Microsoft has set a date for its next gaming showcase. Its second Developer_Direct event will include more details on Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade IIand strategy title Ara: History Untold. Most intriguingly though, MachineGames will at long last reveal details about its Indiana Jones game, three years after the project was announced.
The Wolfenstein studio will offer up over 10 minutes of game and developer insights. Along with the first gameplay trailer, we'll learn about the story and setting and find out just how you'll control the legendary archeologist.
On the Avowed front, Obsidian will take a deep dive into some gameplay from the action RPG, which should hit Xbox and PC this year. We'll see gameplay from Oxide Games' Civilization-esque Ara: History Untold too. Last but not least, Ninja Theory will offer a behind the scenes peek at Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Perhaps we'll finally get a release date for that title, which is slated to arrive this year.
The first edition of Developer_Direct took place last January. It was then that Microsoft both announced and suddenly released Hi-Fi Rush, one of the most highly rated games of 2023. Perhaps Microsoft will have a similar surprise up its sleeves this year.
One thing's for certain though: there won't be any updates on Activision Blizzard games. Xbox says its freshly acquired publisher will have news to share later this year.
The Developer_Direct will start at 3PM ET on January 18, and you'll be able to watch it on Xbox's and Bethesda's social channels. Afterwards, at 4PM ET, Elder Scrolls Online fans can tune in to a global reveal to find out what's coming to the MMORPG in its next major chapter.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-will-finally-show-off-its-indiana-jones-game-on-january-18-161700133.html?src=rss
A Chinese state-backed institute has found a way to identify who sent any material to another person via Apple’s AirDrop, according to Beijing's government. The institution is said to have cracked the feature to find the email addresses and phone numbers of those who send AirDrop messages as part of an effort to stamp out "undesirable content," as Bloomberg reports.
Police have used the AirDrop crack to identify several suspects. However, Beijing's judicial bureau has not said whether there were any arrests as a result. The approach “improves the efficiency and accuracy of case-solving and prevents the spread of inappropriate remarks as well as potential bad influences,” according to the bureau.
Those with a Mac, iPhone or iPad can use AirDrop to easily send the likes of photos, videos, documents, contacts and passwords to another nearby Apple device. Protesters used AirDrop to share pro-democracy slogans during the demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2019. As MacRumors notes, Apple touts AirDrop as being secure since it employs Transport Layer Security encryption. But the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice claims an institute has found a way around the encryption.
In 2022, Apple rolled out a new limit for AirDrop in China after protesters used the feature to share anti-government messages. The company restricted the length of time users can receive a file or message via AirDrop from non-contacts to 10-minute spells. Previously, users were able to let anyone AirDrop them material over an indefinite period of time. Apple later expanded this limitation to all iPhone users, purportedly in an effort to cut down on spam in busy locations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/china-says-it-can-bypass-airdrop-privacy-measures-to-identify-message-senders-151547143.html?src=rss
Intel is one of the biggest names that's in Las Vegas for CES 2024. The company has several talks and panels lined up, including a keynote from CEO Pat Gelsinger. You'll be able to watch that particular event live at 8pm ET on January 9 at Intel's website, along with the CES 2024 site and app.
What to expect
Intel hasn't divulged too much about what Gelsinger will dig into. However, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that AI is one of the topics at hand. According to Intel, Gelsinger will talk about "the critical roles that silicon and software play in making AI more accessible, providing powerful compute and enabling modern economies."
Meanwhile, the company has just revealed its full slate of Intel Core 14th-gen processors for desktops and laptops, including HX-series mobile CPUs. Intel says there are more than 60 14th-gen HX-powered systems coming to market from its partners this year. Meanwhile, thin-and-light laptops featuring the new Intel Core U Processor Series 1 lineup will start hitting retailers by the end of March.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-intels-ces-2024-keynote-010001600.html?src=rss
NVIDIA was one of the first big-name companies to hold a keynote at CES 2024. If you don't have time to watch the full video but still want to find out how NVIDIA revealed its news, you can watch our supercut, which boils the event down to just under 10 minutes.
As expected, the company refreshed its lineup of graphics cards with RTX 40 Super GPUs that are slated to deliver performance boosts at lower prices. The RTX 4080 Super ($999) and RTX 4070 Ti Super ($799) are set to go on sale later this month and are said to be faster than their predecessors.
NVIDIA hasn't divulged the full specs of the latest GPUs yet, but the RTX 4070 Ti Super will have 16GB of memory, compared with the previous model's 12GB. With DLSS enabled, the 4080 Super is said to deliver twice the performance of the 3080 Ti. NVIDIA will also offer a mid-range RTX 4070 Super GPU, which will cost $599 and have 20 percent more cores than the previous version.
Given the current landscape, NVIDIA had a number of AI products to discuss too. For one thing, it's partnering with Getty Images to offer a text-to-image generative AI service that appears to include intuitive editing tools. The keynote took a look at some of NVIDIA's robotics work as well.
NVIDIA also announced several GeForce Now updates. The service will soon support G-Sync as well as day passes, which provide 24 hours of access to the paid tiers. More notable games such as Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV are on the way to the platform, which will soon open for business in Japan.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-nvidias-ces-2024-keynote-in-10-minutes-192533238.html?src=rss
NVIDIA had more news up its sleeve at CES 2024 beyond a slew of new GPUs. The company also announced a bunch of updates for its GeForce Now cloud gaming service, including the addition of G-Sync tech and streaming day passes for paid subscribers.
Cloud G-Sync support, which is coming soon, will work on displays with variable refresh rates as well as monitors that are compatible with G-Sync. GeForce Now will adjust the display’s refresh rate to match the streaming rate, in the aim of minimizing latency and stutter to deliver smoother gameplay.
If you're an Ultimate subscriber, you'll also have access to increased NVIDIA Reflex support on certain titles. Alongside a 240fps mode, Reflex (another feature designed to reduce latency) will soon support streams up to 4K resolution and at 60fps or 120fps to give players more options. In addition, Android users will soon be able to stream GeForce Now to their devices at 1440p resolution.
Starting in early February, you'll be able to check out the GeForce Now Ultimate and Priority tiers without having to sign up for one or six months out of the gate thanks to day passes. These provide 24 hours of access to the respective tier with all of Ultimate or Priority features enabled. Both tiers offer ray-tracing with Ultimate offering access to DLSS 3.5 and Reflex as well. An Ultimate day pass costs $8, while a Priority day pass will run you $4. The monthly price for each tier is $20 and $10, respectively.
Elsewhere, NVIDIA has revealed a bunch of high-profile games that are coming to GeForce Now soon. Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV are the next Activision Blizzard titles to hit the service following NVIDIA's pact with the publisher's new owner Microsoft. Three Call of Duty titles hit the service in November. The Steam versions of both Blizzard games will be available at first, though NVIDIA notes that support for the Battle.net launcher is on the way. Capcom's dinosaur shoot-'em-up Exoprimal (arriving January 18), Honkai: Star Rail from Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse and Mainframe Industries’ Pax Dei are on the way too.
Last but not least, NVIDIA is bringing GeForce Now to Japan this spring. It's doing so with the help of Japanese telecom company KDDI.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nvidia-is-bringing-day-passes-and-g-sync-to-geforce-now-182518914.html?src=rss
Team Engadget is on the ground at CES 2024 to bring you all the biggest (and strangest) tech news from Las Vegas this week. To help make that happen, our editors and reporters need to keep their phone and laptop batteries topped up, and that's where power banks come in. While you might not be running around the showfloor at a convention center, you may need to juice up your devices while you're on the go too. As such, there's some good news for you, since many of Anker's power banks and charging accessories are on sale for up to 43 percent off.
Those with an iPhone may be interested in picking up the Anker 622 Magnetic Battery, which can charge MagSafe-compatible devices by attaching it to the rear. The device also supports USB-C charging. This charger has dropped to $40, which is $30 off the regular price and a record low.
This gizmo has a handy PopSockets grip, which should make it easier for many folks to hold their iPhone while it's charging. It can also act as a stand, so you can prop up your phone to watch videos or play games while topping up the battery. The 622 has a capacity of 5,000mAh, which Anker claims will provide your phone with up to 17 hours of extra use.
This is a very handy piece of travel gear as it will let you charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time. The top of the cube tilts open so you can comfortably watch videos on your iPhone while it's charging via MagSafe. The Cube will charge your phone at up to 15W (it comes with a 30W USB-C charger). Anker also notes that the Cube can fully charge an Apple Watch Series 8 in around 70 minutes.
Meanwhile, those looking for a USB-C cable with a high power throughput (likely for laptop use) may be interested in picking up a two-pack for $15. The dual six-foot USB-C to USB-C cables usually cost $23, and this marks another record low.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-power-banks-and-charging-gear-are-up-to-43-percent-off-right-now-171544198.html?src=rss
Those who've been yearning for a chance to try the Apple Vision Pro headset and have the cash to spare won't need to wait much longer to snap one up. The company says the hotly anticipated device will arrive in the US on February 2. Pre-orders for the mixed reality headset, which starts at $3,499 for 256GB of storage, will open on January 19. The device will be available at all US Apple Store locations as well as through the company's web store.
Those who require vision correction will need to snap up Zeiss optical inserts and attach them to the headset magnetically (Vision Pro doesn't work with glasses). Readers will cost $99, while prescription lenses will set you back $149. The inserts will only be available for purchase online, so don't expect to be able to wander into an Apple Store to pick them up. Naturally, you'll need a prescription for the prescription lenses. However, Apple says that "not all prescriptions are supported."
The era of spatial computing has arrived! Apple Vision Pro is available in the US on February 2. pic.twitter.com/5BK1jyEnZN
This is Apple's first new major product line since it introduced the Apple Watch back in 2014. Apple revealed the Vision Pro release date just as CES 2024 is kicking off, likely to steal some thunder away from the show's exhibitors without needing to actually show up in Las Vegas itself.
The Vision Pro, which Apple announced at WWDC last year, marks the company's initial foray into spatial computing. You'll primarily control it with your hands, eyes and voice, though you can pair a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad for productivity needs or a controller when it's time to kick back and play games.
Apple says a brand new App Store will support more than a million apps from the iOS and iPadOS ecosystems. Of course, there will be apps that are unique to the headset's visionOS. You'll interact with apps by just looking at them, tapping your fingers (à la Apple Watch's new Double Tap feature), flicking your wrist to scroll and using dictation or a virtual keyboard for typing. Siri will enable to you control media playback, open and close apps and much more, Apple says.
Users can place apps anywhere in a 3D virtual environment, which could be a boon for multitasking. You'll be able to access your Mac through your Vision Pro as well, so you'll have access to a giant 4K canvas for your desktop or laptop to help you get things done.
On the entertainment front, you'll be able to stream shows and movies from the likes of Apple TV+, Disney+ and Max on a virtual screen that appears to be 100 feet wide. There's HDR support and, through the Apple TV app, you'll me able to check out more than 150 titles in 3D. Vision Pro also supports Apple's new Immersive Video format, through which you can check out 180-degree, 3D experiences in high resolution.
As for games, Vision Pro will support more than 250 Apple Arcade titles as well as others from the App Store. Players will be able to check out "spatial games," such as Game Room, What the Golf? and Super Fruit Ninja. In those cases, Apple says the headset will transform the space around you, likely leading to more immersive gaming experiences. It's possible that you'll be able to use PlayStation and Xbox remote play features using Vision Pro too.
Speaking of immersion, you'll be able to virtually relocate to more peaceful environments, such as a national park or the surface of the Moon, if you don't feel like looking at your office or home in mixed reality. By turning the Digital Crown, you can adjust the level of immersion in these environments.
The iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max can now capture spatial photos and videos, and you'll be able to view those in "life-size scale" through Vision Pro. Panoramas, for instance, will wrap around you.
FaceTime and other types of calls are getting an intriguing upgrade through Vision Pro. Headset users will appear as a Persona, a virtual representation of them that shows their hand movements and facial expressions (Personas are also supported on the likes of Zoom, Webex and Microsoft Teams). Those taking part in a call on a Mac, iPad or iPhone will appear in a tile, while spatial audio will make it seem as though each person's voice comes from the location of their tile in the space.
Oftentimes, wearers of virtual reality or mixed reality headsets seem disconnected from others in the same physical space as they can't make eye contact with those around them. To mitigate that, Apple has developed technology called EyeSight. This makes it appear as though the Vision Pro is transparent, allowing others to see a wearer's eyes.
Elsewhere, Apple has developed a new authentication system called Optic ID to unlock the device, as well as for password autofill and Apple Pay payment approval. The company says that eye-tracking information remains private — neither Apple nor the makers of third-party apps or websites can access that data. It also notes that Vision Pro has a number of accessibility-minded features, such as the ability to enable eye tracking for one dominant eye (which may be helpful for those who have severe vision loss in one eye or a misalignment).
Given the price of Apple's headset, it's highly unlikely that it will see wide adoption, at least in its first iteration. This is one for developers, early adopters and Apple enthusiasts. It may be the case that Apple eventually becomes the company to make mixed reality mainstream. In the meantime, at least we now know when eager beavers will be able to buy a Vision Pro if they have a spare few thousand dollars burning a hole in their pockets.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-vision-pro-goes-on-sale-in-the-us-on-february-2-for-3499-142006153.html?src=rss
Kia is returning to CES for the first time in five years and the company is set to take center stage for a spell by hosting a press conference. You'll be able to watch all the Kia CES 2024 announcements on January 8 at 6PM ET by checking out the livestream below.
What to expect
The company says it will offer interested parties a closer peek at several of its concept models including the EV3 and EV4, as well as the EV9 and EV6 GT. Kia is also promising a look at its first so-called "platform beyond vehicle" (PBV) that's scheduled for mass production in 2025.
Kia describes PBV as a mobility solution that blends "fit-for-purpose EVs with advanced software solutions that will open the door to new businesses and lifestyles." To that end, the automaker will talk through some PBV tech, "its software-defined vehicle strategy" and partnership plans.
The brand has been teasing out some of its EV ambitions over the last year or so. For instance, we test drove the EV9 concept, which has seven seats and a large cargo space. In October, Kia offered more details on the EV3, EV4 and EV5 before providing a closer look at the first two of those the following month. It seems like it won't be too long before the public can get behind the wheel of at least one of these vehicles.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-kia-show-off-five-new-evs-at-ces-2024-230047828.html?src=rss
Automaker Hyundai is one of the many companies that are holding a press conference at CES 2024. You'll be able to find out more about some of the brand's intentions starting at 4PM ET on January 8. You can watch the livestream below.
What to expect
Hyundai has already shed some light on what it will be focusing on at CES 2024. The automaker says it will share a blueprint for its vision of a hydrogen-powered energy ecosystem. Among other things, Hyundai will reveal a modular hydrogen toolbox that it says will help forge a clean hydrogen value chain.
It's also looking beyond mobility to make people's everyday lives more comfortable with the help of "human-centered innovations." The company has pledged to share plans regarding software and artificial intelligence related to its theme of "Ease every way."
In addition, Hyundai Mobis (the parts and service supplier for Hyundai, Genesis and Kia) says it will unveil 20 new pieces of mobility tech that are ready to go into mass production. Those include what it claims are the world's first in-vehicle rollable display and swivel display. In addition, it plans to show off a transparent display for cars that uses "holographic optical elements" tech.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-the-hyundai-ces-2024-press-conference-210053396.html?src=rss
It's Panasonic's turn to hold a CES 2024 press conference. The Japanese company, which dabbles in a wide range of products, is set to hold its showcase at 1PM ET on January 8. You'll be able to watch all of the Panasonic CES announcements live on the company's website or YouTube.
What we expect
Sustainable energy will be a main concern of Panasonic's showcase, according to a statement the company put out ahead of the show. The brand also plans to discuss its "circular economy initiatives designed to optimize the use of natural resources." Helping people to live healthier and more comfortable lives is a focus for Panasonic, which pledges to help people "discover a world of holistic wellbeing." In addition, it plans to highlight its Green Impact initiative, which involves reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
There's always a chance that Panasonic may have some consumer-focused wares to reveal as well. We could see some of the company's latest cameras during its press conference, as was the case last year. Panasonic may also divulge more about its efforts to make batteries for electric vehicles, including Tesla models.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-the-panasonic-ces-2024-press-conference-180058304.html?src=rss