with Dying Light 2, and the game was delayed because scope creep is taking a serious toll on the team. Or at least that's what Google translate kicks back.
The truth is a bit different. Techland is doing pretty good right now. Dying Light 2 is still knee-deep in development, and after five years, the team is still releasing new DLC for Dying Light. According to Techland PR manager Ola Sondej, the translation of the article is "totally inaccurate."
Continue reading: Techland is doing just fine, and yes, Dying Light 2 is still happening (full post)
LG Velvet gets official in Korea with support for a Wacom stylus
Details on the LG Velvet smartphone have been leaking for a while, and the smartphone has now gone official in Korea. One key feature for the smartphone is support for a Wacom stylus and up to 4096 pressure levels. The smartphone also comes with the Nebo handwriting app preinstalled, allowing users to get the most out of the stylus support.
The official specifications mirror the specs leaked previously and include a 6.8-inch POLED display with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. Native resolution is 2460x1080, and the smartphone runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor. The SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Storage expansion is possible via a microSD card slot.
The rear camera array has a 48-megapixel main camera, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The front camera is a 16-megapixel unit. Power comes from a 4300 mAh internal battery that supports fast charging. Other features include an in-display fingerprint scanner and IP 68 dust and water resistance.
Continue reading: LG Velvet gets official in Korea with support for a Wacom stylus (full post)
BioWare's next game is Mass Effect trilogy remastered on consoles & PC
BioWare is finally doing it. We're actually getting a fully-fledged Mass Effect remaster on consoles and PC. That's what sources are saying, anyway.
A new Mass Effect trilogy remaster bundle is set to release by March 31, 2021 as part of EA's new release slate, sources tell VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb. BioWare's next game would come full circle for the developers amid a troubled past few years, and could resurrect the franchise. It's likely the ME remaster will help rebuild morale at BioWare, improve gamer relations after after Mass Effect: Andromeda's criticism, and act as a bridge to the new Mass Effect game that's in early pre-production stages.
The timing couldn't be better. Save for Commander Shepard's massively anticipated return, EA's FY2021 games offering is pretty threadbare. The company plans to launch 14 games, but the mix isn't all that exciting and is made up by a strategically-designed dozen of games: 4 sports games, 4 original games, and 4 indies. The other 2 remaining games are mobile titles.
Continue reading: BioWare's next game is Mass Effect trilogy remastered on consoles & PC (full post)
DJI M300 RTK commercial drone platform debuts
Drone maker DJI is known mostly for its line of consumer drones, but the company also makes a lot of commercial drones aimed at industrial use and first responders. DJI has unveiled a new commercial drone platform called the Matrice 300 RTK or M300 RTK. DJI says that the new platform rewrites the standard for the commercial drone industry with modern aviation features, advanced AI, directional sensing and position system, and more.
The drone has a 55-minute flight time and features AES-256 encryption and an IP45 water resistant enclosure. The platform is fitted with the new OcuSync Enterprise transmission system that provides a triple-channel 1080p video transmission signal that can reach up to 15 km away.
M300 RTK supports up to three payloads at the same time and has a maximum payload capacity of 2.7 kg. The platform features a Primary Flight Display that offers real-time flight and navigation data on one display. The display shows standard telemetry data such as altitude and speed along with optical data for visualizing nearby obstacles during flight.
Continue reading: DJI M300 RTK commercial drone platform debuts (full post)
Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks INCREDIBLE on next-gen Xbox Series X
If this is what Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks like on next-gen consoles...we aren't ready.
Today Microsoft showed off the first Xbox Series X gameplay demos, and Ubisoft completely smashed all expectations with their AC: Valhalla footage. Admittedly the footage was captured on PC/devkit hardware that approximates and simulates the Xbox Series X's 12TFLOP Navi GPU and 3.8GHz Zen 2 CPU, but it's quite amazing nonetheless. "Game and console in development, footage representative of expected Xbox Series X gameplay," reads the disclaimer at the beginning of the footage. At the very least the game will be a dazzling showcase on all platforms.
Read Also: Assassin's Creed Valhalla set in 873 AD amid war-torn England
Continue reading: Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks INCREDIBLE on next-gen Xbox Series X (full post)
Microsoft Surface Go 2 gets official matching rumored specs
Microsoft has officially announced new hardware products, including the Surface Go 2 among others. The new Surface Go 2 gets a larger 10.5-inch PixelSense display, confirming past rumors. The machine also promises improved battery life and up to 64% faster performance than the original Surface Go.
Buyers get eighth-generation Intel Core M processor options for the first time. The device also has Studio Mics, which is Microsoft's dual-microphone solution to increase voice clarity and reduce background noise for Teams meetings or Video Chats. Microsoft's least expensive Surface device also features a five-megapixel front-facing camera promising sharp video even in low light conditions.
A new Camera app for the rear-facing camera makes it easier for users to scan documents and whiteboards. Surface Go 2 supports the Surface Pen to detect handwriting and allow the device to be used for sketching. Microsoft will offer the Surface Go 2 starting at $399 on May 12 with the version available supporting LTE Advanced connectivity. It will come in Platinum Black, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue.
Continue reading: Microsoft Surface Go 2 gets official matching rumored specs (full post)
Nintendo Switch sales hit 55.77 million in FY2020, up 24% YoY
Nintendo just recorded fantastic yearly results driven by huge Switch hardware sales and a strong software lineup.
Three years after release, the Nintendo Switch is still taking the global market by storm. The console's total cumulative worldwide sales now sit at 55.77 million units, up 21.03 million units and representing a mighty 60% year-over-year increase in total sales. Nintendo sold 4.08 million more Switch consoles in FY2020 than it did last year, up 24% YoY.
This strong hardware spike was triggered by a few factors. The cheaper, handheld-only $199 Switch Lite sparked sales growth in the Switch family. The heavy-hitting software lineup which included system-selling megastars like Pokemon: Sword and Shield and Animal Crossing drove continued adoption. Animal Crossing alone has sold 11 million copies in 11 days, making it the "best start ever for a Nintendo title." COVID-19 quarantines also skyrocketed Nintendo's Switch sales in Q4'20 to 3.28 million units, up 32% from last year.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch sales hit 55.77 million in FY2020, up 24% YoY (full post)
Fitbit is testing if its wearables can detect atrial fibrillation
One of the major selling points of the latest generation of Apple Watch wearable is the ability of the device to detect irregular heartbeats. Fitbit wants it's wearables to be able to detect irregular heartbeats as well and has launched a virtual study to investigate if Fitbit devices can detect an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. The irregular heart rate detection feature has been in development since last October.
The study is open individuals who are 22 years old and over in the United States and own Fitbit devices including the Ionic and Versa. Fitbit hopes to enroll hundreds of thousands of people for the study. Detecting atrial fibrillation is a big deal and a big selling point, as it is the most common form of heart rhythm irregularity.
Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke and is most common among people 65 years old or older. The study launched Wednesday and is called the Fitbit Heart Study. Fitbit's devices can gather heart rate information using technology that measures blood flow rate in the user's wrist. Fitbit believes those measurements can be used to identify an irregular heart rhythm in combination with a specialized algorithm.
Continue reading: Fitbit is testing if its wearables can detect atrial fibrillation (full post)
Animal Crossing roars onto market with 11 million sales in 11 days
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a sales monster, accumulating over 11 million copies sold in its first 11 days.
Today Nintedo laid out its FY2020 earnings report and revealed just how big Animal Crossing has become. Spoiler: It's absolutely mammoth-sized. The new Animal Crossing game on Switch managed to sell 11.77 million copies from launch until Nintendo's fiscal year ended on March 31, 2020. That's 11 million in 11 days, an astronomical figure that eclipses major AAA games (for example, Final Fantasy XV has sold 8.9 million copies to date).
These figures firmly cement Animal Crossing: New Horizons in Nintendo's top 10 best-selling Switch games of all time. Fun fact: Animal Crossing outsold Splatoon 2's massive 140-week sales head start in less than two weeks.
Continue reading: Animal Crossing roars onto market with 11 million sales in 11 days (full post)
This new cyberattack steals data through your power supply
It seems like something out of a Mission: Impossible movie, but a new hack is able to steal data from your PC through your power supply -- yeah, I just said your power supply. Check it out:
The new hack is capable of taking data from a completely air-gapped system, which is completely disconnected from the internet. This means it has no connection to the internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other connection to the internet. Air-gapped systems are considered virtually impossible to siphon data from, but someone is now doing through power supplies.
Dr. Mordechai Guri from the Ben Girion University in Israel is behind the revelations, with a new hack he calls POWER-SUPPLaY. How does it work? Get this: malware is installed onto the target PC, which then reads out the system data and makes some changes to the CPU workload.
Continue reading: This new cyberattack steals data through your power supply (full post)
Disney+ benefits greatly from COVID-19, now boasts 54.5 million users
Disney+ might have only launched in November 2019, but it is quickly becoming a streaming service juggernaut -- and a rival to the unstoppable Netflix.
In its recent earnings report Disney announced that Disney+ had 54.5 million subscribers, with over 20 million of those added in the last couple of months -- right as people are forced to stay at home over coronavirus lockdowns and quarantines.
Disney+ is so successful it has passed its own Hulu service, and is now the streaming industry's second largest service. Netflix has a huge 183 million subscribers, but if Disney+ was at 25-30 million just a few months ago and is now passed 50 million. We could be looking at a gigantic fight in the streaming market -- which will be known as the Streaming Wars -- going into 2021 and beyond.
Continue reading: Disney+ benefits greatly from COVID-19, now boasts 54.5 million users (full post)
This ridiculously amazing ASRock Z490 motherboard costs $1100
ASRock has just unveiled an absolute beast of a motherboard in its flagship Z490 AQUA, with the company making just 999 units of this motherboard which means most people will want to keep it in the box -- right?!
As for the board, ASRock is putting its all into the Z490 AQUA motherboard. First off we have the latest 16-phase 90A Dr.MOS and 2oz Copper PCBs which have up to 95% VRM efficiency. Why the huge beefcake VRM? Intel's new 10th Gen Core processors (check out the review kit here) and especially the flagship Core i9-10900K processor which is a 10C/20T chip at up to 5.3GHz -- and 5.4GHz in early overclocks.
ASRock is using a high-end water cooling system on its Z490 AQUA motherboard, something that will better handle the huge heat from the CPU and VRMs. It also features an OLED display that ASRock uses to display CPU voltages, temperatures, system and POST statuses, and much more.
Continue reading: This ridiculously amazing ASRock Z490 motherboard costs $1100 (full post)
Check out Intel's fancy new 10th Gen CPU review kit right here
Intel will officially launch its new 10th Gen Core CPUs on May 20 with reviews around the world (including ours here at TweakTown) -- but between now and then let's enjoy some beautiful review kit photos.
Some review outlets have published their unboxing articles, including the Intel 10th Gen Core Comet Lake-S review kit that packs two new processors inside: the Core i9-10900K and Core i5-10600K. The full reviews of these processors, and all Z490-based motherboards lifts on May 20.
The packaging is really nice -- but "gaming happens with Intel". Really, Intel? Gaming happens anywhere I'm gaming, not just with Intel -- could you not have thought of something so out of touch?
Continue reading: Check out Intel's fancy new 10th Gen CPU review kit right here (full post)
Intel's new Core i9-10900K already overclocked to 5.4GHz
We all know that the new Intel Core i9-10900K processor is going to kick some serious ass when it launches on May 20, but now we have some early benchmarks to share with you.
The leaked benchmarks see Intel's new flagship Core i9-10900K processor overclocked to a huge 5.4GHz, with the 10-core/20-thread CPU benchmarked in Cinebench R15. The Core i9-10900K being overclocked to 5.4GHz isn't an incredible overclock by any means, as it has a max turbo clock of 5.3GHz through Thermal Velocity Boost.
Intel's new Core i9-10900K has a TDP of 125W, with the overclocked 10900K at 5.4GHz needing 1.35V. At these clocks, the Core i9-10900K scored 3002 in the multi-core run of Cinebench R15. It was installed into an ASRock Phantom Gaming 4/AX motherboard with some G.Skill DDR4-3200 RAM.
Continue reading: Intel's new Core i9-10900K already overclocked to 5.4GHz (full post)
Facebook removes Qanon pages, Where We Go One, FB Doesn't Go All
If you're into conspiracy theories or anything in the realm of Qanon then you will have already noticed that Q and Qanon content across the internet has been slowly clamped down on. The latest is Facebook.
The largest social networking site in the world has removed accounted associated with Qanon, with Facebook explaining: "Our investigation linked this activity to individuals associated with the QAnon network known to spread fringe conspiracy theories. We found this activity as part of our internal investigations into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior ahead of the 2020 election in the US".
Facebook has said that it has removed "5 Pages, 20 Facebook accounts, and 6 Groups that originated in the US and focused domestically".
Continue reading: Facebook removes Qanon pages, Where We Go One, FB Doesn't Go All (full post)
Airbus will soon sniff passengers on planes for coronavirus, bombs
Can you imagine a future where a plane sniffs and smells you to make sure you're not sick, or carrying some kind of biological hazard or a bomb? Well, get ready -- because the future is about to smack you in the face, and then probably give you a sniff down.
Airbus has teamed with Koniku on developing a new air-scanning system that will -- in laymen's terms -- sniff out for viruses, bombs, and other threats. The partnership between the two companies "was originally focused on contactless and automated detection, tracking, and location of chemicals and explosives on-board aircraft and in airports".
But now with coronavirus floating around the world like a wrecking ball, the companies changed things up in order to "include the identification of biological hazards".
Continue reading: Airbus will soon sniff passengers on planes for coronavirus, bombs (full post)
NVIDIA wants to 'leap frog' AMD and 'prevent them' from getting bigger
We are hearing more and more about NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere and Hopper GPUs, with more rumors flying in the last week than the last few months. Now? We have news that NVIDIA is bursting right into 5nm with Hopper.
According to a new report from DigiTimes, NVIDIA has "already pre-booked TSMC's 5nm production capacity in 2021" while "also in discussion with Samsung for smaller volume orders". The reason? To "prevent AMD from getting any bigger, NVIDIA has decided to catch up, even leapfrog AMD, in adopting TSMC's 7nm and 5nm EUV nodes".
Now remember, there's no one going on the record here so take this all with a grain of salt. There are some big power moves going on, I'm sure we can all see that by now -- but this is all just so very interesting.
Continue reading: NVIDIA wants to 'leap frog' AMD and 'prevent them' from getting bigger (full post)






















