Latest News - Page 2146

Samsung has some of the best flagship smartphones on the market and available right now to buy, with the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and even the new Galaxy Note 8. Apple on the other hand, is still a little while away from unleashing its new iPhone X.

Right now, Samsung is the only company in the world that is capable of making enough OLED displays, NAND flash, and DRAM in the quantities that Apple need for the mass sales of its iPhone. This is a huge profit driver for Samsung, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that these massive orders chalk up big profits for Samsung's component business, which is around 35% of Samsung's revenue.

So when your friends say "but the iPhone X is way better than your Samsung junk", you can reply with "well, your iPhone X wouldn't even exist without Samsung" and then link them to this article. Boom.

I awoke to an email this morning from Futuremark that announced they have a new entry into the 3DMark family of benchmarks, with Time Spy Extreme launching on October 11. What is Time Spy Extreme?

Futuremark's new 3DMark Time Spy Extreme benchmark run is a 4K DX12 benchmark run of the current Time Spy benchmark that will stress multi-core processors, countless GPU combinations, and more. Futuremark explains: "A decade or so ago, hardware sites were asking, "Will dual-core processors enhance your gaming experience?" Today, we're looking at new processors from AMD and Intel that can have up to 18 cores in some cases".

The company continues: "The CPU test has been redesigned to let processors with 8 or more cores perform to their full potential. Compared with Time Spy, the Extreme CPU test is three times more demanding. It also lets processors use more advanced instructions sets up to AVX2 when supported".

It was reported last week that GIGABYTE and MSI weren't working on custom AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics cards, but that rumor was wrong. I quickly reached out to my contacts at GIGABYTE which confirmed they were indeed working on custom RX Vega.

Now we have some photos to show courtesy of our friends at VideoCardz, with the GIGABYTE Radeon RX Vega 64 GAMING OC graphics card. We can see that it rocks what will surely be an updated Windforce 2X cooler, but it is pretty damn massive compared to AMD's sleek Radeon RX Vega 64 reference board.

GIGABYTE will be throwing DVI away (yay) and using just 1 x HDMI 2.0 and 3 x DP ports, while GIGABYTE seems to be using a custom PCB on their RX Vega 64 GAMING OC variant.

Ten years before CD Projekt RED made The Witcher series a beloved name in gaming, another game development studio called Metropolis tried to make an adaptation on Sapkowski's works back in the 1990s.

The Metropolis Witcher project was believed to be lost in the ravages of time, but two developers give us a rare look into the early days of PC games development--back before CDPR thought about plunging headlong into making a series that would become their magnum opus. Polish game dev Metropolis Software started developing their Witcher adaptation in 1996, but apart from a few pictures, nothing had ever surfaced--until now.

In a recent interview with arhn.eu , ex-Metropolis game devs Kacper Reutt and Jarek Sobierski not only discussed key points about the failed project, but also managed to get an early tech demo prototype up and running in the stream. What followed is an early look at what could've been the very first Witcher game. The interview is about 13 minutes of interesting game development tidbits and I advise any Witcher fan to give it a watch.

Sony is updating the original PlayStation VR headset with some small hardware iterations--just don't expect new HMD technology or anything.

The new PlayStation VR, model CUH-ZVR2, will allow HDR pass-through via a new enhanced Processor Unit, aka the little box that flips the video signal to the television. With the new box users will no longer have to unhook the video feed cable to game on an HDR screen, which solves one of the main frustration points for PS4 Pro owners. But there's a trade-off: the new CUH-ZVR2 model won't be compatible with the cord from the original CUH-ZVR1 launch model, meaning if you lose your cord you'll have to buy a new one.

"A hardware update to PlayStation VR is being prepared. The new version, model number CUH-ZVR2, features an updated design that enables the stereo headphone cables to be integrated with the VR headset and a slimmer, streamlined connection cable. There's also an updated Processor Unit that supports HDR pass through, enabling users to enjoy HDR-compatible PS4 content on a TV without having to disconnect the Processor Unit in between the TV and the PS4 system. This function can be used only when the VR headset is turned off," reads an update on the PlayStation Blog.

All new purchases of an HTC Vive now come bundled with a free copy of Fallout 4 VR.

Fallout 4 VR is being heralded as an industry changer by AMD, who has recently partnered with Bethesda in a cross-collaborative initiative. A bit ago I predicted that Fallout 4 VR would be the killer app VR so desperately needs, and Bethesda Game Studios is doing everything in their power to make that happen.

"[Fallout 4 VR] is a ground-breaking VR title. It will change the way we think about VR. It will be an industry changer," AMD corporate vice president Roy Taylor told MCVUK at this year's VR World Congress.

In a surprise announcement, Disney and GoG.com have brought back Battlefront 2's classic multiplayer on PC.

When GameSpy went kaput in 2014, many games that used its servers were knocked offline, including the beloved 2005 shooter Battlefront II. Over the past few years dedicated fans kept the game alive through private servers, but now Disney and CD Projekt RED's GoG storefront have brought the game back online and restored it to its full glory--and just a month before the release of the big new Battlefront sequel, I might add.

In a press release GoG explains that the definitive Battlefront II legacy experience will be available to all owners on Steam and GoG.com with full cross-play. Existing and new owners will be able to play online in the full range of modes and gametypes, and no one will need to download any special tools--the game will be hosted with GoG Galaxy's servers.

The newly released fantastic indie gem Cuphead is selling well on Steam, where it's now broken 100,000 copies since launch.

Cuphead is one of those rare indies that completely entrances most anyone who watches. The old 1930's cartoon style is enamoring and whimsical, and melded with a brutal Contra-esque bullet-hell run-and-gun style, Studio MDHR Entertainment has created something unique that engages players on so many levels. As a result of that style, and the mechanics, and massive press, Cuphead is doing very well on Steam so far.

According to SteamSpy, Cuphead has currently sold 124,540 units on Steam. The game is also available on Xbox One and the Windows 10 Store for $19.99. Cuphead holds the triumphant and much revered 90 Metacritic score, and currently has Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam. It's great to see that after being delayed two times, fans and gamers everywhere are still willing to take a risk on an interesting indie and breathe fresh life into a retro genre. The indie movement has been responsible for keeping nostalgia alive for quite some time, and it'll be interesting to see if companies like Nintendo attempt to emulate or capture that style in their own way.

Earlier this year HMD Global announced at MWC 2017 that the Nokia 3310 will make a grand, updated return to the market with a 2.4-inch QVGA color display, 16MB storage, 2-megapixel camera and of course, Snake. The good news continues to roll in for all of us nostalgia folk, HMD Global have recently revealed their plan to release yet another model of the Nokia 3310, this model will include 3G.

This is significant news for the 17-year-old new phone, as this version can now be used on some GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T. Set for a mid-October release, HMD Global have added Yellow and Warm Red to the Azure and Charcoal color options and is priced at €69, or about $81. No word on which, if any US carriers will sell the Nokia 3310.

Cougar have announced the arrival of two FPS orientated gaming keyboards. the Puri and Puri TKL. Combining German-made Cherry MX mechanical switches and powerful backlight that allows for individual customizable, the Puri and Puri TKL are great solutions for high-level FPS gaming.

A heavy focus on mobile gaming for LAN parties and tournaments is evident, Cougar have included a detachable cable and unique magnetic protective cover making the Puri and Puri TKL an excellent choice for professional gamers and gaming enthusiasts who are constantly on the move. Other features included by Cougar include 3-level high adjustment and cable management.

The Puri features a full-size keyboard while the Puri TKL, is obviously a TenKeyless edition that allows for even more versatility. These two keyboards offer great value starting at $69.99 for the Puri TKL and $79.99 for the Puri with availability set for some time during October 2017.

About a month ago we brought you news that AMD was planning to add NVMe based RAID capabilities to its X399 platform, and wasn't going to charge for it like Intel. The set date was September 25th, and while that date came and went with little fuss, nothing showed up except some BIOS versions that were quickly pulled (but had stated NVMe RAID was added).

Today we are happy to bring you news that AMD has followed through on their promise, albeit a few days late. While BIOS versions with NVMe RAID have been available for a few days, AMD's NVMe RAID driver has not, but you can now download it.

While we all know that RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is all about increasing speed and/or reliability, until now, NVMe drives were not capable of RAID on the X399 platform, instead you only had SATA RAID. The latest and greatest SSDs are all coming out as NVMe based drives, and now you can put them in RAID 0, 1, or 10 without paying a dime (well you have to buy the drives).

Creative Technology have released the Aurora Reactive SDK. This tool effectively converts the Aurora Reactive Lighting System that is featured with Sound BlasterX products into an open platform, allowing developers to customize, animate and synchronize lighting behavior to add another layer of customization with their products.

The SDK will come complete with sample codes, an API library, and documentation that allows even novice programmers to get started. This gives developers greater creative control to fully immerse the user by programming various lighting behavior modes. Lighting can reflect in-game scenarios by turning red the user is hurt, turn orange when attacking an enemy, or breathe with when searching for an enemy, the possibilities are endless.

Developers can download the Aurora Reactive SDK from here with Creative released monthly performance update patches with improved features and functionality. Current supported products include Sound BlasterX Katana, Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 keyboard, Sound BlasterX Siege M04 gaming mouse, Sound Blaster AE-5 PCIe DAC and Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 2.1 USB gaming speakers

One of the great, yet simple features of Steam's platform is the ability to digitally gift games. Xbox One gamers can rejoice with the introduction, albeit currently only for the Xbox Insider Program, the ability to gift Xbox One titles (and titles that also support Play Anywhere to Windows 10 users) through the official Xbox Marketplace.

Xbox One players now can send a title directly to one of your Xbox Live friends or straight to a nominated email address. The recipient then has to simply redeem a code to claim their game, download and then enjoy.

No official word on when this feature will reach the public builds, we can imagine sooner rather than later. We all have a friend that 'can't afford' to buy a game and now you will probably find a few more friends who suddenly can't afford to purchase games either!

Nintendo's mini NES and SNES have seen great success, it would only make sense for more retro-mini gaming systems to be released, wouldn't it? Correct, next up is the Commodore 64, or as it's officially been released as, the C64 Mini.

The C64 Mini is a 50% scale replica of the original Commodore 64 that features HDMI output, pixel filter options (sharp, CRT, scanline emulation), ability to save games and multiple USB ports to allow for a USB keyboard, joystick or to add a second joystick for 2-player games.

64 pre-installed games are currently included for the C64 Mini, including cult classics such as California Games, Monty Mole and Paradroid. Personally, I would have LOVED to see Street Rod included, Street Rod was my first experience with computer games and is still a game I enjoy today.

AMD's new Radeon RX Vega 64 can beat NVIDIA's best GeForce GTX 1080 Ti in some scenarios, where in multi-GPU configurations the RX Vega 64 begins competing against the GTX 1080 Ti in 8K... and now the same can be said for DX12 and Forza 7.

The lead that RX Vega 64 has is short lived, as it only beats the GTX 1080 Ti in Forza 7 in DX12 at 1080p and 1440p... because at 4K the GTX 1080 Ti reigns supreme once again. ComputerBase.de used an Intel Core i7-6850K overclocked to 4.3GHz, 16GB of DDR4-3000, and Forza 7 in DX12. As for drivers, the site used Crimson ReLive 17.9.3 and the GeForce 385.69 drivers.

Forza 7 was run in DX12 mode with 8x MSAA enabled, which really stresses out the cards - so it's interesting to see Radeon RX Vega 56 beating the GTX 1070/1080 and even the GTX 1080 Ti at 1080p. Even at 1440p, the RX Vega 56 competes against the GTX 1080 and beats it, while it's just 3FPS from the GTX 1080 Ti.

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk visited my state last week, where here in South Australia his company along with the state government are erecting the largest utility-grade battery bank in the world.

The 100mW Hornsdale Wind Farm is around an hour drive from where I live here in SA, which will be the largest grid-tied system in the world when it's turned on. The largest grid-tied system to date is a 30mW/120mWh system built by AES Energy Storage in Southern California, but the Hornsdale Wind Farm rocks a huge 100mW of power.

Musk was in town recently, and didn't respond to my tweets unfortunately, where he took the stage with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill. Weatherill was at Tesla's party on Friday night, telling the crowd: "There were lots of people that were making jokes about South Australia and making fun of our leadership in renewable energy. Well today they're laughing out of the other side of their face". Musk added: "To have that [construction] done in two months ... you can't remodel your kitchen in that period of time".

It looks like we should expect Qualcomm to announce its Snapdragon 845 processor before the end of the year, with rumors that the Snapdragon 845 will power Xiaomi's upcoming Mi7 smartphone that is rumored for release in early 2018.

Xiaomi is poised to rock a 6-inch 18:9 ratio bezel-less OLED display made by Samsung, something that would look utterly gorgeous and catapult the Mi7 up to the levels of the iPhone X and Galaxy Note 8. Mi7 should feature Adreno 630 graphics and Qualcomm's incredibly fast X20 LTE modem, all inside of the Snapdragon 845. Xiaomi's upcoming Mi7 will reportedly also include dual rear-facing cameras, and a glass/ceramic body.

Qualcomm will benefit from the Mi7 being powered by Snapdragon 845, as Xiaomi also has an in-house SoC development team. Xiaomi has the upcoming Surge S2 smartphone made on 16nm FinFET, while its successor will be knocked down to 10nm.

The perfect accessory for consoles could have just been released, with Marseille's new mCable Gaming Edition, which features a built-in "intelligent graphics pixel processor".

Marseille's special herbs and spices inside of the mCable Gaming Edition is the VTV-122x series chip, which comes with some pretty damn good features. Marseille explains just how the contextual anti-aliasing (CXAA) method removes jaggies, without introducing more motion blur. The company explains: "mCable's patent pending 'Contextual Processing' engine automatically recognizes various elements of the rendered image such as edges, texture and other proprietary details context. It analyzes every single pixel to repair it in the most suitable way for that pixel".

They continue: "By emulating critical human eye perception, it re-creates every pixel for a more realistic rendering. With this unique capability, mCable achieves advanced anti-aliasing filtering which fixes jagged edges and removes shimmering effects from the texture without noticeable blur. Using mCable Gaming Edition as an additional graphics processor, it can remove up to 75% of graphics artifacts while at the same time retaining all the valuable details game designers want you to enjoy. mCable Gaming Edition also supports 24p film mode. It automatically detects film content, enhances and up-scales to Ultra-HD and 4K Cinema format that are certified by Technicolor, a technology leader in Hollywood for more than 100 years".

To commemorate the release of the Super Nintendo Classic Edition, Nintendo interviewed key developers responsible for some of the console's most celebrated games--and of course Super Metroid was among them. What follows is a neat little peek at the rigors and triumphs of game development during the golden era of console gaming.

The interview, which sees Metroid creator Yoshio Sakamoto and sound director Kenji Yamamoto revealing neat little tidbits about the development experience, offers a brief look at what it was like to make Super Metroid. The classic was made by a team of only 17 people, and like any other major release, the team had to crunch to get the project done. The game would take considerable effort from this team across two years before it was done. When the game was finally finished, Yamamoto-san actually burst into tears--the project he'd spent two and a half years on was complete. Super Metroid was done, and would go on to become one of the most beloved games ever made. It was an overwhelming experience for everyone, especially the sound director.

On the toll that crunch took on Super Metroid's small team, Yamamoto-san said: "It really was hard. Back then, we had a nap room with lots of futons lined up, and staff members took turns sleeping." Sakamoto-san recalls that the team were often so dazed and absorbed they forgot about sleep--it became a distant memory. "Sometimes we didn't know when we had last slept," he said.

Intel is preparing its Core i7-8000 series processors that will be led by the flagship Core i7-8700K and joined by the Core i7-8600K, with these two CPUs having some benchmarks leaked. We have gaming results at 1080p which will be showing more of the brute strength of the CPU for gaming, as lower resolutions are more CPU dependent.

The tests include most of the popular CPUs used today, with the Core i7-8700K a champion throughout the testing. The lower-end 8600K is a 6C/6T processor, but for gaming the six additional threads from Hyper Threading, like the Core i7-8700K has. This doesn't matter for gaming, and more so at 1080p and lower.

Even though a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti was used, the 8600K is a surprise performer and should make a bigger impact with many more sales than the 8700K given its price/performance ratio.