Modern Warfare reboot makes $1 billion in sales

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 18, 2019 10:36 AM CST

The new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot has generated over $1 billion sales, Activision today confirms. That doesn't even include microtransaction revenues.

Modern Warfare reboot makes $1 billion in sales

Modern Warfare is a gargantuan success for Activision. Not only did it pass $1 billion in to-date sales since its release on October 25, the game is the most-played Call of Duty game of this console generation, beating out other titles like Ghosts, Black Ops 4, and CoD: WWII.

"The award-winning title, which has sold more than $1 billion in sell-through worldwide, has surpassed 500 million multiplayer hours played since release with nearly 300 million multiplayer matches," the press release says.

Continue reading: Modern Warfare reboot makes $1 billion in sales (full post)

PlayStation 5 to support 8K gaming, Sony confirms

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Dec 18, 2019 9:48 AM CST

Remember when Sony said the PlayStation 5 would support 8K? That wasn't just for video playback. The system's next-gen Zen 2 and Navi GPU-powered SoC will apparently play games in 7680x4320 resolution too.

PlayStation 5 to support 8K gaming, Sony confirms

Sony actually confirmed the PS5 will support 8K gaming back in October, where it also confirmed the PS5 would have an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 CPU as well as an RDNA-powered GPU (likely a second-gen Navi GPU because of native ray tracing support). "Up to 8K resolution output for games," reads the post.

This actually aligns with previous reports of PlayStation 5's 8K capabilities.

Continue reading: PlayStation 5 to support 8K gaming, Sony confirms (full post)

Instagram rolls out new collage layout feature to Instagram Stories

Jak Connor | Software & Apps | Dec 18, 2019 4:16 AM CST

Instagram has just rolled out a new feature for the layout section of Instagram Stories. This new feature will allow users to create a cool collage.

Instagram rolls out new collage layout feature to Instagram Stories

The news was announced via the official Instagram Twitter account, which says that users can now capture and share multiple photos in their stories. The new update adds a collage feature that allows users to choose between two and six photos to combine together.

Instagram are continuously thinking of new innovative ways to keep its userbase using their stories section and not go back over to Snapchat. Or on the other side of the fence - attract Snapchat users over to Instagram. Instagram will no doubt, continue to add new features to their layout section, that will be designed to attract new users and keep their regular ones.

Continue reading: Instagram rolls out new collage layout feature to Instagram Stories (full post)

An essential precursor to computer hardware just sold for $43,750

Jak Connor | Computer Systems | Dec 18, 2019 3:45 AM CST

A device invented in 1804 by French weaver and merchant Joseph Marie Jacquard called the Jacquard machine is an essential part of computing history, and it just sold for $43,750.

An essential precursor to computer hardware just sold for $43,750

Since you might not have heard of the device before, here's a quick rundown. The device attached to a weaving loom and used printed punch cards to "program" patterns into the looms woven fabric. Jacquard's machine had extreme precision when it came to weaving patterns, and in 1886 it was used to create a prayer book that was woven together with silk.

Due to the Jacquard machine relying on replaceable punch cards to control the outcome of what was being woven, the machine was titled a precursor of computer programming. It became a staple point for future creations, such as Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. The Jacquard mechanism just sold at the Sotheby's annual History of Science and Technology auction for $43,750.

Continue reading: An essential precursor to computer hardware just sold for $43,750 (full post)

NASA's experimental needle-shaped supersonic jet cleared for assembly

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Dec 18, 2019 2:37 AM CST

NASA has announced that its experiemental supersonic X-59 jet has been approved for assembly. This jet could pave the way forward for commercial supersonic air travel.

NASA's experimental needle-shaped supersonic jet cleared for assembly

The shape of the X-59 is to reduce the loudness of a sonic boom when the craft reaches those speeds. The idea of behind the design is to take that 'boom' and convert it more into a gentle thump, no louder than a car door being closed. According to NASA's website, the X-59 will be flown over US communities to generate data from both sensors and people on the ground. With this data, regulators will be able to create new guidelines for commercial air travel.

The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology or QueSST for short is designed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with NASA. The first test flights for the craft could take place as soon as 2021. For those wondering what 'supersonic' speed is - the speed range of an aircraft travelling faster than Mach 1.3. For reference, Mach 1 is the speed of sound (343 m / s or 767 mph).

Continue reading: NASA's experimental needle-shaped supersonic jet cleared for assembly (full post)

Incredibly rare 1980's 'Nintendo Play Station'-hybrid prototype found

Jak Connor | Gaming | Dec 18, 2019 2:04 AM CST

This coming February, hardcore gaming history addicts will be able to snag an unusual piece of gaming history, a Nintendo Play Station prototype.

Incredibly rare 1980's 'Nintendo Play Station'-hybrid prototype found

Back in the 1980s, Nintendo and Sony were working on a deal for Sony to create a CD-based add-on to Nintendo's coming Super Nintendo. This console would have been called the Nintendo Play Station and act as a hybrid console that could play both CD games as well as cartridge games. That deal fell through, and both companies went there separate development ways, but out of the rubble of that deal were the prototype units, such as the one above.

After the deal ended, all prototypes of the hybrid console were meant to be destroyed, but former Sony executive Olaf Olafsson who was leading the deal between Nintendo and Sony, kept his. Olafsson then brought the hybrid console to a credit card company called Advanta, Advanta went out of business, and its assets went up for auction - along with the hybrid console. This is where things get really interesting. Terry Diebold, a former maintenance man at Advanta, placed a winning bid on the lot containing the hybrid console, and for some years, has refused to sell it.

Continue reading: Incredibly rare 1980's 'Nintendo Play Station'-hybrid prototype found (full post)

Man faces 12 years in custody for selling $1m+ knock-off Nintendo toys

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Dec 18, 2019 1:32 AM CST

A man is facing 12 years imprisonment for possessing and manufacturing more than $1.4 million counterfeit goods.

Man faces 12 years in custody for selling $1m+ knock-off Nintendo toys

Ever thought about ripping off Nintendo? Maybe this story will halt your nefarious curiosity. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, the owner of an El Monte toy import business has been charged with manufacturing and possessing more than $1.4 million dollars worth of counterfeit goods. Some of the counterfeit goods that were made and sold were rip off Nintendo products mainly aimed at the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises.

The man who is facing the charges is named Wan Piao and is currently facing seven felony counts of counterfeit offenses and an allegation of "taking more than $500,000 through fraud and embezzlement". Piao has also been accused of manufacturing and possessing more than 500,000 counterfeit items, and he could face up to 12 years custody. Other counterfeit brands that were found in his possession are: Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, Lego Ninjago, JanSport, and Shopkins.

Continue reading: Man faces 12 years in custody for selling $1m+ knock-off Nintendo toys (full post)

Pringles is making their own Rick and Morty - Pickle Rick chip flavor

Jak Connor | TV, Movies & Home Theatre | Dec 18, 2019 1:13 AM CST

Ever wondered what Pickle Rick would taste like? Next year you will be able to try, as Pringles is making their own flavor.

Pringles is making their own Rick and Morty - Pickle Rick chip flavor

Yes, you read that correctly. Pringles has announced that it will be making a special 'Pickle Rick' flavor of its potato crisps. According to the official Pringles Twitter account, these special edition Rick and Morty-themed Pringles in 'Pickle Rick' flavor will be released "On 2/2".

What would these even taste like? Would it be a normal pickle chip flavor plus something that's meant to taste like Rick? What would that even be? Maybe an alcoholic taste to fit the character's personality? Who knows. I suppose we will only know what Pickle Rick tastes like when the chips release until then we just have to enjoy these play-on-words. "I turned myself into a can of Pringles Morty! I'm Pringles Rick!"

Continue reading: Pringles is making their own Rick and Morty - Pickle Rick chip flavor (full post)

Two men plead guilty to scamming an older woman's $158,000 of Bitcoin

Jak Connor | Cryptocurrency & Mining | Dec 18, 2019 12:31 AM CST

Two men out of British Columbia in Canada have come forward and pleaded guilty to committing fraud against an elderly lady's Bitcoin fortune.

Two men plead guilty to scamming an older woman's $158,000 of Bitcoin

According to The Oregonian reports, two men who are brothers Jagroop Singh Khatkar and Karanjit Singh Khatkhar have admitted to committing fraud and money laundering. The brothers used Twitter to the woman's $158,000 Bitcoin fortune.

So how did this happen? The brothers created a fake Twitter account under the guise of HitBTC, the Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange. The brother then tricked the woman into contacting @HitBTCAssist for account support then got her to share the details of her account with them. After the details were exchanged, the brothers then proceeded to wire her 23 BTC into one of their own accounts.

Continue reading: Two men plead guilty to scamming an older woman's $158,000 of Bitcoin (full post)

OnePlus 8 Pro: 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 50W charger

OnePlus will have a bunch of new smartphones rolling out in 2020, with rumors of its new OnePlus 8 Pro floating out and surprising us just before the holidays. According to the new rumors we'll be expecting a OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Lite, and OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 8 Pro: 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 50W charger

The new flagship OnePlus 8 Pro will be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 865 which means it'll roll out with 5G connectivity, it'll feature a 6.7-inch hole-punch screen with two camera sensors -- the first of which is a 32-megapixel front-facing snapper, joined by a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera. This will enable 3D face recognition support, a new feature for OnePlus.

The new OnePlus 8 Pro will also feature a higher-end 3180 x 1440 resolution display with a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate, while it'll pack not one but two batteries. The rumors peg OnePlus to using 2 x 2250mAh batteries joining for a larger 4500mAh battery, something that also packs 50W Super Warp Charge technology.

Continue reading: OnePlus 8 Pro: 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 50W charger (full post)