Here’s what the new LGBTQ+ Siri voice in iOS 15.4 sounds like

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 Apple adds a fifth American Siri voice option that isn't explicitly male or female. 

Apple

When iOS 15.4 lands on your iPhone in a few weeks, there will be a load of new features to sift through: Face ID with a Mask, Tap to Pay, new emoji, and Universal Control on the iPad. But there will be one smaller change that’s just as meaningful: a new Siri voice.

Released as part of the fourth iOS 15.4 beta, the new voice is simply labeled America (Voice 5). But when you listen to it, you’ll notice that it’s somewhat androgenous and difficult to pin down as explicitly male or female. As part of its continued push for diversity, Apple told Axios that it hired “a member of the LGBTQ+ community” to record the new Siri voice.

It’s not clear whether the new American voice will come to the other language varieties as well. Apple offers five American voices and just two on than any other language

“We’re excited to introduce a new Siri voice for English speakers, giving users more options to choose a voice that speaks to them,” Apple said in a statement. “Millions of people around the world rely on Siri every day to help get things done, so we work to make the experience feel as personalized as possible.”

Apple last year removed the default female voice in iOS 14.5 and added three new voices, including two options recorded by black actors. At the time, Apple said the voice options were “a continuation of Apple’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and products and services that are designed to better reflect the diversity of the world we live in.”

To change the voice you hear when Siri responds to a query, head over to the Settings app, then Siri & Search>Siri Voice and select the one you want.

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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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Garmin Forerunner 255 – do we really need it

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 The mid-range watch might no longer have a place

The venerable Garmin Forerunner 245 is approaching its third birthday, and it's due for an upgrade when the company updates its sports watch portfolio — but do we really need it?

First and foremost, take a look at the current Forerunners lineup. The entry-level 50 series is at the bottom of the list. The 250 series is located above this. These are running watches for athletes who wish to step up their training and possibly start racing competitively.

The Forerunner 750 series is next, which is built specifically for triathletes and seamlessly switches between swim, bike, and run monitoring modes. Finally, at the top, we have the 950 series of devices, which are similar but have a much longer battery life, making them ideal for multi-day events.
The majority of the current Forerunner lineup is at least two, if not three, years old and in desperate need of an upgrade. The Forerunner 55 kicked off the process last year, and the remainder of the series is expected to follow suit in the near future. At least, that's how much of it is.The Forerunner 55 is a fantastic watch; not only is the GPS tracking extremely accurate (as you'd expect from a company that made its name in satellite navigation systems), but it also has a responsive heart rate monitor and a slew of new training tools to help you structure your runs and balance rest and recovery.

It's so good, in fact, that a Forerunner 255 is unnecessary. The 55 is beginner-friendly, but it also contains everything an advanced runner requires. It wouldn't be the first time that a Forerunner line was phased out by Garmin. As technology has improved, the Forerunner 100, 200, 300, and 400 series have all been discontinued, and new watches in the range have filled in the gaps. The real-time stamina chart debuted with the Garmin Fenix 7 is the only thing we can envision the Forerunner 255 bringing to the table. This is a useful graph that illustrates how much energy you have left in your tank during runs and rides, allowing you to adjust your effort as needed. No more running out of gas halfway through a workout or finishing a race wishing you'd pushed a little more.

It's also possible that the Forerunner 255 will include music storage, but Garmin rarely releases a new watch model expressly for that purpose. If it wanted to go that route, it would probably release a Forerunner 55 Music edition instead.

Of course, we can only speculate at this point – and even if the company doesn't release a Forerunner 255 this year, it may pick up the name again at a much later date for a different device,

In late January the Garmin revealed not just the Fenix 7, but also the Epix - a very similar watch, with the addition of a bright AMOLED display. However, this shiny newcomer is officially the Epix (Gen 2).

The original Epix was a touchscreen sports watch released in 2015 that was somewhat ahead of its time. Although it worked well, it was a bit of a monster, and it was some time before technology caught up with its designers' intentions and its components could be packed into a more modestly sized case.

If a Forerunner 255 doesn't arrive this year or next, it may still appear in a revamped form at some point in the future. Only time will tell.

 

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Google abandons FLoC on Topics API to replace tracking cookies

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Google’s new concept assigns users five interests per week based on web activity

 

Google is walking back plans Instead of replacing third-party cookies with FLoC, Google is proposing the Topics API, which is a new method for interest-based advertising. Topics works by identifying five of your interests, such as "Fitness" or "Travel & Transportation," based on your web activity over the course of one week as evaluated by participating sites.

Your browser will store these topics for three weeks before deleting them. Google says that these categories “are selected entirely on your device” and don’t involve “any external servers, including Google servers.” When you visit a website, Topics will show the site and its advertising partners just three of your interests, consisting of “one topic from each of the past three weeks.”

As noted on the Topics API GitHub page, there are currently about 350 available topics in its advertising taxonomy (although Google plans on adding anywhere from “a few hundred” to “a few thousand” eventually). Google says Topics won’t include any “sensitive categories” like race or gender. And if you’re using Chrome, the company is building tools to let you view and delete topics, as well as turn off the feature.

 

Google’s running out of time to replace third-party cookies in Chrome by 2023, as promised. The company plans on launching a developer trial for Topics in Chrome, but there’s no information on when exactly that will begin.

“Browsers have traditionally worked only for the users — remember how great it was when they all started blocking pop-up ads?” John Bergmayer, the legal director at Public Knowledge, a nonprofit that promotes an open internet, points out. “Google’s concepts on this topic seem to flip that.”

Google’s previous replacement for third-party cookies, FLoC (or Federated Learning of Cohorts), is a form of interest-based tracking that identifies you based on your “cohort,” or a group of people that share similar interests.

Privacy critics, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), argued the system poses additional privacy risks, such as making it easier for advertisers to identify you with browser fingerprinting, a tool used by sites to gain specific information about your device and browser, and may also expose information about your demographics, potentially resulting in discriminatory targeted ads. Due to these concerns, browsers like Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, and Mozilla have all refused to use it.

But Google’s idea of assigning topics to users isn’t exactly new. As EFF points out, Google’s Privacy Sandbox weighed the idea of PIGIN in 2019, otherwise known as “Private Interest Including Noise.” Like Topics, it would work by sharing a list of interests with advertisers, but as Bennett Cypher of EFF explained at the time, it could still “provide trackers with a massive new stream of information they could use to build or augment their own user profiles.” A recent update says a newer version of that approach, under the name FLEDGE, is in early testing on Chrome and Chrome Canary. Google will share more details on that plan and “measurement technical proposals” later this week.

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What PlayStation game do you want to see next on PC?

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God of War

 

It is a good time to be a PC player. Not only are you getting first-class support from Microsoft and all the top-tier Xbox exclusives you can dream of (including the well-received games Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite), but you're also scoring some of the best of PlayStation's library as well! All that remains is for Nintendo to slap Super Smash Bros. on Steam and the PC platform will officially be the one-stop shop for every gamer.

Sadly, odds are Nintendo isn't going to play that game anytime soon. On the bright side, though, PlayStation certainly is. First, it brought its massive exclusives Days Gone and Horizon Zero Dawn to PC, then turned its focus to God of War and Uncharted. The question now is: What game should be next in the lineup of PlayStation titles set to arrive on PC?

It's worth noting some of the PlayStation games that don't yet have dedicated Steam releases have already been officially playable on PC via PS Now. In case you're going "whaaaaaat?" to that news, here's the scoop: PS Now is Sony's game streaming service, and it's available on PC. In other words, you could've played Marvel's Spider-Man on your PC ages ago.

But a lot of people want dedicated PC ports for numerous reasons, be they enhanced support for PC controls, modding capabilities (shout-out to the Winter Soldier mod for Days Gone), or just the general quality of life performance benefits that come from not having to stream a game. That's why there's so much fanfare around Sony's recent initiative to hop in the pool with Microsoft and bring its console exclusives to the PC realm.

It's only a matter of time until at least one of the poll options makes its way to Steam, so vote to cast good vibes toward your favorite game's chances.

 

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Dutch App Store change allows dating apps take third-party payments

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Apple

 

Apple has announced that it will follow a court decision to amend its App Store payment policies, allowing dating applications in the Netherlands to accept third-party payment methods.

Apple claims it is complying with an order from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to provide two "optional new entitlements" in a statement sent to developers on Friday. The two changes will only apply to payment processing choices in the Netherlands App Store, and they will only affect dating applications.

The notice includes a link to a new developer help website dedicated to the changes, as well as information about what developers can offer users.

The developers that are affected by the order have three options:

Continue to use Apple's in-app purchasing system.

Include an in-app link to the developer's website where customers may finish a purchase.

Within the app, use a third-party payment method.

Developers should also be aware that Apple "cannot validate the security and safety of payments that occur outside of the App Store's private and secure payment mechanism." Apple will also be unable to "help users with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other concerns" connected to purchases made outside the App Store since it lacks this information.

"You will be in charge of dealing with such issues with clients," Apple says.

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How To Get Spotify Premium For Free

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You Can Get 3 Months of Spotify Premium for Free Right Now

Spotify

Everyone loves a freebie. Right now, Spotify is offering a good one, as new members can get three months of Spotify Premium for free. Typically, Premium would sell for $9.99, so getting three months free is a great deal.

In a blog post, Spotify announced the deal for new subscribers. The company said, “Here’s the breakdown: from November 29 through December 31, 2021, eligible Spotify Free and first-time Spotify listeners can sign up for our Individual Premium plan for three months for free.”

That means even if you have an existing Spotify Free account, you can switch to Premium for three months without spending a penny. Of course, you’ll have to cancel your account before the free trial ends, or you’ll be charged at the regular $9.99 per month rate after. On the other hand, you might decide that you can’t live without offline listening, the lack of ads, and the entire on-demand music library and want to keep it.

If you’re a former Spotify Premium member, the company also has a special offer designed to bring you back. You can sign up for three months of Premium for $9.99. That’s essentially paying for one month and getting two free. While it’s not as good as three months for free, it’s still a solid deal.

Of course, you can always make a new email address and Spotify account if you want to take advantage of the freebie, but you won’t have all of your playlists and saved music from your existing account.

 

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Tom Holland May Be In Three More Spider-Man Films, New No Way Home Posters Released.

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New No Way Home Posters Released 

 

Sony

With Spider-Man: No method Home set to unharness in exactly some weeks, Sony producer Amy Pascal has disclosed that we’ll be seeing a lot of of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.

Pascal aforementioned No method house is not the last Spider-Man moving-picture show Sony photos amusement is creating with Marvel Studios in a very new interview with social dancing. She conjointly disclosed that Holland’s next moving-picture show are the primary in a very new triplet.

“This isn't the last moving-picture show that we have a tendency to square measure about to build with Marvel – [this is not] the last Spider-Man moving-picture show,” Pascal told social dancing. “We are becoming able to build subsequent Spider-Man moving-picture show with Tom European nation and Marvel. We’re thinking of this as 3 films, and currently we’re about to go onto subsequent 3. this can be not the last of our MCU movies.”

As you'll be able to see in Pascal’s quote higher than, Holland’s Spider-Man are seen in a minimum of a new Spider-Man moving-picture show. He may conjointly seem within the following 2 movies, however that’s not secure considering Pascal didn’t specifically say European nation are altogether 3. maybe he seems within the 1st of this new triplet then hands off the title to somebody like Miles Morales. maybe he remains Spider-Man altogether 3 films of the new triplet.

News of a brand new Spider-Man triplet from Sony and Marvel is exciting, significantly as a result of European nation is about to star in a minimum of the primary one. Some on-line have speculated that European nation would be meeting his death in No method Home supported trailers and pictures discharged for the film up to now. it'd appear that’s not the case, though.

Alongside today’s news, 3 new No method Home posters were discharged also. you'll be able to look into every of them below. 

 

Spider-Man: No method Home can hit theaters on Gregorian calendar month seventeen. whereas looking ahead to it to be discharged, look into this poster for the film that reveals a number of the villains we’ll be seeing in it.

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Spider-Man Movie Trilogy Is Coming With Tom Holland Set To Return

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 Holland will play Spider-Man at least three more times, it appears.

Tom Holland

Following a amount of uncertainty, producer Amy Pascal has currently formally confirmed that Tom Netherlands can still play Spider-Man in extra films to return.

Speaking to social dancing, Pascal confirmed Sony's partnership with Marvel can continue on the far side No means aim Gregorian calendar month. In fact, a brand new triplet is coming back, she said.

 "This is not the last movie that we are going to make with Marvel--[this is not] the last Spider-Man movie," Pascal said.. "We have gotten able to build following Spider-Man film with Tom Netherlands and Marvel. We're thinking of this as 3 films, and currently we're planning to go onto following 3. this is often not the last of our MCU movies."

 

No Way Home wraps up the triplet that began with 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. A sequel, removed from Home, was free in 2019, and No means Home finishes the triplet once it arrives on Gregorian calendar month seventeen. Tickets ar currently on sale.

Sony owns the rights to Spider-Man's theatrical appearances. There was a amount of your time once Sony Associate in Nursingd Marvel hit an impasse over Spider-Man's existence within the MCU, however the 2 eventually united to terms.

Given Pascal's comments, it looks that deal can extend long into the long run with a minimum of 3 additional Spider-Man films made collectively by Sony and Marvel. As of yet, there's no word on once following Spider-Man triplet can begin or what the storylines may be. we have a tendency to additionally do not know if Holland's Spider-Man would possibly seem in different MCU films going forward.

In different news, Spider-Man is coming back to the Marvel's Avengers game, however there will not be any story missions, sadly.

 

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How To Use a PS5 Controller on Android

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How To Use a PS5 Controller on Android

PS5 Dualsense

Connecting your PS5 DualSense controller to your robot mobile device could be a fast and painless method due to Bluetooth. do you have to ever wish to line up Remote Play on PS5, or notice another use for that DualSense on your phone, you will be able to get in but a moment. All it takes is pressing one or two of buttons to urge everything discovered and connected.

how to connect ps5 controller to android phone

• Hold the Share button and PS button on your DualSense controller at constant time for a number of seconds till the sunshine bar starts to flash blue. This puts it into pairing mode.

 

 

• Swipe down on your robot device to open up your Quick Settings.
• Make sure your Bluetooth is turned on.
• Hold the Bluetooth icon to say the Bluetooth settings.
• Select Wireless Controller beneath obtainable devices.
• If it doesn't show up directly, choose Scan at the highest.
• Select OK once you are asked if you need to try your phone with the wireless controller. 

 

•  If it connects properly, the blue lightweight on the DualSense can stop flashing.

The DualSense is not natively supported by several robot apps, although as luck would have it, this does not touch Remote Play on robot. whereas Remote Play with the DualSense on robot was antecedently not supported, it's currently due to Associate in Nursing update once robot twelve.

Remote Play permits you to stream all of your PS4 and PS5 games through a broadband network, provided you own a console and people games to start with, as this is not a service like xCloud on robot. although support was added , if you are enjoying your games this fashion, you do not have access to sure practicality on mobile just like the PS5 controller somatosense feedback and adaptive  triggers. However, the core practicality ought to still work for enjoying your games.

All in all, the method is almost identical with the way to use a PS4 controller on robot. And just like the PS4 controller, your mileage could vary on its usage. for instance, some games simply do not allow you to remap buttons, and there area unit higher controllers out there specifically designed for mobile devices.

Best PS5 games to play

If you are looking to stream games from your PS5, you'll be wanting to urge the most effective PS5 games obtainable. From free-to-play titles to a number of the most important AAA blockbusters, there isn't any shortage of games on PS5, doubly true with backward compatibility. thus jump into decision of Duty: Black Ops conflict or take a visit to the huge corners of faraway galaxies in No Man's Sky. regardless of the case, you will be treated to quick loading and exquisite graphics.

There's a whole array of future titles, with Sony Worldwide Studios and its several partner studios onerous at work on a slate of games that has Aloy's journey in Horizon tabu West, athletics titles like grandma Turismo seven, and a brand new mythological journey with Kratos and Atreus in God of War: Ragnarok.

Are you continue to searching for a PS5 to play those wonderful games? Keep an eye fixed out for PS5 restocks at retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Best obtain. it has been difficult to seek out Sony's newest console, however it isn't not possible. simply keep at it, and you will eventually be ready to checkout.

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Amazon Has PS5 Console in Stock

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 PS5 Consoles are up for Purchase Now

PlayStation 5

Sony’s latest play console, the PS5, is one in all several play gadgets that area unit onerous to search out available without delay because of principally online-only sales. If you're attempting to induce your hands on one, Amazon has restocked PS5 consoles without delay, whereas provides last (these links can assist you add it on to your cart — Disc, Digital). The consoles area unit solely on the market for Amazon Prime subscribers, continued a trend of shops walling off access to consoles for paying subscribers. If you can’t add it to your cart, keep attempting, sometimes the sites stock over a amount of some minutes. we'll update this post once Amazon confirms it’s out of stock.

I powerfully recommend shopping for a annual membership to PlayStation and, because the perks of getting a subscription area unit nice for PS5 users. Most notably, it nets you access to the PlayStation and assortment, that could be a digital library of a number of the foremost common first- and third-party titles discharged on the PS4 like Bloodborne and therefore the Last folks Remastered. I additionally advise learning an additional DualSense controller. 

PLAYSTATION 5 DEALS

While you would possibly not be ready to notice a PS5 console in time for the vacations (fingers area unit crossed for you, though), you'll be able to a minimum of top off on games and accessories that might commonly value you over they are doing without delay. confine mind that each one of the deals below (with the exception of the digital games from the PlayStation Store) area unit the disc versions of the games, requiring the $500 PS5 console that incorporates a Winchester drive. Here area unit the most effective deals presently running:

• Call of Duty: Vanguard is $54 at GameStop (usually $70)
• Back 4 Blood is $25 at GameStop (usually $60)
• Hades is $20 at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, or digital via PlayStation (usually $30)
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is $30 at Target, Amazon and Best Buy (originally $60)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is $45 at Best Buy, or digital via PlayStation for $47 (usually $70)
• Demon’s Souls is $40 at GameStop, Target, and Best Buy, or digital via PlayStation (originally $70)
• Deathloop is $30 at Target and Best Buy, or digital via PlayStation (usually $60)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition that includes a remastered version of 2017’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is $50 at Best Buy or digital via PlayStation (originally $70)
• Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is $50 at Best Buy and Target (originally $70)
• Resident Evil Village is $20 at GameStop, Best Buy, and Target (originally $50)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is $50 at Best Buy, or digital via PlayStation (originally $70)
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition is $25 at GameStop and Walmart (usually $60)
• Far Cry 6 is $25 at Target $35 at Amazon (originally $60)
• Returnal is $50 at Best Buy and Target, or digital via PlayStation (originally $70)
• Death Stranding Director’s Cut is $40 at Best Buy (down from $50)
• Samsung’s 980 Pro 1TB M.2 SSD that’s certified for use in the PS5 is down to $170 at Amazon — the lowest price yet. Make sure to snag a heatsink, though, or else it could very well overheat in your console.

 

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