The incredibly popular (and addictive) poker-based roguelike Balatro just got an update that brings a whole bunch of other games into the party, as announced at the Nintendo Indie World showcase. This is separate from the forthcoming major gameplay update, which arrives in 2025.
Today’s update is called Balatro: Friends of Jimbo and includes crossovers with The Witcher 3,Vampire Survivors, Dave the Diver and Among Us. Basically, each of the aforementioned games will get their own themed deck of cards. For the uninitiated, you can choose from a bunch of decks when playing Balatro, and they all have their own perks and drawbacks.
It doesn’t look like the crossovers go beyond decks, so there aren’t any jokers based on the cook from Dave the Diver or anything. The developers did suggest that more cross-promotional team-ups would be coming down the line.
The good news? The update is available right now and it’s free. The bad news? It looks like it’s only for Nintendo Switch at the moment. The game’s Steam page makes no mention of the update, nor do the Xbox or PlayStation pages.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-crossing-over-with-witcher-3-and-a-bunch-of-other-games-143222539.html?src=rss
Proton Drive from Swiss technology company Proton AG now has a Professional tier. It joins services like Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass to receive professional tiers, letting teams select a single individual product that they need rather than signing up for everything Proton offers Additionally, all Proton Drive Business suite users now enjoy 1TB of storage from the original 500GB. That plan offers Proton’s whole portfolio of products, including email, calendar, VPN and a password manager.
If you’re interested in Proton Drive Professional, you can get it for $5.99 a month right now. It’s a discount of 40% from the original price of $9.99. Besides offering 1TB of storage, users also enjoy a 365-day file version history feature. This means you can restore files up to versions from a year before. Proton Drive also has its own equivalent to Google Docs called Proton Docs.
The company has released two new products this year in addition to a host of other updates to its offerings: Proton Scribe and Proton Wallet. Proton Scribe is a privacy-first writing assistant similar to Grammarly and is integrated into Proton Mail, but you can run it locally on your computer. As the name suggests, Proton Wallet is a digital cryptocurrency wallet to hold Bitcoin securely.
It’s clear that Proton Drive for Business is the company’s latest attempt to hold its own against competitors, as services like password managers, document editors, and even a Bitcoin wallet are now part of its product ranks. Additionally, it shows that Proton is now trying to gain more business customers, especially with the lower price point now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/proton-drive-now-has-a-tier-for-business-users-143008348.html?src=rss
Date Everything! has a perfect title. It's a dating sim in which you'll be able to date humanoid manifestations of many objects throughout your home. You won't have to wait too long to check it out, as it's coming to Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on October 24.
This project from developer Sassy Chap Games and publisher Team17 features more than 100 voice-acted dateable characters, from a vacuum cleaner to a shelf and even your own sense of existential dread. That's deep, man. According to the trailer description, each dateable object has its own story to tell and could become a lover, friend or enemy.
Date Everything! seems to draw inspiration from the excellent Boyfriend Dungeon, a dating sim/dungeon crawler mashup in which you can date your weapons to level them up. In any case, it looks like a wild time. This one's well and truly on my wishlist.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/date-everything-will-let-you-romance-objects-in-your-home-on-october-24-142727451.html?src=rss
If you're especially nerdy like me, then you miss every September marking the start of a big learning period. Well, instead of searching random facts on the internet (you do that, definitely not me..) why not check out the half-off sale running on MasterClass subscriptions ahead of Labor Day? Right now all of the annual plans are discounted to between $60 and $120.
MasterClass offers video lessons from over 200 experts on topics including cooking, sports and music — to name a few. The Standard subscription is down to $60 from $120 and offers viewing on one device at a time with no offline option. Then there's the Plus tier, which has dropped to $90 annually from $180, giving you access on two devices and the ability to watch videos offline. The most expensive option is the Premium Tier, which you can grab for $120, rather than its usual $240, and allows for six devices and offline mode.
Not for you? Consider giving it as a gift to someone who loves learning — we featured MasterClass in our roundup of the best presents for teachers. Just remember that the sale only applies to the first 12 months of your subscription, so make sure to set a far-off reminder if you don't want to get charged double in a year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-50-percent-off-your-first-year-of-masterclass-for-labor-day-142131332.html?src=rss
The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was surprisingly great (certainly more so than the outright terrible Borderlands or the all too safe Super Mario Bros.), thanks to a genuinely funny script and Jim Carrey going wild as Dr. Robotnik. After introducing Idris Elba's Knuckles in the second film (andhis own Paramount+ TV series), now we're getting Sonic's broody counterpart Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Voiced by Keanu Reeves, who sounds like an angstier John Wick in the trailer, Shadow is introduced as an alien who has lived through tragedy and is out for some unspecified revenge. (His real problem though, as fans of the Fast and Furious franchise will tell you, is his lack of #family.)
Judging from the trailer, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 clearly feels like the third entry in a franchise. Sonic and Knuckles are now frenemies who've banded together, alongside Tails, to form the Sonic Team. But when confronted with Shadow's anger and nihilism, they have no choice but to team up with Robotnik to take him down. Personally, I'm just hoping Shadow at some point says, "I'm going to need a gun."
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters December 20th.
Paramount
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-trailer-introduces-keanu-reeves-broody-shadow-134106308.html?src=rss
French authorities have now shared the why behind the August 24 arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov. His arrest came in response to a series of charges, including complicity in "distributing, offering or making available pornographic images of minors, in an organized group." The charges stem from a judicial investigation opened on July 8 against an unnamed individual.
The release, penned by Prosecutor of the Republic Laure Beccuau, details 12 charges in total, including money laundering, drug trafficking, fraud, running an online platform that allows illegal transactions and possessing child pornography. Durov can be held in custody until Wednesday, August 28.
The arrest has raised questions about how much leaders are responsible for what happens on their platforms. Telegram shared a post stating the company "abides by EU laws" and "It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform." There have also been outcries from individuals like Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), who posted "#FreePavel" on X, and NSA whistleblower and now Russian citizen Edward Snowden, who called it politically motivated. Telegram is especially popular in Russia and Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded on X (formerly Twitter) to "false information" that the arrest was politically motivated. "France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so," Macron shared on August 26. "In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/telegram-ceo-charges-include-distributing-csam-and-money-laundering-125336547.html?src=rss
It's hard to believe that it was only in late 2021 that Wordle blew up. The social aspect of sharing results and stickiness of the one-round-per-day format proved to be a winning formula. So it's little surprise that many other daily games have found success by going down this route. Some are as fun or even more enjoyable than Wordle. Others are actually educational, even helping you learn about the makeup of a country's exports. Yet more will have you scratching your head as you try desperately to remember the title of a movie based on some stills. In any case, there are many, many daily online games out there. Since most are free to play, we're here to help you figure out which of the best online games and puzzles are worth your time.
Apple pretty much always announces the year’s iPhone in the first chunk of September, so no surprise here. It’ll announce the iPhones 16 on September 9 with the usual pomp and show at Apple’s campus, complete with global live stream. Dubbed It’s Glowtime, the event name hints at the new features leveraging Apple Intelligence.
Being a diligent technology news outlet, we already have a detailed roundup of all the rumors. It’s likely the hardware won’t change too much, with small tweaks all around. That includes slightly bigger screen sizes, new colors and a faster chipset better able to run Apple Intelligence. Personally, I’m excited for a second action button as a camera trigger, given how often I’m snapping with my iPhone.
It’s not entirely clear why Durov has been arrested.
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, the messaging platform, was arrested by French authorities on the weekend. French law enforcement says Durov’s arrest is part of a wider investigation into online crime, but Durov’s connection isn’t clear. Shortly after the arrest, Telegram said it’s “absurd” to arrest its CEO because some users may be misusing its platform.
Bankrolled by billionaire Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn is a private space mission that aims to complete the world’s first civilian spacewalk. Due to launch August 27, the Polaris Dawn capsule will travel into the high atmosphere before two of the four crew members exit the craft. The flight will also test SpaceX’s innovative idea of not building the capsule with an airlock. Instead, the crew will all don spacesuits then open the door, exposing the rest of the crew and the spacecraft to the vacuum of space. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed.
Indiegogo has just introduced a Shipping Guarantee program to assure buyers they’ll get their products. Previously, there was no guarantee that you would receive the product you backed, but things are now changing. The program will be open to companies that have a reliable track record on the crowdfunding platform. Having a history of successful campaigns will help increase the chances of being approved for the program. The program is a step up from the “Trust-Proven” badge from two years ago, which indicates consistent fulfillment, positive backer ratings and proof of exemplary campaign management.
According to Indiegogo’s Shipping Guarantee Program FAQ page, a campaign must be vetted by the platform’s Trust & Safety team to qualify. All products must also be in the “final manufacturing stages.”
The first campaign under this program is the HoverAIR X1 PRO and X1 PRO MAX flying action cameras. As seen on the campaign’s product page, there is a “Shipping Guarantee” badge. Those who back the project will get their money back if the drones don’t ship by October 31, 2024.
Note that backers are required to fill out surveys sent out by campaign owners to qualify for the protection program. So, don’t complain if you simply forgot to fill out your shipping information — you’ll be on your own unless customer service helps you.
I once backed the Status Audio Between Pro earbuds years ago, and while they arrived safely, the many stories of failed campaigns from over the years have kept me (and surely other potential buyers) wary. Since Indiegogo only ensures reliable companies have access to the Shipping Guaranteed program, backers could be more confident if a company misses its shipping goals.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/indiegogo-introduces-its-new-guaranteed-shipping-program-174706617.html?src=rss
With Google's Pixel 9 event in the rear view mirror, it's time to look ahead to the industry's next big showcase. Apple's iPhone 16 event, arguably the biggest date on the tech world's fall calendar, will take place on September 9 at 1PM ET. And as always, rumors about the iPhone 16 lineup have been flying around in the run up to the event.
Apple is using the tagline "It's Glowtime" on an invite it sent to the media. As usual, the event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at the company's headquarters, Apple Park, in Cupertino, California.
This year is likely to be a more muted one in terms of hardware changes, with Apple perhaps placing more onus on the software side and AI-powered Apple Intelligence features.
Apple
New iPhone 16 features
Apple will certainly upgrade the chipset that the iPhone runs on, in large part because it will want to make sure all of its current smartphones support Apple Intelligence. As things stand, only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have enough oomph to do so. Plus, a new chipset is a bare minimum upgrade.
Apple may slightly increase screen sizes this year. The camera array could get a new look on the base iPhone 16, with Apple ditching the square and switching to a vertical orientation. Apple is likely to upgrade the cameras on several models too.
There may be a more significant change on the camera front as Apple is expected to add a capture button that includes zoom gesture controls. The idea is to make it easier to take photos and shoot videos in landscape mode. It's unclear whether the button will be available on the entire lineup or just the Pro models. However, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to lose the mute switch in favor of the action button that debuted on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
Apple Watch Series 10
Meanwhile, Apple typically debuts new Apple Watch models at its iPhone events. The Apple Watch Series 10 (or Series X, perhaps) is expected to have a new chip that will either make the device more powerful or power efficient. The screen could be much bigger, with reports suggesting that Apple plans to ditch the 41mm variant and introduce a 49mm one. Rumors also suggest Apple is redesigning the band system with new connectors. This could, unfortunately, prevent you from using your existing bands on the Series X.
Everything else
It's all but certain that iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and Apple's other major operating system updates will go live very soon after the event. However, the much-hyped Apple Intelligence features won't be available right away. Since those are in the iOS 18.1 beta, most people will have to wait for the public rollout of that version (and equivalent OS versions on other compatible devices) to try out Apple Intelligence. It's expected that Apple will release iOS 18.1 in October.
Word on the street also suggests that we'll get some updated AirPods at the event. We may see both entry-level and mid-tier versions of the AirPods 4 in a couple of weeks, with only the latter supporting wireless charging for the case.
You'll be able to watch the iPhone 16 event live on YouTube, Apple's website and the Apple TV app. As ever, we'll have full coverage of all the big news right here on Engadget.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-apple-iphone-16-event-is-officially-set-for-september-9-apple-watch-airpods-and-more-160432294.html?src=rss