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Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands developer faces layoffs in latest Embracer cuts

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We're just a couple of weeks into 2024, but the layoffs that plagued the gaming industry last year are back. An undisclosed number of employees at Lost Boys Interactive have been laid off across seemingly "all disciplines at all levels," terminated producer Jared Pace told Aftermath. Lost Boys Interactive is responsible for games like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands — which is launching on PlayStation Plus.

The news was initially reported by both terminated and remaining employees. Lost Boys Interactive eventually released a statement to Eurogamer confirming the news, blaming "headwinds facing the industry right now." It continued, "Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we're working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving."

These layoffs are just the latest set from its parent company, Embracer (Gearbox technically owns Lost Boys Interactive but is, itself, owned by Embracer). In September, Embracer laid off about 900 employees, equal to about five percent of its staff. Only two months later, it laid off another 50 or so employees at Fishlabs, developers of Chorus. The company has also shuttered some of its studios and is rumored to be selling Gearbox, which it bought in 2021 for $1.4 billion. Embracer blames the tremendous restructuring and layoffs on the dissolution of a potential deal that would have brought $2 billion in revenue over six years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-developer-faces-layoffs-in-latest-embracer-cuts-153054773.html?src=rss

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands developer faces layoffs in latest Embracer cuts

Posted on by

We're just a couple of weeks into 2024, but the layoffs that plagued the gaming industry last year are back. An undisclosed number of employees at Lost Boys Interactive have been laid off across seemingly "all disciplines at all levels," terminated producer Jared Pace told Aftermath. Lost Boys Interactive is responsible for games like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands — which is launching on PlayStation Plus.

The news was initially reported by both terminated and remaining employees. Lost Boys Interactive eventually released a statement to Eurogamer confirming the news, blaming "headwinds facing the industry right now." It continued, "Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we're working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving."

These layoffs are just the latest set from its parent company, Embracer (Gearbox technically owns Lost Boys Interactive but is, itself, owned by Embracer). In September, Embracer laid off about 900 employees, equal to about five percent of its staff. Only two months later, it laid off another 50 or so employees at Fishlabs, developers of Chorus. The company has also shuttered some of its studios and is rumored to be selling Gearbox, which it bought in 2021 for $1.4 billion. Embracer blames the tremendous restructuring and layoffs on the dissolution of a potential deal that would have brought $2 billion in revenue over six years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-developer-faces-layoffs-in-latest-embracer-cuts-153054773.html?src=rss

The best tech support helplines for seniors (according to my 73-year-old mom)

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Engadget readers like yourself are probably more tech savvy than the average person. That means you may get roped into helping older family members with email woes, new phone setups, or deciphering if a message is legit or a phishing scam. In my family, I’ve become my mother’s unofficial IT support hotline, which makes me wonder about older adults with adult kids who are short on time. Turns out there are a number of resources staffed with actual people who will calmly walk seniors through just about any tech trouble they may face. Many local libraries and senior centers host classes and even one-on-one tech assistance to seniors for free, but if they can’t make it to a live session or there aren’t offerings in their area, phone hotlines and online services may be the answer.

For the past couple weeks, I used my mom and her frequently asked questions to try out a few of the senior tech hotlines out there and found three services that are refreshingly helpful, two of which are completely free and a third that includes a free option. If you know a senior who could use help with their tech, directing them to one of these services won’t feel like pawning them off, but rather like you’re sending them to an IT pro with endless patience.

Top three free senior tech support companies

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-tech-support-helplines-for-seniors-according-to-my-73-year-old-mom-140013739.html?src=rss

The best tech support helplines for seniors (according to my 73-year-old mom)

Posted on by

Engadget readers like yourself are probably more tech savvy than the average person. That means you may get roped into helping older family members with email woes, new phone setups, or deciphering if a message is legit or a phishing scam. In my family, I’ve become my mother’s unofficial IT support hotline, which makes me wonder about older adults with adult kids who are short on time. Turns out there are a number of resources staffed with actual people who will calmly walk seniors through just about any tech trouble they may face. Many local libraries and senior centers host classes and even one-on-one tech assistance to seniors for free, but if they can’t make it to a live session or there aren’t offerings in their area, phone hotlines and online services may be the answer.

For the past couple weeks, I used my mom and her frequently asked questions to try out a few of the senior tech hotlines out there and found three services that are refreshingly helpful, two of which are completely free and a third that includes a free option. If you know a senior who could use help with their tech, directing them to one of these services won’t feel like pawning them off, but rather like you’re sending them to an IT pro with endless patience.

Top three free senior tech support companies

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-tech-support-helplines-for-seniors-according-to-my-73-year-old-mom-140013739.html?src=rss

AT&T is slightly raising the price of its Unlimited plans

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AT&T is raising its Unlimited plan prices a bit on March 5, 2024, though users will at least get more hotspot data, CNET has reported. Prices for all plans are going up by 99 cents per line per month, but users on AT&T's old Unlimited Elite plan will see no change. 

The new plans are now up on AT&T's website, showing the Unlimited Starter SL plan (replacing the old Unlimited Starter plan) now priced at $65.99, but offering 5GB of hotspot data, up from 3GB. The Unlimited Extra is now the Unlimited Extra EL plan, and costs $75.99 per month with 30GB of hotspot data rather than 15GB. Finally, the new Unlimited Premium PL option supersedes the old Unlimited Premium plan and bumps the hotspot data by 10GB to 60GB (all prices are for one user). 

The company is also boosting the price of its Value Plus VL (previously Value Plus) plan by 99 cents to $50.99. Hotspot data still isn't permitted, but you're now allowed up to 10 lines instead of just one. 

"We are bringing new benefits and added value to our best Unlimited plans," a spokesperson told CNET in a statement. "Customers on our current Unlimited Starter, Extra, Premium and Value Plus plans will receive the additional benefits starting in March [presumably along with the higher rate]. Existing customers will be notified of these changes in the coming days and will have several weeks prior to the effective date to update their plan or make other changes if they'd like to."

AT&T's Unlimited plans compare to T-Mobile's Go5G plans and Verizon's MyPlan options. All get considerably cheaper as you add lines, and include perks like Netflix, Disney and other subscriptions. Last year, the United States ranked 219th in global mobile data affordability, or 19th worst in the world, just ahead of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-is-slightly-raising-the-price-of-its-unlimited-plans-131012933.html?src=rss

AT&T is slightly raising the price of its Unlimited plans

Posted on by

AT&T is raising its Unlimited plan prices a bit on March 5, 2024, though users will at least get more hotspot data, CNET has reported. Prices for all plans are going up by 99 cents per line per month, but users on AT&T's old Unlimited Elite plan will see no change. 

The new plans are now up on AT&T's website, showing the Unlimited Starter SL plan (replacing the old Unlimited Starter plan) now priced at $65.99, but offering 5GB of hotspot data, up from 3GB. The Unlimited Extra is now the Unlimited Extra EL plan, and costs $75.99 per month with 30GB of hotspot data rather than 15GB. Finally, the new Unlimited Premium PL option supersedes the old Unlimited Premium plan and bumps the hotspot data by 10GB to 60GB (all prices are for one user). 

The company is also boosting the price of its Value Plus VL (previously Value Plus) plan by 99 cents to $50.99. Hotspot data still isn't permitted, but you're now allowed up to 10 lines instead of just one. 

"We are bringing new benefits and added value to our best Unlimited plans," a spokesperson told CNET in a statement. "Customers on our current Unlimited Starter, Extra, Premium and Value Plus plans will receive the additional benefits starting in March [presumably along with the higher rate]. Existing customers will be notified of these changes in the coming days and will have several weeks prior to the effective date to update their plan or make other changes if they'd like to."

AT&T's Unlimited plans compare to T-Mobile's Go5G plans and Verizon's MyPlan options. All get considerably cheaper as you add lines, and include perks like Netflix, Disney and other subscriptions. Last year, the United States ranked 219th in global mobile data affordability, or 19th worst in the world, just ahead of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-is-slightly-raising-the-price-of-its-unlimited-plans-131012933.html?src=rss

Amazon’s newest Fire HD 10 tablet falls to just $105

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If you're looking for a new tablet to keep track of all your 2024 goals on (or just for fun), now is a great time to buy. A range of Amazon Fire Tablets are currently on sale, including the new Fire HD 10 tablet. A 42 percent discount brings the 64GB Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to $105 from $180 — the lowest price we've seen it at. The 32GB model is also on sale but, at $95, you might as well pay the extra $10 for double the storage.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution to easily view anything from a good book to a favorite game. The Fire HD 10 tablet also has 5MP front and rear-facing cameras and the option to expand storage by up to 1TB through a microSD slot. 

If you want something a little more advanced, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is also on sale — the 128GB model is down to $200 from $280. The 11-inch screen is a touch bigger and better, with a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution. Other notable features include 8MP front and rear-facing cameras and 4GB of RAM. This version comes without lock screen ads and is currently only $5 more than the 64GB model with lock screen ads. 

Rounding out the Amazon Fire tablet deals is the 32GB Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, with a 38 percent discount, dropping it to $75 from $120. It comes with a 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing cameras. It has 3GB of RAM and works 30 percent faster than its predecessor. Notably, this sale is on the lock screen with the ads model, but another $15 will give you an ad-free user experience. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-newest-fire-hd-10-tablet-falls-to-just-105-120532229.html?src=rss

Amazon’s newest Fire HD 10 tablet falls to just $105

Posted on by

If you're looking for a new tablet to keep track of all your 2024 goals on (or just for fun), now is a great time to buy. A range of Amazon Fire Tablets are currently on sale, including the new Fire HD 10 tablet. A 42 percent discount brings the 64GB Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to $105 from $180 — the lowest price we've seen it at. The 32GB model is also on sale but, at $95, you might as well pay the extra $10 for double the storage.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution to easily view anything from a good book to a favorite game. The Fire HD 10 tablet also has 5MP front and rear-facing cameras and the option to expand storage by up to 1TB through a microSD slot. 

If you want something a little more advanced, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is also on sale — the 128GB model is down to $200 from $280. The 11-inch screen is a touch bigger and better, with a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution. Other notable features include 8MP front and rear-facing cameras and 4GB of RAM. This version comes without lock screen ads and is currently only $5 more than the 64GB model with lock screen ads. 

Rounding out the Amazon Fire tablet deals is the 32GB Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, with a 38 percent discount, dropping it to $75 from $120. It comes with a 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing cameras. It has 3GB of RAM and works 30 percent faster than its predecessor. Notably, this sale is on the lock screen with the ads model, but another $15 will give you an ad-free user experience. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-newest-fire-hd-10-tablet-falls-to-just-105-120532229.html?src=rss

Nikon made an AI imaging camera that detects when cows are about to give birth

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Nikon has taken its imaging and AI prowess in a unexpected direction with a new system that can warn farmers when a cow is about to give birth, Kyodo News has reported. It's designed to reduce the need to constantly check large numbers of pregnant cows during busy birthing seasons, helping farmers improve efficiency.

The system, which costs 900,000 yen per year ($6,200) for a farm with around 100 cows, consists of a security-style camera married to an AI system. It uses a dedicated smartphone application that sounds an alert when a calf is due, allowing farmers to spring into action if required. 

Nikon started training the AI in the fall of 2021, then running proof-of-concept tests on four farms in southwestern Japan in February 2023. The system picks up on signs exhibited by pregnant cows about five hours ahead of labor, like increased movement and the beginning of the release of the calf's amniotic sac. "We want to be able to also detect when a female cow is in heat and other behavioral patterns," said Nikon's Kazuhiro Hirano. 

The system apparently does the job well, according a livestock owner who participated in the tests last year. "We deliver about 60 calves per year and had to check the mothers every few hours from around a month before they are due. This system has been a great help," said Keita Higuchi. 

Nikon is best known for its consumer cameras, but it also manufactures microscopes, X-Ray systems, semiconductor systems, robot vision, virtual production studios and more. The company uses AI tech to aid microscope imaging, but has also recently fought against misuse of fake AI images via new electronic watermarking technology. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nikon-made-an-ai-imaging-camera-that-detects-when-cows-are-about-to-give-birth-111509251.html?src=rss

Nikon made an AI imaging camera that detects when cows are about to give birth

Posted on by

Nikon has taken its imaging and AI prowess in a unexpected direction with a new system that can warn farmers when a cow is about to give birth, Kyodo News has reported. It's designed to reduce the need to constantly check large numbers of pregnant cows during busy birthing seasons, helping farmers improve efficiency.

The system, which costs 900,000 yen per year ($6,200) for a farm with around 100 cows, consists of a security-style camera married to an AI system. It uses a dedicated smartphone application that sounds an alert when a calf is due, allowing farmers to spring into action if required. 

Nikon started training the AI in the fall of 2021, then running proof-of-concept tests on four farms in southwestern Japan in February 2023. The system picks up on signs exhibited by pregnant cows about five hours ahead of labor, like increased movement and the beginning of the release of the calf's amniotic sac. "We want to be able to also detect when a female cow is in heat and other behavioral patterns," said Nikon's Kazuhiro Hirano. 

The system apparently does the job well, according a livestock owner who participated in the tests last year. "We deliver about 60 calves per year and had to check the mothers every few hours from around a month before they are due. This system has been a great help," said Keita Higuchi. 

Nikon is best known for its consumer cameras, but it also manufactures microscopes, X-Ray systems, semiconductor systems, robot vision, virtual production studios and more. The company uses AI tech to aid microscope imaging, but has also recently fought against misuse of fake AI images via new electronic watermarking technology. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nikon-made-an-ai-imaging-camera-that-detects-when-cows-are-about-to-give-birth-111509251.html?src=rss