Latest News - Page 673

We are to expect some major upgrades with Sony's beefed-up PlayStation 5 Pro console later this year, but now we're hearing specifically about the AI upscaling inside of the PS5 Pro, which is said to be an NVIDIA "DLSS competitor.

In a new video released by Moore's Law is Dead, he had Michael from NXGamer on the show, who had a lot of juicy things to say. One of the topics was Sony's upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console and its exciting AI upscaling technology that will provide 1440p 120FPS and 4K 60FPS gaming, an upgraded, better experience over the regular PS5 on the market now.

MLID and Michael also talked about Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 on the PlayStation 5 Pro console, saying that we should expect 40FPS if the developer can work its magic.

Sony owes a big part of its recent record-breaking milestone to an unnamed free-to-play game.

PlayStation's latest financials highlight strong demand for free-to-play content. Sony's games division generated a record $9.7 billion revenue during holiday 2023, of which microtransaction spending represents 24%, or $2.36 billion.

Monthly active users (MAUs) saw the largest spike to a new all-time high of 123 million. In the latest earnings call with analysts, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hiroki Totoki says that one free-to-play game was a significant contributor to this rise. There's one game that just so happens to have released in October 2023, which aligns with Sony's Q3 FY2023 period: the mega-hit sensation Roblox.

Sony is hard at work with AMD on its upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console, with the latest rumors teasing the company will market the PS5 Pro as a 120FPS, 4K machine.

Wait, a 4K machine... and a console? Yeah, because most people know that upscaling is a thing now, so Sony won't have any trouble marketing a beefed-up PlayStation 5 Pro console that's 120FPS capable (it will be) and 4K capable (it will be) even if it's using AI upscaling.

The news on the PlayStation 5 Pro is coming from leaker Moore's Law is Dead, who recently spoke to Michael from NXGamer. We see upscaling and image reconstruction technology used on all platforms now, just like Sony used checkerboard rendering on its upgraded PlayStation 4 Pro console back in the day when most of this image reconstruction technology was in its infancy.

Microsoft has no plans to force an all-digital gaming future by getting rid of physical game discs.

Digital has been on the rise since the Gen8 era, and now digital access and delivery makes up the lion's share of annual video game revenues (Nintendo, on the other hand, is an anomaly that makes more from physical game sales than it does from digital...but not by much).

To further this market along, both Sony and Microsoft have made blatant attempts to shift consumer behavior towards digital by releasing lower-cost consoles without disc drives. The maneuver seems to have paid off, and now all current PlayStation 5 consoles are digital by default. Microsoft is also believed to release a digital-only Xbox Series X this fall.

Sony's upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console has been somewhat confirmed by analysts to CNBC, which reports the Japanese company is "likely to release a refreshed version of the PlayStation 5 this year".

The analysts added that the "souped-up" console -- awww, come on, guys, I've been saying beefed-up -- would be ready for the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025, which is one of the decade's "most hotly anticipated games". After a bunch of rumors, lots that you've read here, analysts are "now expecting a PlayStation 5 Pro from Sony".

Serkan Toto, the CEO of Tokyo-based games consultancy firm Kantan Games, told CNBC: "There seems to be a broad consensus in the game industry that Sony is indeed preparing a launch of a PS5 Pro in the second half of 2024. And Sony will want to make sure to have a great piece of hardware ready when GTA VI hits in 2025, a launch that will be a shot in the arm for the entire gaming industry".

If you're the proud owner of one of the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro models you might find that your handset's battery lasts longer than you expected. In fact, it'll last longer than Apple had expected as well. That's according to a new 9to5Mac report which says that Apple has decided to update its battery cycle lifespan estimates for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

Apple had initially said that the iPhone 15's batteries would still offer up to 80% of their original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles, just like the older iPhones in its lineup. Now, it says that the iPhone 15 models can retain 80% of their capacity at double that figure - meaning that the 1,000 charge cycle count should arrive while the batteries still manage up to 80% of their original capacity.

Apple says that the change comes about after it improved the way its batteries are built as well as the power and battery management mechanisms that are part of the latest iPhones. To that end, this new 1,000 figure only applies to its latest models which means that those who buy an iPhone of any other vintage should still expect the batteries to last around 500 charge cycles before they start to really degrade.

Apple has been beta testing the upcoming iOS 17.4 iPhone software update for a few weeks now and it today released the fourth beta to developers. The release means that developers can put the update through its paces, check it works, and ensure that their apps work with it before it is rolled out to the public. That's expected to happen within the next couple of weeks, but this specific beta release brings with it a new Apple CarPlay feature that hasn't been part of the iPhone's feature set to date.

The change was confirmed in the iOS 17.4 beta 4 release notes and was spotted by 9to5Mac. In those release notes Apple confirmed that, in supported CarPlay vehicles, Apple Maps will present a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers. The users will also be able to wap the display type between the main instrument cluster screen by tapping the map configuration button on the screen, too.

Right now there are no actual details bout how this will work no which cars are supported, but it doesn't appear that this tweak is part of the next-gen CarPlay that is coming to some Aston Martin and Porsche vehicles later this year. However, it does require dual-screen Apple Maps support which is something that won't be available on the majority of cars that have the standard CarPlay implementation.

When you think of Apple you probably think of the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and the Mac, but the company could previously have been described as a music company. Between iTunes, Apple Music, and of course, the iconic iPod and then iPod touch, the company has been involved in audio for decades. Now, one of the people responsible for some of its audio products and features is set to leave the company.

That man, Gary Geaves, was the company's longtime vice president in charge of acoustics, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Now, people familiar with the matter, say that he is stepping down from the role and that he will be replaced by his deputy, Ruchir Davé.

The group that handles Apple's acoustics projects has around 300 people in it, the report says, and it's part of the company's push into audio products via the HomePod and AirPods. It also has its fingers in other products via their audio features including the new Apple Vision Pro.

Nintendo's new console is now expected to launch in 2025 and not in 2024, sources have told multiple gaming publications.

The new DLSS-ready Switch 2 appears to have been delayed. Original reports indicated that Nintendo was planning to launch the new system sometime in the second half of 2024, possibly during the holiday 2024 shopping season.

Now sources have told both Video Games Chronicle and journalists at podcast O X do Controle that Nintendo's new hardware will now release sometime in Q1 2025.

Apple might have only had the iPhone 15 series of handsets on sale for a few months and rumors are already circulating in relation to the upcoming iPhone 16 models, but there are tons of people who are more interested in what the iPhone might be like if and when Apple finally folds it in half. The foldable iPhone has been rumored for years, and with competing companies like Google and Samsung already in the market, it's surely only a matter of time before a bendy iPhone arrives. but when?

That's the question a new report by the Korean website Alpha Economy aims to answer with all eyes turning to a future release that isn't actually all that far off - at least not in the grand scheme of things.

That report suggests that Apple has decided that September 2026 will be the release window for its first foldable iPhone, and it's given the team working on making that happen a boost by a significant number of employees from the Apple Vision Pro team onto that project. The Apple Vision Pro has now shipped which means that it doesn't require quite as much work whereas the foldable phone project is very much in the middle of a key period.

Apple's widely expected to announce a slew of new iPhones this coming fall with September the likely release window for an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four models are set to feature upgrades over the handsets that are on sale today, with a new report backing up previous claims that one particularly interesting upgrade is on the way.

While the iPhone's display and cameras are often some of its biggest features, this upgrade is related to something many of us take for granted - its microphones. According to reports Apple is set to upgrade the microphones used in these new models so as to make them more capable of hearing commands and requests made of the Siri digital assistant. This is all according to analyst Jeff Pu in a research note seen by MacRumors.

The reason for the upgrade is simple - Apple is working on some big AI-powered upgrades for Siri and it wants to ensure that the software is given the best chance possible. New microphones should make it easier for Siri to understand what has been said, giving it a leg up when it tries to use its AI technology to make sense of the spoken word.

The Apple Watch is currently the only wearable that Apple makes, and while it also happens to be the world's most popular smartwatch that isn't where Apple intends to stop. With talk of the global smart ring market exploding in the coming years, a new report claims that Apple is ready to get involved with its own entry - the wearable that we'll all call the Apple Ring until told otherwise.

The Apple Ring will likely go up against competing products from the current market leader, Oura, as well as Samsung and others. Samsung teased the Galaxy Ring last month and is set to officially unveil it later this year. Now, an ET News report claims that Apple is set to join the fold and has already been applying for patents that relate to such a device.

Citing Business Research Insight, the ET News report claims that the smart ring market is set to increase from $20 million last year to a huge $197 million by 2031. With such a figure in mind, it's perhaps unsurprising that Apple is eyeing a slice of the pie.

Apple was again recently rumored to be ready to refresh the impressive AirPods Max headphones in 2024, with the switch away from Lightning to USB-C thought to be the main change. There is no suggestion that the new headphones will feature any design changes this year, however, although rumors have hinted that there might be new colors to choose from, too. But a new report has suggested that potential buyers might miss out on a feature that otherwise might have been expected to be present.

That report comes via MacRumors and is based on a post by the Weibo user Instant Digital with the claim being that the new AirPods Max will "definitely" launch in 2024 but that they won't have Adaptive Audio features.

Adaptive Audio is actually a feature that encompasses three desperate features, all designed to offer new audio capabilities. Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness are all included. Adaptive Noise Control is designed to automatically adjust the active noise cancelation technology based on ambient sound to ensure that specific types of noise are blocked out, for example. Conversation Awareness lowers the volume of the audio being placed and enhances the voice of whoever is speaking to you, while Personailixed Volume adjusts the overall volume based on the surroundings.

Respawn's mysterious new Star Wars game is reportedly a Mandalorian FPS, sources tell Insider Gaming.

Following two successful Star Wars adventure games, Respawn is now working on three more projects in the sci-fi universe: Star Wars Jedi 3, a turn-based strategy game (they're publishing this one, not developing), and an unannounced first-person shooter. Now we may have more details on this third FPS.

According to Insider Gaming, Respawn's new shooter will be a Mandalorian game with fast-paced action mechanics. Reports indicate the Mandalorian FPS will deliver a mix of Titanfall and Apex traversal, with emphasis on dynamism and fluid motion. Gamers may be able to jet pack and slide around maps.

GEEKOM, the makers of the popular mini PCs who have ran regular deals for TweakTown readers in the past, is back again with yet another great deal for our readers.

This time around, they are offering $20 off on its Mini Air12 SFF PC, measuring in at just 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm and weighing in at just under half a kilogram. It's small and light enough to carry around in your backpack wherever you go or place onto the back of your monitor on a VESA mount. The Mini Air12 features Intel's 12th-gen Alder Lake N100 processor which operates up to 3.4GHz. It comes with 16GB of DDR5 SO-DIMM 4800MT/s memory and a Gen3 PCIe 512GB M.2 SSD capable of 3500MB/s. Graphics processing is powered by Intel UHD Graphics.

As far as networking goes, you have WiFi6, gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.2. Connectivity is vast too with 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, Type-C DisplayPort 1.4, SD card reader, 1x HDMI 2.0, Mini DP 1.4, and more. This tiny little system can output to three displays at up to a resolution of 8K.

Nightingale is a highly anticipated survival adventure game launching this week on PC. Its blend of Victorian-era architecture and fantasy has pushed it to the top of gamers' most-wanted lists. And it looks stunning, with visuals set to take full advantage of modern PC hardware.

Ahead of the game's launch, developer Inflexion Games outlined that upscaling tools like NVIDIA DLSS or the Unreal Engine's own TSR are required alongside GPUs like the GeForce RTX 3070 or GeForce RTX 3090 to hit a playable frame rate.

The recommended GPUs for playing the game at 1080p with upscaling are the GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER or the Radeon RX 5700 XT. With that, the game was going to launch with support for NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3, Intel XeSS, and the in-engine TSR for upscaling and frame generation. However, days before the game's release, FSR 3 support has now been removed by Inflexion Games.

Bethesda has announced a new Fallout collection for fans, with the new Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology including codes for seven Fallout games, including the most recent entries in the series and the old-school isometric games like the iconic Fallout 2. There's even the lesser-known Fallout Tactics, an obscure franchise offshoot focused on turn-based tactical combat.

The Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology is launching on April 11, 2024, with the physical collector's item including a replica Mini-Nuke (with Audible bomb sound') and seven collector cards representing the game's S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character attributes and Fallout 76's in-game Perk Cards.

And with seven in total, each arrives with a Steam PC game code printed alongside artwork representing Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. The release coincides with the debut of Amazon Prime's Fallout TV series, which sees Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks team up with Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (among others) to tell an origins story set in the Fallout universe.

With AI technology and tools advancing at a pace that very few can comprehend, especially regarding applications and possibilities, it's an area where safety and responsibility across all levels are paramount.

This is where the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) comes in, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

AISIC will focus on the safety and 'trustworthy' development and deployment of AI, creating tools, methodologies, and industry standards. As a pioneer in AI hardware, tools, and software, NVIDIA has announced that it will work with AISIC to foster an age of AI safety.

2FA, or two-factor authentication, is how many of us log into our favorite sites and apps with the peace of mind that there's a second layer of security beyond a simple (or complex) password.

Twilio Authy is one of the most popular 2FA authentication apps and services; however, if you're using the Twilio Authy Desktop on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you definitely want to jump to the Android or iOS app as soon as possible. Like other 2FA services, the Twilio Authy app generates codes every 30 seconds for additional log-in authentication.

As of March 19, 2024, the Twilio Authy Desktop apps will reach their End-of-Life (EOL) - a date brought forward from the previously scheduled cut-off in August 2024. Once this date hits, the desktop apps will cease to function.

Intel has reportedly demanded another $10 billion from the Biden administration and its CHIPS Act, which would be the largest award yet under the plan, which is bringing semiconductor manufacturing back onto US soil.

In a new report from Bloomberg, reporting from the usual "people familiar with the matter," the new package for Intel will include both loans and direct grants. Bloomberg's sources said that they didn't want to be identified because the deliberations are private -- well, not anymore -- stressing that negotiations are still in the works.

The 2022 Chips and Science Act (CHIPS) put aside $39 billion in direct grants as well as loans and loan guarantees worth $75 billion in order to lure the world's top semiconductor companies to manufacture chips in the US. CHIPS companies have invested over $230 billion in the US since Biden took office, with his administration having a goal of getting at least two leading-edge manufacturing clusters by 2030 on US soil.