The EA/Codemasters racing sim Grid Legends is coming to mobile this December, after first releasing for consoles and PC back in 2022. It’s actually a port of the deluxe edition of the game, which was originally released in 2023. This version includes all of the available DLC and some other goodies.
It’s coming to iOS and Android and offers “full support for all popular gamepads”, with touch and tilt controls for those who don’t have a third-party gamepad. There’s a trailer, with footage captured on mobile devices, and it looks pretty darn good. The visuals are, dare I say, console-worthy.
To that end, the game will only run on the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro, and every model released since the iPhone 14. It’ll run on any iPad with an M1 chip or better. As for Android, the game will only run on devices with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips.
Preorders are available now on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It costs $15. There’s no actual release date yet. It’s just sometime in December.
For the uninitiated, Grid Legendsis a well-regarded racing game that draws from both hardcore sims and arcade racers. There’s a lengthy career mode, plenty of multiplayer challenges and an extensive list of courses. All told, there are more than 100 vehicles to choose from.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/eas-grid-legends-racing-game-careens-onto-ios-and-android-this-december-165137002.html?src=rss
Many fans of 2014’s Alien: Isolation video game praised its graphics, story and general gameplay, making it a bit of a standout from many other games adapted from a movie. It even received seven separate DLC packs. Gamers have been enjoying this cult classic on mobile and Switch for a while now, but today, on the game’s 10th anniversary, the developers announced that they’re developing a sequel.
Yes, you heard us right. Alien: Isolation now has a sequel in early development. If you don’t believe us, take the official X account’s word for it.
We currently don’t have any other details on this sequel, but a look back at reviews for Alien: Isolation should give you hope we’ll get another solid game here. If the sequel is anything like the original, then you can expect horror, stealth and second-guessing yourself just as the claws of an alien take your life.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sequel-to-2014s-alien-isolation-is-now-in-development-162213148.html?src=rss
The October version of Prime Day has arrived, and some of the best deals are already selling out. On Amazon, we're seeing the PS5 Slim Edition drop as low as $400 (for the all-digital console), but stock is a little unstable. As of writing this, it's current back in stock and on sale. If it disappears again, there's a good chance you'll find the same discount at Walmart.
To back up: The PlayStation 5 is still a hot commodity nearly four years after its debut. While the $700 PS5 Pro is perhaps a little too on the pricey side, the svelte PS5 "Slim" line have all the power of the original PS5 units but in a more slender form factor. Given how chunky those first models were, that's nothing to sniff at.
While the normally $449 PS5 Slim Digital Edition (the one without a disc drive) has dropped to $399, the regular edition can be yours for $449. If you want to split the difference, the Digital Edition can also be had for $449 with NBA 2K25 included.
If you buy the Slim Digital Edition and later decide that you'd like a disc drive so you can use Blu-rays, DVDs or physical editions of games on your PS5, you can pick up an $80 attachment. However, it's worth noting that the add-on has been going in and out of stock in anticipation of the PS5 Pro, which doesn't have a disc drive built in but is compatible with the attachment.
There's a large library of great PS5 games at this point, thanks to killer first-party titles such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and the utterly terrific Astro Bot. Sony is remastering some major games that debuted on PS4 for the console too, including both chapters of The Last of Us and Horizon Zero Dawn. There's a huge selection of great third-party games to jump into as well, like the latest EA Sports FC, Madden NFL and NBA 2K games for sports fans, Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3. And let's not forget the small matter of a new Call of Duty game dropping in a few weeks.
So, if you do pick up a PS5 Slim, you'll have a ton of games to buy and check out. That said, a PS Plus Extra or Premium subscription might be what you want, as that will give you access to a large library of titles right out of the gate.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-ps5-deals-include-the-ps5-slim-for-50-off-153513063.html?src=rss
It’s officially Amazon Prime Day, so be prepared to be inundated with deals if you head over to the online retailer's site. If you're on the market for a new smartphone, one of our favorite affordable handsets has dropped to a great sale price. The fantastic Samsung Galaxy A15 smartphone is available for just $180, which is a discount of ten percent. The typical price is $200 for this budget-friendly handset.
The A15 found a place of distinction in our list of the best cheap phones, in addition to appearing in our list of the best budget Android smartphones. It’s a solid offering with plenty of features typically reserved for more expensive models.
It boasts a fairly robust camera system, with a 50MP rear camera and a 13MP front camera. There’s also 5MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro. It’s lightweight, at seven ounces, and includes an actual OLED display. That’s practically unheard of for budget-tier smartphones. The 5G-enabled handset ships with a 5,000 mAh battery, which gets the job done.
There are some light caveats. This deal is for the entry-level model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. However, the Galaxy A15 boasts a nano SIM slot that expands the storage all the way up to 1TB. Today’s sale includes both the black and light blue versions of the phone.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-budget-samsung-phone-is-only-180-for-prime-day-152458679.html?src=rss
Recent UN reports indicate that 55% of the global urban population lives in cities, and this is expected to rise to 68% by 2030. While cities drive 80% of the world’s GDP, they also significantly contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Key challenges include climate change impacts, high carbon footprints, waste management, depleting water tables, and air and water pollution, all requiring urgent action.
Cities are combating climate change, largely driven by fossil fuels, by promoting public transport, electric cars, and cycling. Efforts also include designing green urban spaces and creating urban forests to cool cities and act as carbon sinks. Recent flooding in desert cities like Dubai and Saudi Arabia highlights the need for resilient infrastructure. Solutions involve robust infrastructure, effective drainage, sustainable stormwater management, and green urban planning to reduce flooding risks.
Paris Agreement: In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed the Paris Agreement at COP21, aiming to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It calls for localizing climate initiatives in cities and improving local climate governance.
Casa Jardin, designed by architect Rodolfo Tinoco near Costa Rica’s Tamarindo Beach, is a fully self-sustaining, off-grid home showcasing modern sustainability. Featuring lush gardens, solar panels, and a recycled water system, it offers privacy and environmental efficiency with a vertical garden that regulates temperature and grows edible greens. Elevated on V-shaped stilts to address rising sea levels, it includes a leaf-shaped photovoltaic roof for solar energy and integrates rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment for irrigation. Inside, a neutral palette and teak wood accents create a naturally lit, beach-inspired space, emphasizing luxury and sustainability in tropical living.
Global warming has been ongoing for years, with its most pronounced effects felt in the Arctic, where rapid ice melting disrupts climate patterns worldwide. Project ARCSTAR proposes a biocomposite structure made from biowaste materials to cool Arctic waters and support ice formation. This initiative aims to mitigate ice loss by lowering water temperatures and using sustainable materials like sulfur-free lignin and calcium carbonate. While promising as a short-term measure, ARCSTAR highlights the need for broader, systemic shifts toward sustainability to address the root causes of climate change effectively.
Coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change, facing rising sea levels. In response, architects are pioneering solutions like the Maldives Floating City (MFC), a sustainable urban project planned near Male. Designed by Dutch Docklands, MFC features a modular, floating layout inspired by Brain coral, anchored to barrier islands to mitigate sea-level rise impacts. This innovative city aims to blend green technology with residential and commercial spaces, setting a precedent for future climate-resilient urban development worldwide.
2. Greenhouse Emissions
Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include promoting renewable energy, low-carbon fuels, and LEED-certified green buildings that save 20-30% more energy than conventional ones. Oslo a leading green city in Norway, leads in recycling, public transport, clean air, and renewable energy. Singapore uses smart planning to harness solar energy for housing and integrates artificial wetlands to maintain ecological balance.
Stanford University researchers have developed innovative, eco-friendly paints that regulate indoor temperatures by reflecting sunlight and infrared radiation. These paints, including colors like orange, yellow, blue, and white, reduce the need for air conditioning by managing heat absorption and retention. Their dual-layer design utilizes infrared-reflective aluminum flakes and infrared-transparent nanoparticles to achieve significant energy savings—36% less heating in cold conditions and 21% less cooling in warm conditions—compared to traditional methods. This breakthrough addresses the substantial energy consumption and environmental impact of heating and cooling systems, offering a sustainable solution for buildings and urban environments worldwide.
3. Air and Water Pollution
Increased vehicles and traffic cause air pollution, while untreated factory sewage leads to water contamination. Beijing combats air pollution with strict vehicle quotas and reduced coal use to lower harmful PM2.5 levels. In the UK, the Broads Waterways face phosphorus pollution, damaging water plants. Cleanup methods like phosphate stripping and suction dredging are being explored.
Pure Bubble offers an innovative solution to urban air pollution with its outdoor air purification concept, resembling dandelion-inspired bubbles equipped to detect, analyze, and clean polluted air. Each bubble features three layers: a helium-filled outer layer for mobility, a reusable filtering layer using patented TPA technology, and a wind-powered recharging motor. These self-illuminating bubbles purify air as they float, extracting minerals from pollutants and contributing to improved air and water quality in urban environments. Positioned strategically, Pure Bubble aims to mitigate the health impacts of air pollution and support global efforts in environmental sustainability.
Designers Lucy Zakharova and Ted Lu propose ‘En·cap·su·lat·ing’, a revolutionary project aimed at addressing ocean pollution. This initiative involves deploying a network of five dynamic capsules made from plastic waste sourced from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, spanning 1.6 million square kilometers. Each capsule operates at different ocean depths, moving cyclically with floating plastic islands to evenly distribute their cleaning efforts. Beyond pollution mitigation, these capsules serve as research hubs, monitoring deep-sea conditions and biodiversity impacts, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable environmental solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems.
4. Depleting Water Table
Rapid urbanization strains city infrastructure and depletes water tables. Cities respond with alternative water sourcing, rainwater harvesting, and vertical farming, alongside public education to change water usage habits. Comprehensive water management integrates fresh water, rain, storm, and wastewater. China’s Sponge Cities use permeable surfaces and green spaces to capture, filter, and store water, reducing floods and promoting reuse, enhancing climate resilience.
Hydraloop is a compact water recycling system that fits seamlessly into any home or building and its technology recycles up to 95% of shower and bath water, reducing reliance on fresh water and lowering sewage emissions. Designed for ease of installation and operation, Hydraloop systems clean and disinfect water using a six-step process without chemicals, making it safe for non-potable uses like toilet flushing and irrigation. By conserving water and lowering energy costs, Hydraloop supports sustainable living and contributes to global efforts in water conservation and climate action.
5. Plastic and Waste Disposal
Cities combatting plastic pollution emphasize waste reduction through recycling and composting. Urban areas contribute significantly to marine plastic debris, threatening ecosystems and human health. Quezon City, Philippines, innovates with a “cash for trash” program exchanging recyclables for environmental credits. The Maldives transitions to a circular economy, enhancing waste management with sustainable infrastructure and optimized collection systems to create valuable products from recycled plastics.
The Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) is designed for homes and small buildings to address the accumulation of plastic bags and other soft plastics. Resembling a kitchen appliance, it compresses these plastics into bricks for easy transportation to recycling centers. Simple to use, it turns plastic waste into solid cubes bound by melted plastic, facilitating their handling and recycling. Clear Drop, the manufacturer, ensures collaboration with recycling facilities to safely break down these bricks without emitting harmful fumes, making the SPC a practical solution for sustainable waste management at home.
Cities tackling global challenges require cooperation among governments, businesses, civil society, and residents for sustainable development. Effective climate change adaptation includes increasing tree cover and preserving green spaces to enhance the quality of life, absorb carbon emissions, mitigate urban heat islands, and provide natural flood protection.
iPhone and Apple Watch users who prefer paying with Apple Cash over other apps like Venmo can now send or receive money in person using Tap to Cash. All transactions using this method are private, which means your phone number and email aren’t shared with the other party. Let’s see how you can use Tap to Cash.
Requirements
To use Tap to Cash, you and the other person must have an iPhone that’s been updated to iOS 18 or an Apple Watch running watchOS 11. Naturally, you should have a verified Apple Cash account already set up. Using cellular data is fine if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.
It’s important to remember that you can only send or receive a maximum of $2,000 per seven-day period. The minimum amount you can send is $1, and the maximum is $2,000. These limits are unique to Tap to Cash, and if you need to pay more, you must swap to Messages.
Apple Cash is currently only available in the US. For those outside the US, you'll have to rely on other payment methods. Venmo is also US-only.
Tap to Cash on iPhone
On your iPhone, open the Wallet app and look for your Apple Cash card. Note that you won’t be able to do this by double-clicking your iPhone’s side button to get into Apple Pay — you’ll need to unlock your phone and open the Wallet app directly. Select “Send or Request” and then tap “Tap to Cash.” You can then enter the desired amount to pay the recipient, and there’s an option to add a note specifying the payment’s reason or context. Tap “Next” to proceed.
You’ll now have to double-click the side button to confirm your payment, ensuring you’re paying the recipient. After doing so, hold your iPhone so the top is close to the recipient’s iPhone or Apple Watch. Confirm the transaction went through, and you’re free to make another one.
To check the transaction, open the Wallet app and tap on your Apple Cash card. The transaction should be under “Latest Transactions” and have a Tap to Cash icon beside it.
Tap to Cash on Apple Watch
The process is similar to using Tap to Cash on iPhone. You must first open your Wallet, tap your Apple Cash card and then pick “Tap to Cash.” Enter how much you want to send and proceed by tapping “Next.”
Double-click the side button to initiate the transaction. Hold your Apple Watch next to the recipient’s Apple Watch or iPhone before making sure the money went through. You can also look at the latest transactions by opening the Wallet, tapping on your card and tapping a transaction to see if it has “via Tap to Cash” in the information.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-use-the-new-apple-cash-tap-to-cash-feature-in-ios-18-151915913.html?src=rss
Update 11:54am ET: This deal has sold out, but you can find the rest of the best Prime Day deals here.
There’s little better than finding a killer deal on a great product, and here’s an October Prime Day deal that checks pretty much all the right boxes. Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for $130, which is a new record low. They often sell for $348 and the previous record low price was $198.
These aren’t quite the very best Sony headphones on the market anymore. The XM5s are now at the top of the mountain (they’re our favorite noise canceling headphones overall). However, the XM4s are still a fantastic set of cans, especially at this bargain price.
We gave the XM4s a score of 94 in our review. The powerful, customizable active noise cancellation was a major selling point, as was the immersive audio. The "pause when you speak" feature is quite nifty, while multipoint connectivity is always welcome. The price was one of our main drawbacks, but thankfully that's now far less of an issue.
Sony says you'll get up to 30 hours of usage from a single charge (which matches up with our testing) and you'll get five hours of playback time after a 10-minute quick charge. We felt that the touch controls worked reliably well, while the five-microphone array should help make your voice clear on calls.
In addition, the XM4s support Sony's 360 Reality Audio format for immersive sound. The songs typically sound better than standard tracks and the library of supported music has grown over the years, but not every streaming service supports the format. Amazon Music Unlimited is the best-known option. Tidal, on the other hand, dropped support for the format this summer in favor of Dolby Atmos.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-wh-1000xm4-headphones-drop-to-a-new-low-of-130-for-prime-day-142955371.html?src=rss
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is a testament to Apple’s commitment to crafting smartwatches that excel in both durability and performance. This premium timepiece is designed to withstand the rigors of daily use while maintaining its sleek and sophisticated appearance. With its robust construction and advanced features, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black […]
Battery life is a crucial consideration when choosing a smartphone. It determines how long you can use your device without needing to recharge, affecting your overall user experience. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra are two flagship smartphones that promise exceptional battery performance. In the video below, Phone Buff evaluates their battery […]
Meta has unveiled MovieGen, a groundbreaking AI model that transforms text prompts into high-quality videos, marking a significant leap in artificial intelligence capabilities. This innovative system has quickly captured the attention of the AI community, outperforming existing state-of-the-art models and even specialized video generation companies. “Movie Gen sets a new standard for immersive AI content. […]
