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Articles by Williams Pelegrin
We got ourselves a bougie e-ink writing tablet
If you have almost $1,000 burning in your pocket, you might want to look at Montblanc’s latest product. Best known for making luxury goods, Montblanc announced the Digital Paper e-ink writing tablet. The screen size is unknown, though the company said it’s protected by a sheet of glass. Most of the Digital Paper is made out of aluminum, though Montblanc also makes use of leather for the front ledger and backplate.
Report: Nintendo is outsourcing its customer support
It appears Nintendo of America’s customer support could take a serious hit in quality. According to an IGN report, the company opted to transition from U.S.-based support to support from South America. Sources stated it outsourced customer support jobs primarily to workers in Brazil, though there are also workers in Argentina and Nicaragua. Historically, Nintendo of America reportedly contracted with two U.S.-based agencies.
Apple does not point to tariffs for iPhone price increase
For the first time, Apple’s iPhone Pro line no longer starts at $999.99. Why that is, however, is a point of contention. Speaking with CNBC’s Jim Cramer at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, CEO Tim Cook said tariffs played no part in the price hike. “There’s no increase for tariffs in the prices, to be totally clear,” said Cook. It’s a rare instance of Apple directly addressing the topic of tariffs as they relate to iPhone pricing.
Looks like too many people want the Lenovo Legion Go 2
It seems that demand for the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go 2 gaming handheld is high. Too high for Lenovo, however. In an update to its AMA post on Reddit, Lenovo announced it cancelled some pre-orders placed on its website. “We don’t believe in holding onto customer payments for products we can’t ship in a timely manner,” reads the announcement.
Ayaneo quietly announced another handheld
Ayaneo didn’t just unveil the Pocket Air Mini during a recent livestream — it also quietly unveiled yet another smaller handheld. Dubbed the Pocket S Mini, its main claim to fame is the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2. It’s the same chipset at the heart of other Ayaneo handhelds, such as the Pocket S and Pocket Ace. In addition, the Pocket S Mini has a display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It’s the perfect aspect ratio for older consoles, such as the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 1.
Microsoft announces more price increases for Xbox consoles
Today, Microsoft announced it is again raising the price of its Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles in the U.S. Starting with the Xbox Series S, the 512GB version goes from $379.99 to $399.99, while the 1TB model goes from $429.99 to $449.99. Shifting to the Xbox Series X, the Digital console goes from $549.99 to $599.99. The regular Series X also sees a $50 increase, from $599.99 to $649.99. Finally, the 2TB model goes from $729.99 to $799.99. The price increases will take effect on October 3.
Report: PC port of Bloodborne is at a standstill
If you were hoping for any fresh news on Bloodborne, you will need to keep waiting. During the most recent episode of the Game Mess podcast, Giant Bomb co-owner Jeff Grubb spoke with fellow co-owner Mike Minotti about Sony slowing down its PC port releases. They also specifically brought up the PC port of Bloodborne, since it remains a PlayStation 4-exclusive to this day. According to Minotti, there hasn’t been one due to developer From Software needing to be involved in the project.
Ayaneo is actually releasing a cheap handheld
Primarily known for releasing high-end handhelds with prices to match, Ayaneo actually announced a budget handheld. Dubbed the Pocket Air Mini, the handheld features a 4.2-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1,280 x 960. Thanks to the aspect ratio and resolution, older consoles like the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 1 should scale beautifully. The retro nature continues with the button and stick layout.
Team Cherry talks about Hollow Knight: Silksong’s difficulty
Hollow Knight: Silksong has quickly built up praise from the gaming community. It has also built up a reputation as an incredibly difficult game. Speaking at the ACMI Game Worlds exhibition in Australia, developer Team Cherry acknowledged the game’s difficulty. However, co-director Ari Gibson also said players can take different paths.
We have entered the world of ads on your refrigerator
If you were hoping your refrigerator would remain an ad-free sanctuary, those hopes should start to dissipate. Earlier today, Samsung announced it is rolling out a software update for its Family Hub refrigerators in the U.S. The update will introduce ads for the first time on a Samsung refrigerator. The company called this a pilot program meant to “strengthen the value” of owning one of its smart refrigerators. The good news is you can dismiss the ads from the Cover Screen.
Nintendo Switch Online gains two new GBA games
Earlier today, Nintendo announced it will expand its Switch Online service with two Game Boy Advance titles. First up is Mr. Driller 2, which originally released in 2000 as an arcade title. It was ported over to the Game Boy Advance and Windows in 2001 and 2002, respectively. As the name implies, Mr. Driller 2 is a direct sequel to Mr. Driller. It’s a puzzle video game that tasks players with digging through colored blocks to reach the end goal. The second title is Klonoa: Empire of Dreams.
Hades 2 gets a physical edition in a few months
With Hades 2 finally exiting early access on September 25, Supergiant Games announced it will release a physical edition of the game. Nintendo is publishing the game, which will be on the cart itself. Although Hades 2 will come in a Switch 2 case, the cart will also work on the regular Switch. As for what to expect, Hades 2 will run at 720p resolution at 60 frames per second on the regular Switch.
The Beast will release earlier than expected
In a nice surprise, developer Techland announced Dying Light: The Beast will release earlier than expected. Instead of releasing on September 19, the game will now release on September 18. Techland attributed the change to the high pre-order numbers. "This inspired us to push our boundaries and make the impossible possible," said Techland. Techland also said everyone who pre-orders the game will get an in-game reward. It did not reveal what the reward is.
French actress warns game publisher over possible use of AI
French actress Francoise Cadol sent a legal notice to publisher Aspyr over its alleged use of artificial intellingence to alter her performance. Originally reported by Le Parisien, the legal notice points to a recent update to Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.
Xbox Cloud Gaming could be getting much-needed upgrades
Based on some recent observations, Microsoft could be giving its Xbox Cloud Gaming service some much-needed upgrades. These upgrades start with the resolution and bitrate. Some players noticed a new 1440p mode that Digital Foundry also observed. Bitrates also saw increases to 27Mbps, which allow for lower latency and more information to be displayed. In addition, Microsoft is reportedly working on two new "HQ" modes for 720p and 1080p.
Nintendo's recent patent could have a chilling effect
Nintendo, like all companies, apply for and are granted patents for their creations. However, its latest patent could have dire ramifications. Obtained by Games Fray, Patent № 12,403,397 is primarily concerned with the movements of a character and a "sub character" in a virtual space. It also covers summoning the sub character in an empty area or in an area with another character, as well as sending the sub character in a direction to fight.
Spotify is finally adding lossless streaming
After years of rumors and false starts, Spotify is finally rolling out lossless audio to the app. The good news is lossless audio will not be restricted to a new higher tier. Instead, it is rolling out to all Premium subscribers in 50 markets through October. The rollout starts with Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the U.S., and the U.K. Subscribers will be notified when lossless audio arrives for them.
Anbernic is back at it again with the RG476H
Just in case you thought Anbernic was done making handhelds this year, the company is back at it with the RG476H. In a nutshell, the RG476H seems to be a less-powerful version of the RG477M with an all-glass front. It sports the same 4.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,280 x 900 resolution that impressed owners of the RG477M and RG Slide. Under the hood, the RG476H features the Unisoc T820 chipset. It's a chipset we've seen in other Anbernic handhelds, such as the RG406H and RG406V.
Everything announced during Apple's iPhone event
It's September, which means it's time for Apple to announce some new iPhones. The company certainly did so, but it also made other significant announcements. AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are here with live translation The design is identical to its predecessor, but the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds bring a new, distinct feature - live translation. You can enable the feature by pressing and holding both stems simultaneously.
Upcoming Silksong update will dial back difficulty in some spots
Press enter or click to view image in full size Developer Team Cherry is prepping the first update for Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it's a doozy. As expected, it includes a solid mixture of fixes and improvements. For example, the update fixes the bug that sometimes makes courier deliveries inaccessible in Act 3. Notably, the update makes things a bit, and I mean a bit, easier for players.
Nova Launcher's last remaining developer has left
Over the weekend, Nova Launcher founder Kevin Barry announced he is no longer working on the Android launcher. Barry made the decision after parent company Branch Metrics asked him to stop working on Nova Launcher. The company also asked him to stop his effort to open-source the Android launcher. "Nova Launcher has been an incredible project and has an incredible community," said Barry. "I'm grateful for the years of support, feedback, and enthusiasm." What happens from here is up in the air.
Ayaneo's Pocket Fit hits crowdfunding and doesn't make your wallet cry
Just when you thought the Odin 3 was ready to steal your lunch, here comes the Ayaneo Pocket Fit to undercut it. Now live on Indiegogo, the Pocket Fit is Ayaneo's first attempt at a more affordable handheld through its new Konkr brand. In that sense, the Pocket Fit hits it out of the park. The handheld will come in two flavors - one with the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, and another with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Google pulls Pixel 10 feature because it sucks right now
Earlier today, Google pulled the Daily Hub feature on its Pixel 10 smartphones as it works to make improvements. "To ensure the best possible experience on Pixel, we're temporarily pausing the public preview of Daily Hub for users," said a Google spokesperson. "Our teams are actively working to enhance its performance and refine the personalized experience. We look forward to reintroducing an improved Daily Hub when it's ready." Daily Hub launched in public preview on the Pixel 10.
Nintendo wins $2 million lawsuit against Switch modder
Nintendo emerged victorious in court as the company won a lawsuit against MiG Switch distributor Ryan Daly and the Modded Hardware website.
Silksong is getting dunked on in China
Although Hollow Knight: Silksong seems to be receiving near-universal praise from players, Chinese-speaking players aren't too happy with the game. On Steam, Silksong reviews sit at either Very or Overwhelming Positive. However, when you isolate the reviews by language, as Eurogamer noted, Simplified Chinese reviews currently sit at a Mixed rating.
Nintendo Switch Online's GBA app gets its 3.0 update
Yesterday, Nintendo updated the Switch Online's GBA app and brought it up to version 3.0.0. It's not a huge overhaul, but the changes are still welcome. For example, there is now an updated banner that states "Nintendo Classics" instead of "Switch Online." Also, Nintendo threw in a nifty easter egg. If you hold the left analog stick in any direction when the app loads, you now get the old Game Boy Advance boot screen. Scrumptious.
EA might not make a college basketball game
According to a recently obtained memo, it seems that publisher Electronic Arts might be changing its tune on a college basketball game. Obtained by The Athletic, the memo states EA rescinded its licensing offer to unspecified schools. This would have allowed the schools to appear in EA's planned college basketball title. Instead, according to EA Sports vice president of commercial partnerships and licensing Sean O'Brien, the schools reportedly opted for 2K Sports' licensing offer.
Google maintains Gmail security is "strong and effective"
In an unsigned post on The Keyword, Google defended Gmail's security and denied reports of a data breach. "Several inaccurate claims surfaced recently that incorrectly stated that we issued a broad warning to all Gmail users about a major Gmail security issue," reads part of the post.
Microsoft denies bricking SSDs with Windows update
It seems like the mystery involving failing SSDs and recent Windows 11 updates will remain a mystery for now. That is because SSD maker Phison and Microsoft said they have been unable to recreate the issue. At least this doesn't seem to be a widespread issue. The problems started a few weeks ago, when reports surfaced of Windows 11 updates KB5063878 and KB5062660 possibly causing some Phison controllers in certain SSDs to fail. At the time, the company said it was investigating the issue.
Silksong will come in at a crazy good price
With Hollow Knight: Silksong arriving this Thursday, developer Team Cherry announced the game's price earlier today. When it releases at 10:00am ET, Silksong will cost just $19.99. It's a modest price bump from the original $14.99 price tag for Hollow Knight. Team Cherry could have charged more if it really wanted to and raked in the dough. However, in a Reddit post in 2018, co-founder Ari Gibson said it priced the original Hollow Knight to allow more people to play it.
This laptop packs not one, not two, but three displays
In case you thought dual-screen laptops were boring, here's a laptop with three displays. Although it's available on AliExpress, there is no name of a manufacturer. As such, this seems like a case of a white-label product, except without the label. As long as you're fine with that, this doesn't seem like a bad laptop on paper. It's available with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and a 2TB SSD, with all models featuring the 12th-gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor.
Sony might return to handhelds
If a recent rumor is to be believed, Sony will re-enter the handheld space in a big way. According to YouTube channel Moore's Law is Dead, Sony is working on a handheld version of the PlayStation 6. Codenamed Canis, it is allegedly one of three SKUs that Sony is working on. The primary SKU, codenamed Orion, will reportedly be the flagship PlayStation 6. Meanwhile, codenamed Canis will reportedly be something akin to a PlayStation 6S in that it will be a step down in terms of power.
Google revamps extended warranty service for its smartphones
Earlier today, Google announced it is phasing out its Preferred Care extended warranty service. In its place is the Pixel Care Plus plan. Pricing remains similar, with Pixel 9 owners coughing up either $8 per month or $159 for two years. Those with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, however, will need to pay $18 per month or $339 for two years. One new aspect is an optional loss and theft package. It adds $1 or $2 per month to Pixel Care Plus, with deductibles up to $149 for the more expensive Pixel smartphones.
Retroid cancels dual screen add-on for Pocket 4 Pro
On its Discord channel, handheld maker Retroid announced it cancelled its dual screen add-on for the Pocket 4 Pro. The issue seems to be the handheld’s MediaTek processor. According to Retroid, the receiver chip on the add-on does not synchronize with the MediaTek processor’s output clock jitter. This resulted in PCR errors for the add-on. All those who ordered the Pocket 4 Pro and the dual screen add-on without purchasing the Pocekt 5 or Pocket Mini will automatically receive refunds.
PS5 and accessories get the Ghost of Yotei treatment
Ahead of the Ghost of Yotei launch on October, Sony today announced a limited edition themed console and some limited edition accessories. Starting with the console, the PlayStation 5 Slim will come with limited edition faceplates and the Ghost of Yotei edition DualSense controller. The console will be available in gold and black theming, with both colors featuring the same artwork. The limited edition console will go on sale on September 4 at 10:00am local time for $599.99.
Gears of War: Reloaded gets a day-one patch
Gears of War: Reloaded is now out on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC, and it already received its first update. As expected, the update addresses a fair number of bugs. These include multiple crash fixes on PC and consoles, as well as resolved bugs across gameplay, the user interface, and localization. In addition, the update fixes mouse input issues on certain handheld PCs. As a result, mouse sensitivity on handhelds should now respond consistently.
Report: Nintendo Switch 2 dev kits remain hard to get
Even two months after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, it seems like developers are still having a hard time getting a dev kit. On its weekly podcast, Digital Foundry claimed Nintendo is telling developers to use Switch 1 dev kits and make their games backward compatible.
Report: Apple is prepping three years of revamped iPhones
It looks like Apple is planning to shake up its iPhone lineup with a new three-year plan. According to Bloomberg, Apple will kick off its plan with a slimmed-down iPhone Air this year. Next year, Apple will reportedly release its long-rumored foldable iPhone, which should serve as a healthy competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series. Finally, Apple will end its three-year plan with a 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027.
Google made it easier to repair its smartwatch
Unlike the first three Pixel Watch smartwatches, Google’s latest iteration will hopefully be much easier to repair. For the first three generations of Pixel Watch, a broken smartwatch meant you needed to buy a new one. Google literally did not offer any repair options. Instead, you would get a full replacement instead of a repair. That finally changes with the Pixel Watch 4, which features a pair of T2 screws inside the mounting locations for the bands.
Bungie CEO steps down after 10 years at the helm
In a statement published on Bungie’s website, studio CEO Pete Parsons announced he is stepping down from the position. In Parsons’ place is Justin Truman, who has been at Bungie for 15 years. He had previously worked on both Destiny titles, and more recently had served as Bungie’s chief development officer.
Abxylute’s next handheld is the biggest of bois
Abxylute, which is best known for its pair of game streaming-focused handhelds, confirmed its next handheld will be quite the whale. Dubbed the 3D One, it is based on a prototype initially shown off during CES earlier this year. The prototype, called the Sunday Dragon 3D One, is the result of a collaboration between Intel, Tencent, and display maker BOE. And what a result it is.
Apple TV Plus is getting more expensive
Apple announced it is raising the price of its Apple TV Plus streaming service. Instead of $9.99, the service now costs $12.99 for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will see the updated monthly price 30 days after their current billing cycles end. The annual Apple TV Plus subscription will remain at $99. So, too, will Apple One bundles, which start at $19.95 per month.
There could be a cheaper version of Xbox Cloud Gaming coming
Speaking on an episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Microsoft hinted a more affordable version of its cloud gaming service could be coming. Xbox vice president of gaming devices and ecosystem Jason Ronald did not explicitly state such a version is currently in the works.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will get a new story chapter this year
In a surprise announcement, Ubisoft confirmed on social media new downloadable content is on the way for Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Available for free later this year, the content will include a new story chapter and accompanying missions. They will be set in 9th century AlUla, which is an ancient Arabian oasis city located in Saudi Arabia’s Medina Province.
Acclaim is teasing a big announcement for next week
In a video shared on social media, revived game publisher Acclaim is teasing something big. Acclaim said the announcement will provide a look at “the first titles in its upcoming slate.” As with all teasers, however, Acclaim only left bread crumbs and left the room. It has been quite the journey for Acclaim. Formed in the late 1980s, the publisher is best known for games like WWF Wrestlemania, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, NBA Jam, Burnout, Mortal Kombat, and many more.
Bluesky will no longer work in Mississippi
In a blog post published earlier today, social media site Bluesky announced it will no longer be available for those with a Mississippi IP address. According to Bluesky, the decision is due to HB 1126, a state law that looks to verify a user's age before they can access certain websites. These would include Bluesky and other websites.
Report: Apple looks to Google to power next-gen Siri
With the next generation of Apple’s Siri still in the works, it looks like the company might turn to Google for help. According to a Bloomberg report earlier today, Google is working on a Gemini model that could run on Apple’s servers. In turn, this model would power the new Siri experience. Apple hasn’t yet reached a final decision on what AI model to go with to power Siri. In addition to Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Perplexity are also in the running.
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s launch is already causing game delays
With Hollow Knight: Silksong slated to release on September 4, several indie developers have opted to get out of the way. First up is Panik Arcade, which was slated to release roguelike CloverPit on September 3. The game will now release on September 26. “We poured our hearts into our little game, so we want to give it the best possible shot,” wrote Panik Arcade in an update on Steam. Next is Talegames, which currently has adventure RPG Faeland in early access.
It sounds like Elden Ring runs like trash on the Switch 2
Unfortunately for Switch 2 owners, multiple reports out of Gamescom have said the performance of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t up to par. The first thing to note is the frame rate. The game is locked at 30 frames per second, which itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Performance on other consoles can be a bit all over the place, so optimization doesn’t seem to be a strong suit. The problem is the Switch 2 version seemingly struggles to even hit 30 frames per second.
The latest offer for Google Chrome is kinda out there, but it could work
Germany-based browser and search engine Ecosia is the latest to make an offer for Google’s Chrome browser. It’s not your typical offer, however. Instead of paying billions of dollars upfront, TechCrunch reported that Ecosia is offering $0. It wants to turn Chrome into a foundation, with Ecosia taking over operational responsibility for 10 years.
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