Samsung continues to push the boundaries of foldable smartphone technology with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. These two models represent distinct approaches to foldable design, offering users the choice between a refined, traditional foldable experience and a bold, innovative form factor. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 refines the classic […]
The post Samsung Finally Fixes the Fold: Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Z Fold 8 Wide—Which Form Factor Wins? appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Yoshi's solo titles have always been a product of contrasts: lovingly crafted art styles belying somewhat thin gameplay meant to appeal to a younger audience. But after getting the chance to preview Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, it feels like Nintendo has created a cozy side-scroller that retains the accessibility of earlier titles while adding extra depth and replayability for gamers of all ages.
As you'd expect from Nintendo's lovable green dino, Yoshi's moveset consists of familiar techniques like his signature ground pound, egg toss, extendable tongue and jumping flutter kicks, the latter of which now last longer than ever before. Seriously, if you get enough height, you can float across entire levels. However, one new mechanic is that Yoshi now also possesses a tail flick that allows him to toss certain enemies onto his back. Not only is this a nice twist after years of often being treated as a beast of burden by Mario and co., it also allows Yoshi to use whoever he's carrying to interact with other elements in the stage. By flicking a Crayzee Dayzee (one of the new flower characters) into his saddle, Yoshi can make plants bloom to earn stars and uncover secrets, for example.
Instead of simply remixing the gorgeous textile-inspired visuals we saw in Yoshi's Woolly World and Yoshi's Crafted World, Nintendo opted for a treatment that looks like a children's bedtime story. The game looks hand-drawn, while also featuring a cell-shaded effect that adds extra depth and impact to characters and backgrounds. Animations have a sort of hitch (which I initially mistook for a bug) that gives them a stop-motion effect, as if you're seeing the pages of a flipbook whiz by instead of frames being refreshed on a digital display.
But the biggest change in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is that it's not a traditional side-scrolling format. In many ways, this title plays like a mix between an adventure game and a platformer. Instead of just running to the right as fast as possible, the game encourages you to explore, experiment, backtrack and see what kind of new hijinks Yoshi can discover. Don't do what I did and mindlessly run around and eat up every enemy you see, because there's a good chance they are more valuable alive instead of being turned into an egg. It's almost like Nintendo applied a similar approach to subverting expectations in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but builds on that style of gameplay even more here.
To really drive home the children's storybook conceit, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book gives you greater control over how you unlock and explore new levels. Instead of linearly moving from one stage to the next, you actually select stages by moving a magnifying glass over a new character, allowing you to learn who they are experientially. Collect enough stars from quests and you can decide where you'll go and who you'll meet next, while spending tokens found throughout each level allows you to reveal hints about how to find and complete specific objectives. Then, once you finish a stage, Mr E. (who is both the titular book and acts as the game's narrator), allows you to name each new character whatever you like.
The one thing that may rub old-school sidescroller fans the wrong way though is that Yoshi doesn't take damage — for all intents and purposes, he's invincible. This is great for kids because they don't need to worry about running out of lives or looking for coins to heal. But after playing through a couple of chapters, I found that the game can still be quite challenging — the learning process is just a bit more forgiving. One objective required me to bounce off the heads of a series of Croakaokes (the chubby amphibians that make sounds when you jump on them) to the tune of "Mary had a little lamb" while trying to reach a high-up platform. If you play a note out of order or miss a jump, it's not game over, but you will need to start over from the bottom. And even without damage, enemies like Bunchabees will still chase you around and disrupt your adventuring if you try to ignore them.
Yoshi's latest adventure might not be a super traditional side-scrolling platformer, but it offers a fresh take on the genre while also providing a new level of exploration and adventure for gamers of all ages. But I suppose the real test will be if it gets my own kid's seal of approval.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is available for pre-order now for the Switch 2 before official sales begin on May 21 ($70 for a physical copy or $60 for a digital download).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/yoshi-and-the-mysterious-book-preview-a-choose-your-own-adventure-even-adults-can-love-130000507.html?src=rss
Google’s Gemini platform offers two distinct approaches for managing tasks: Notebooks and Gems. Each serves a specific purpose, with Notebooks acting as a collaborative workspace for evolving projects and Gems excelling at repetitive, predefined workflows. For example, Notebooks are ideal for research-heavy tasks like tracking renewable energy trends, where memory retention and advanced features such […]
The post Why You Might Be Using the Wrong Google Gemini Tool for Your Workflows appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Capturing sharp and detailed photos in low-light conditions with your iPhone can be challenging. Factors like camera shake, insufficient lighting and incorrect settings often lead to blurry or grainy images. However, with the right techniques and tools, you can significantly enhance your night photography. Below, we’ll explore practical steps and features to help you take […]
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Anker has announced its own chip that can give its small, wearable products AI capabilities that run locally on device. The company is planning to debut the chip called “Thus” on a new model of headphones, slated to be unveiled at its Anker Day event on May 21.
Anker calls Thus the “first Compute-in-Memory (CIM) AI audio chip with neural networks.” The company explains that Thus is “inspired by the workings of the human brain” in that the storage and processing of information takes place in one location instead of keeping them separate, similar to how it works on modern chips for computers.
Thus integrates computing power directly into NOR flash memory cells, which provide faster read speeds than NAND memory. A NOR-based CIM system requires only a tiny space inside devices, which makes it an ideal option for small products like headphones. Anker says headphones are a particularly challenging environment to demonstrate what a new chip can do, because “hardly any other device places higher demands on an AI chip.” They have a tiny space allotted for components and operate with just a few milliwatts of power, even though they have to consistently provide noise cancellation. If the model delivers, it could be a huge advertisement for Thus, which Anker plans to put in other mobile accessories and IoT devices, as well.
While the company has yet to reveal all its upcoming headphones’ AI-powered capabilities, it did announce one particular feature. Clear Calls, as it’s called, will cancel noise “with a large neural network running entirely on the device, supported by eight MEMS microphones and two bone conduction sensors.” Anker says it will enable significantly clearer conversations even in environments that are challenging for conventional noise cancellation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ankers-thus-chip-brings-ai-to-its-headphones-and-other-products-122142552.html?src=rss
OpenAI and Google have unveiled a series of advancements that push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in both creative and analytical domains. Universe of AI highlights OpenAI’s leaked Hermes Agent Studio, a framework for building custom AI agents tailored to specific workflows and ChatGPT Images 2.0, which introduces features like multilingual text generation […]
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iPhones are widely recognized for their robust security features, but no device is entirely immune to threats. While traditional viruses are rare on iOS devices, other risks such as malware, phishing attacks and security vulnerabilities can still pose significant challenges. Understanding how to identify and address these threats is crucial for safeguarding your personal information […]
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With dual-beam lighting, active cooling, and fast USB-C charging, the WUBEN X1Pro delivers powerful illumination for outdoor adventures, professional work, and emergency response. Reliable lighting is essential in outdoor exploration, professional fieldwork, and emergency preparedness. As more users demand higher brightness, longer runtime, and more versatile functionality, modern flashlights have evolved into sophisticated tools capable […]
The post WUBEN X1Pro : A 12,300-Lumen Flashlight Built for Extreme Performance appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
OpenAI’s latest release, ChatGPT Image 2, introduces a significant upgrade in AI-driven image generation, combining advanced reasoning with hyperrealistic detail. As Matthew Berman explains, the model excels in rendering intricate textures, such as fabric patterns or natural elements, while also improving text integration within images. This makes it particularly effective for creating infographics, signage and […]
The post Why OpenAI’s New ChatGPT Image 2 is a Massive Leap for AI Generation appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Malaysia doesn’t always get to be first. So when HONOR chose Kuala Lumpur as the global stage for the HONOR 600 Series launch, it felt less like a marketing decision and more like a statement. The kind brands make when they actually believe a market is ready, not just willing to buy, but ready to appreciate what’s being offered. I walked into the event expecting a standard product unveiling. What I got was something closer to a creative manifesto.
Ethan Chen, Deputy Country Director of HONOR Malaysia, set the tone early. The brand currently holds the number one spot in Android sales volume in Malaysia, and rather than simply leaning on that achievement, Chen framed it as a responsibility. “Pushing boundaries of what technology can do” wasn’t a tagline on a slide. It was the running thread of everything that followed, including why the device is focusing on its AI-powered features.
Designer: Honor
The design conversation alone was worth showing up for. HONOR used what they’re calling an integrated cold carving process to achieve a flagship-grade matte metal finish on a phone that looks premium but without the expected premium price tag. The bezels measure 0.98mm, an industry first, and they literally compared it to the string of a badminton racket, which is a very Malaysian way to explain precision and I respect it entirely. Holding the device, you feel the difference immediately. It doesn’t feel like a phone built to a budget. It feels like a phone that’s been decided upon.
On the camera front, HONOR Imaging System Expert Dr. Weilong Hou walked through what the 200MP sensor and the 120x telephoto zoom with industry-highest CIPA 6.5 image stabilization actually means in practice. The Pro model can lock onto distant subjects with a steadiness that used to require dedicated camera equipment. For anyone who shoots street photography or travel content without a full kit, that’s a genuinely useful upgrade. The AI Image to Video 2.0 feature lets you combine up to three photos with a text prompt to generate short video sequences, no third-party apps needed. It’s the kind of feature that sounds gimmicky until you see the demo, and the on-stage result looked surprisingly natural.
The moment that stayed with me most, though, wasn’t about megapixels. It was when the conversation turned to one of the reasons why they’re bringing AI into the conversation of transforming creativity. Mr. Harald Neerland, the president of Autism Europe, shared how AI tools like what can be found on the Honor 600 series can help autistic children tell and share their stories through imagery and videos. The line that landed: “True innovation should serve humanity, especially those who communicate differently.” It’s easy to be cynical about corporate purpose statements, but this one felt grounded and specific rather than vague. Whether it fully delivers on that promise over time is the real question, and worth watching.
Back to the specs, because they matter. The 7,000mAh silicon carbon battery was demonstrated through an F1-style simulation that put the HONOR 600 up against an iPhone and a Samsung in an endurance test that was also quite funny, with the Honor car pushing Samsung towards the finish line when it ran out of “gas”. Another standout feature that was highlighted was that the 8,000-nit display with HONOR’s Eye Comfort technology means you can actually use the phone in full Malaysian sun without squinting, while also protecting your eyes during late-night scroll sessions. The IP69K rating, the highest water and dust protection available, means a heavy downpour is genuinely not a concern. Neither is dropping it, thanks to the SGS 5-star Drop and Crush Certification.
With a price range between $650-850, the HONOR 600 Series is pitching itself squarely in the accessible flagship bracket, the space where most people actually shop. It’s not trying to out-premium the ultra-luxury tier. It’s trying to make flagship-level hardware feel normal, attainable, and beautifully designed. Malaysia being the first market for this global launch isn’t just a footnote. It’s a signal. And if the 600 Series performs the way it looks, HONOR may have just made their most compelling argument yet for staying at the top of that Android chart.
Full review of the Honor 600 coming soon!
The post Honor Just Made Malaysia Its Global Launch Pad for the Honor 600 first appeared on Yanko Design.