GM shuts downs Marketplace, the app that let you buy gas and coffee from your car’s screen

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 The baffling user experience probably didn’t do it any favors

GM

 

General Motors is shutting down its in-car shopping app, Marketplace, which allowed customers to buy coffee, pay for gas, or make restaurant reservations from the infotainment screen of their vehicles. The service will be discontinued March 2022. (The news was first reported by CNBC.)

The app, which was first introduced in 2017, was part of GM’s mission to redesign the driving experience to include more smartphone-style features, as well as create new revenue streams through partnerships with third-party companies. When it was announcedhat, GM described Marketplace as “the automotive industry’s first commerce platform for on-demand reservations and purchases of goods and services.”

GM said its plans to discontinue Marketplace were the result of Xevo, a connected car software supplier, exiting the business. But this doesn’t signal the end of GM’s attempts to make in-car shopping a thing: the automaker says it will likely roll out a new service in the near future. And vehicle owners can still buy things on their infotainment screens through third-party apps. 

“Based on our learnings, as well as evolving customer needs and preferences, GM is building on and expanding its existing voice, apps, and map capabilities to better integrate in-vehicle commerce opportunities,” a spokesperson said.

The decision to shut down Marketplace represents the downside of the connected car future that automakers typically avoid talking about. While they like to tout the benefits of over-the-air software updates and safety benefits like vehicle-to-everything communication, they don’t address how quickly these features can be taken away if they aren’t growing customers or justifying their costs through revenue. 

"GM said its plans to discontinue Marketplace were the result of Xevo, a connected car software supplier, exiting the business"

Marketplace’s baffling user experience probably didn’t do it any favors. Buying gas at a Shell station, for example, required customers to first register with Shell, then receive a PIN number that would need to be inputed at the pump to authorize the fuel purchase. There were multiple levels of authentication even for the most benign purchase. It was far removed from the coveted “frictionless” experience for which most tech companies aim.

Brands are salivating over the idea of buying up space on the screens inside connected cars. And with autonomous driving on the horizon, the idea of passengers as captive audiences is growing increasingly probable — and profitable. Ford and BMW are integrating Amazon’s Alexa into their latest models for shopping and smart home control, and Audi is working with Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, and other Chinese tech giants to build integrated services within its autonomous cars.

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Atlus Announces Soul Hackers 2 Is Arriving This August

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Soul hackers 2

Atlus announced the next entry RPG will be a follow-up to its cult-favorite Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, aptly dubbed Soul Hackers 2. 

In Soul Hackers 2, the world faces an apocalypse. An entity named Aion tasks two AI agents, Ringo and Figue, to halt Earth’s destruction. The pair must track down and resurrect slain Devil Summoners, humans capable of summoning and commanding demons, using their Soul Hack ability. These Devil Summoners represent different Devil Summoner factions and their murders played a role in triggering Earth’s downfall. It’s up to Ringo and Figue to discover why that is and how to stop it. 

In Atlus fashion, spending time with party members in social settings strengthens your relationships and the team as a whole. Combat resembles the classic Shin Megami Tensei turn-based battle system but exploiting enemy weaknesses activates the new Sabbath ability, a massive attack that summons demons to eradicate scores of foes at once. 

The first Devil Summoner game in Japan in 1996. Though it was never localized, its follow-up, Soul Hackers, launched in 1997 and was translated and re-released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013. In her review of the 3DS version of Soul Hackers, editor Kimberly Wallace gave it an 8.75 out of 10 writing “Soul Hackers isn't an easy fight, but it's worth every moment that it beats you down. It became my addiction; I was completely enamored with besting bosses, recruiting demons, and finding out where the storyline would go next. I still can't believe that a game that came out in 1997 feels so fresh and exciting over 15 years later.” 

Soul Hackers 2 launches August 26 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. To see more of the game, check out the gallery of screenshots below.

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Street Fighter 6 Officially Announced, More News Coming This Summer

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 The next entry in the iconic fighting series is in the works, Capcom confirms.

 

Capcom

Capcom has officially announced Street Fighter 6, the next entry in its popular fighting series. A teaser trailer shows a very shredded-looking Ryu preparing to fight Luke, a DLC character from Street Fighter

"HERE COMES A NEW STREET FIGHTER," Capcom said in its all-caps announcement post. More news about the game is expected to come this summer. As of yet, Capcom has not announced platforms or a release date, nor do we know anything about what gameplay changes and improvements can be expected.

Street Fighter V was released in February 2016, so it just recently marked its sixth anniversary. The game has sold more than 6 million copies, while presumably it's made lots of money from DLC sales, too.

 

Capcom veteran and longtime Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono recently left the company, so Street Fighter 6 will be produced without his involvement in a big shake-up for the series.

In addition to Street Fighter 6, Capcom announced the Capcom Fighting Collection, which includes 10 classic fighting games. It launches June 24 for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.

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Lenovo's new Smart Clock Essential with Alexa is 29 percent off at Amazon

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Pick one up for $50, or $20 off the regular price

Lenovo smart clock

 

Smart clocks are ideal devices for the bedroom, as they give key information like the time and temperature but often have no intrusive cameras. If you're looking for a deal on a good one, Lenovo's Smart Clock Essential with Alexa is on sale right now at Amazon for $50, or $20 (29 percent) off the regular $70 price. 

The Smart Clock Essential with Alexa came out early this year to replace the previous model, with the main additions being a new pogo docking pin on the bottom and, well, support for Alexa instead of Google Assistant. It features an attractive, fabric-covered design in colors "Mistry Blue" and "Clay Red," both of which are on sale. On the top edge there are four buttons: volume buttons, a button for activating the assistant, and another for setting an alarm. There's also a USB port for charging.

It neither streams video nor has a camera, though it of course has a mic and speakers so that you can listen to music/podcasts or make voice calls. The entire front face is a dedicated 4-inch LED display, displaying the time, weather, real-time decibel levels and more in white text on a deep black background. 

The docking accessories still aren't available, but once they arrive, you'll have two options. One is a basic pad with room for both the clock and another wireless-charging like a phone, while the other is what Lenovo calls the Ambient Light Dock, which doubles as a nightlight. It'll be available for $30 in two whimsical designs with either a sea lion and a squid, along with eight different lighting modes and a rainbow of colors — so it could work great in a kid's room.

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Do the Realme 9 Pro and Pro+ have a place in your pocket?

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Realme 9 Pro - 9 Pro+

While they are related by name, there is actually very little overlap between the Realme 9 Pro and the Pro+. They arrive at different price points (of course), but also with different screens, chipsets, cameras, batteries and other details. Which one is right for you?

The Realme 9 Pro+ is positioned as the top of the line model. It will start at ₹25,000 ($335/€295) when it goes on sale on Monday (February 21). Some retailers (like Flipkart) will be running trade-in deals to lower the cost.

What do you get for your money? A 6.4” Super AMOLED display for starters with a 90 Hz refresh rate. There is an under display fingerprint reader with that can measure your heart rate. Also, there are stereo speakers for a better multimedia experience.

Realme 9 Pro+ highlights

The phone is powered by the Dimensity 920 chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage (UFS 2.2, non-expandable) as standard. Also, the 50MP main camera has a fairly large 1/1.56” sensor (1.0µm pixels) with OIS and it can record 4K video (at 30 fps). Realme is promising great image quality, but we're yet to test that claim for ourselves. Finally, the 4,500mAh battery charges from zero to 100% in 44 minutes with the included 60W charger.

The Realme 9 Pro costs nearly a third less, starting at ₹18,000 ($240/€210). Yet it offers a larger (6.6”) display with a higher refresh rate (120Hz). It is an IPS LCD, though, and that also means a side-mounted fingerprint reader with no heart rate function.

Realme 9 Pro highlights

 

 This one is powered by the Snapdragon 695. Like with the Pro+, this means 5G connectivity. And you do get a microSD card slot (with the same 6GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage as standard). Also, the main camera has a smaller 64MP sensor with no OIS and it tops out at a disappointing 1080p @ 30 fps video recording. The battery is larger (5,000 mAh), but slower to charge (33W support). 

Pricing info: Realme 9 Pro+ • Realme 9 Pro

 

Let’s have a look at some similarly-priced competitors. The Realme GT Explorer starts just above the Pro+ at ₹26,000, but it has a 120Hz Super AMOLED and a Snapdragon 778G chipset. The camera isn’t as nice (64MP 1/2.0” sensor), but the battery is comparable (4,300mAh, 65W charging – 100% in 33 minutes). As for the design, the GT Explorer has more of it, whether you like it or not is up to you.

The Xiaomi 11i starts at ₹25,000 and offers a larger 6.67” 120 HZ AMOLED display and is powered by the same Dimensity 920 as the Realme. The camera may even be better with a 108MP sensor (1/1.52”) and you get a large 5,160mAh battery with 67W charging. If you want to go faster, the 11i HyperCharge starts at ₹27,000 and goes up to 120W (for a 4,500mAh battery).

The newly announced OnePlus Nord CE 2 starts at ₹24,000. It offers a similar 90Hz Super AMOLED and an nearly identical Dimensity 900. Again, the camera isn’t as nice (64MP, 1/1.97” sensor), but the battery is comparable (4,500 mAh, 65W).

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G (₹25,000 now with a discount) has a larger 6.7” Super AMOLED Plus display with 120Hz refresh rate and a Snapdragon 778G. The main camera has a 64MP sensor that is smaller (1/1.97”), but you do get a sharper, wider ultra-wide (12MP, 123º). The battery is a bit larger at 5,000 mAh, but slower to charge (25W).

The Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G (₹17,000) may have a comparable 6.5” 120Hz IPS LCD, but the Dimensity 800U chipset doesn’t cut it. The 48MP camera (1/2.0”) isn’t great either, at least the 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging is on the level.

A Redmi Note 11T 5G (₹17,000) also lags behind with a 6.6” IPS LCD running at 90Hz and a Dimensity 810. It’s not clear whether the 50MP main camera is better or worse, but the 5,000 mAh battery (with 33W charging) should perform identically.

With discounts you can snag a Poco X3 for ₹17,000. This one does stack up better with a 6.67” 120Hz IPS LCD, a Snapdragon 732G chipset (so no 5G) and a 64MP camera (1/1.73”), plus a large 6,000mAh battery (33W charging).

A Poco M4 Pro 5G (₹15,000) is an option if you want 5G, but it gets it with an old Dimensity 810 chip. Other than that it is similar with a 6.6” 90Hz IPS LCD, 50MP main camera and 5,000 mAh battery with 33W charging.

So, what are your thoughts on the Realme 9 Pro and Pro+ - would you pick one up or go for an alternative phone? As a reminder, the Pro+ will become available in India on the 21st, the Pro will arrive on the 23rd. 

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Opinion: Steam Deck is impressive, but am i still convinced?

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I won't buy a Steam Deck until Valve fixes these issues

Stream Deck

After several months of delay, the Steam Deck is finally due to arrive on February 25 for those who were able to pre-order the console. Valve’s latest venture into gaming hardware is expected to toe the line between PC and handheld consoles, allowing gamers to enjoy their Steam library on the go. 

But as tempting as a portable gaming PC may sound, in practical terms, the upcoming device has too many red flags for me to really consider buying one anytime soon. 

Before I have the chance to antagonize any early adopters, let me preface this by saying that I truly believe that what Valve has been able to achieve with the Steam Deck is incredible. Less than a decade ago, having the opportunity to play PC games on a handheld device seemed like a pipedream. Now we’re just days away from being able to do just that. Still, as someone who’s keen for something that meets my specific lifestyle needs, I’ve decided to bide my time and wait until either Valve or its competitors come up with a solution to the issues I’ve outlined below.

The battery life sounds like a major Dealbreaker

 

Judging by early previews, the Steam Deck seems to have significant issues with its battery life. Several YouTube channels such as GamersNexus and ThePhawx have already had the opportunity to test out the Steam Deck and found that they were only able to get around 85-90 minutes out of the device before it ran out of juice.

It’s important to note that both content creators tested the Steam Deck on rather graphically-demanding games with an uncapped frame rate and VSync disabled. However, even setting a limit of 60fps and switching on VSync seemed to add an average of 30 minutes of game time. This is obviously disappointing since this means that both reviewers seemed to only reach the lower range of Valve’s claims of battery life of two to eight hours.

This doesn’t come as a complete shock considering the Steam Deck’s internals. After all, the handheld computer needs to be powerful enough to run most PC games flawlessly, and processing power like that demands some serious juice. Still, this is a big problem for a device that markets primarily itself as a portable gaming PC. 

As revolutionary as it may be, I’m not too keen on paying at least $400 for something that would confine me to the nearest electric plug. And compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED, which boasts approximately 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life, it’s a dramatic difference. 

There’s a myriad of reasons that could contribute to the device’s reportedly poor battery life. It’s very possible that this issue could to some extent be down to unpatched software issues that are very commonly found in early testing units. While it's unlikely that the retail units will offer a significant jump in battery life, it’s not unreasonable to think that some software improvements will be made in the run-up to the device’s release.

It’s too bulky for daily commutes

Another issue that pushes me away from the Steam Deck is that it’s simply too big to comfortably use outside of the house. The bulky handheld computer is 11.7 inches in length and 4.6 inches in width, making it almost twice as long as two PS5 DualSense controllers held together side by side. It also weighs approximately 635 grams (1.4lbs), which is significantly heavier than your average iPad and 215 grams heavier than the Nintendo Switch OLED.

ThePhawx YouTube channel took the liberty of comparing the Valve Steam Deck to various other handheld devices, including the original PSP and the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. However, the most appropriate comparison seems to be the Nintendo Switch OLED:For most people, using the Steam Deck in the comfort of their home or car will be a non-issue. However, as a London-based commuter, just the thought of using the device on my early morning journey to the office is daunting considering how difficult it would be to hold in the middle of a packed train carriage. Personally, I even find that the Nintendo Switch OLED is a bit too large to carry on a commute. In that regard, the affordable Nintendo Switch Lite is much more suitable. 

The Nintendo Switch just does it better

 

Size aside, there’s several other reasons why the Steam Deck should look to the Nintendo Switch for inspiration. Of course, the Switch and the Steam Deck are not comparable in terms of gaming libraries and overall technical specifications. The Steam Deck is a relatively powerful gaming PC repackaged in a miniature format, while the Switch is much more akin to a classic handheld console. Both devices are also targeted towards completely different gaming audiences. 

However, in terms of practicality and comfort, the Nintendo Switch and its accompanying Joy-Con controllers are simply unmatched by any other portable device that has been introduced in recent generations of gaming hardware. The console may not be perfect - and the common issue of Joy-Con drift can attest to this - but the Nintendo Switch is something I believe the Steam Deck can draw lessons from. After all, there’s a reason as to why the Switch became the fastest console to reach the 100 million sales mark.

Let’s wait and see

 

By no means am I discouraging others from ordering and enjoying the Valve Steam Deck. It’s just that I personally prefer to wait for more advanced models to hit the market rather than purchasing something that doesn’t quite meet my expectations. And with the rate of technological advancement, it’s unlikely that I’ll have to wait very long. 

Just recently, it’s been reported that AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution feature has been implemented into the Steam Deck. This means that individual games can be rendered in a lower resolution before upscaling the image, allowing the device to conserve power as a result. 

Though it’s unclear as to the extent to which this could solve the Steam Deck’s battery life issues, the Nintendo Switch has shown that positive changes can happen in this area. The original Switch model only offered 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life, which was later improved in the 2019 models.

Over time, we’re also likely to see a more refined system come to market if the Steam Deck is a moderate success. Similar to the evolution of the Nintendo DS to the Nintendo DS Lite, there’s a high probability that the next version of the Steam Deck (or a third-party take) could solve many of the problems I have with Valve’s bulky system, and I’m willing to wait until then.

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