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Amazon knocks $100 off Samsung’s Freestyle smart projector

Amazon knocks $100 off Samsung's Freestyle smart projector

Samsung debuted its Freestyle smart projector earlier this year at CES as a portable home theater gadget with auto focus and auto leveling features, making it easier to watch anything, anywhere. Normally priced at $900, the Freestyle projector is down to $798 at Amazon right now, which is just about $100 off. Samsung also has it for nearly the same price. The only time we’ve seen the projector cheaper was when it went on sale for $650 at Woot in a one-day sale back in April. If you missed the chance then, now’s a good opportunity to grab the Freestyle while it’s decently discounted.

Buy Freestyle projector at Amazon – $798 Buy Freestyle projector at Samsung – $800

The Freestyle is really best for those who want a portable projector as it weighs only 1.83 pounds and can be easily picked up and moved from spot to spot around your home. Its stand can rotate nearly 180 degrees and its auto focus and auto leveling features help align what you’re watching, so you could project a movie onto your ceiling, your wall and a number of other places without the picture looking too wonky. The Freestyle projects images with a 1080p resolution with a size range of 30 to 100 inches, making it easy to adjust the image to fit the surface you’re working with. Along with built-in Alexa, Google Assistant and Bixby voice command support, it also has 360-degree audio, so you won’t need to plug in external speakers for sound.

If you’d rather invest in a new TV than a projector for your home theater setup, some of Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs have also been discounted on Amazon. The 85-inch Class Neo QLED Mini LED 4K TV is a whopping $700 off and down to $3,298, which is an all-time low. This set uses Mini LED technology to produce bolder, brighter colors and higher contrast, plus it supports a 120Hz refresh rate, 4K AI upscaling, Dolby Atmos and Alexa, Google Assistant and Bixby voice controls. Elsewhere, Samsung’s 65-inch Q80B Series QLED 4K set is $200 off and down to $1,298, while the 65-inch Class Neo QLED 8K Mini LED TV is $500 off and on sale for $4,498.

Buy 85-inch Samsung Mini LED TV at Amazon – $3,298 Buy 65-inch Samsung Q80B QLED 4K TV at Amazon – $1,298 Buy 65-inch Samsung QLED 8K Mini LED TV at Amazon – $4,498

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These Sonic the Hedgehog Themed Keyboards Could Ironically Slow Your Typing Speed

These Sonic the Hedgehog Themed Keyboards Could Ironically Slow Your Typing Speed

the sonic the hedgehog video games are more or less about one thing: blasting through a level with as much speed as possible. So as lovely as this Sonic-themed keyboard from Higround is, it seems almost antithetical to the spirit of the games, at least if you don’t have all your key positions perfectly memorized.

The keyboard is part of a new ‘capsule collection’ (yes, we’re just as upset about writing those words as you are about reading them) from Higround, who partnered with Sega to help pay tribute to the company’s most recognizable characters and one of its most beloved consoles.

These Sonic the Hedgehog Themed Keyboards Could Ironically Slow Your Typing Speed

The collection includes t-shirts, pants, bags, keycap sets, and even mouse pads, but the highlight definitely has to be the three heavily-themed keyboards. The most flamboyant of the bunch features elaborately decorated keys (with TTC Speed ​​Silver switches underneath) recreating the iconic Green Hill Zone from the first sonic the hedgehogwhile a slightly more subtle alternative mirrors the key art for sonic adventure 2.

The last keyboard of the bunch pays homage to the Dreamcast, with the console’s logo on the space bar and the arrow keys matching the colors and labels from its controller’s action buttons. Each keyboard appears to be completely free from labels to prioritize the artwork on the keycaps, but in reality, the alphanumeric labels have been moved onto the side of each key for aesthetic reasons, prioritizing form over function. At least there’s some form of safety net.

Higround’s Sega collection officially becomes available starting at noon, PST, on August 5, through the company’s website. While pricing hasn’t been revealed for any of the items yet, other keyboard releases from the company have ranged in price from $US135 ($187) to $US145 ($201).

Editor’s Note: Release dates within this article are based in the US, but will be updated with local Australian dates as soon as we know more.

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‘Pokémon Go’ Fest 2022 Finale will make Ultra Beasts available globally

'Pokémon Go' Fest 2022 Finale will make Ultra Beasts available globally

As announced during the August 2022 Pokémon Presents, four of the Ultra Beasts that have previously appeared separately at different locations around the world will be available together at the pokemon go Fest 2022 Final Event.

The Ultra Beasts in question are Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa and Xurkitree, and will be available to catch worldwide on August 27 from 10AM to 6PM local time in each region. It’s described as a “global event that can be enjoyed by trainers wherever they are in the world. Trainers will be able to encounter Pokémon they may not normally see in the wild.”

Mythical Pokémon Shaymin, which was first introduced in the fourth generation, can also be found at the event by completing “special research”. Story details are also teased, with Professor Willow being sucked “into Ultraspace through an Ultra Wormhole”.

Lastly, Daily Adventure Incense has been added to Pokémon Go. It’s described as a “special incense that can be used once a day for 15 minutes”, and it can “attract Pokémon not normally seen in your area”. It also has the potential effect of attracting legendaries.

Since its release six years ago, over 700 of the total 905 Pokémon have been made available to catch in pokemon go. The game has been a huge hit for developer Niantic, becoming one of the highest-grossing mobile games of all time, and being downloaded over 1billion times as of 2019.

Snorlax Pokemon Go
Pokémon Go. Credit: Niantic.

Despite this, Niantic Chief Executive Officer, John Hanke, recently announced in an email that the company was “facing a time of economic turmoil”. Hanke stated that Niantic needs to “further streamline our operations in order to best position the company to weather any economic storms that may lie ahead”, which has manifested in the cancellation of Transformers: Heavy Metal and the game Hamlet.

In other news, pokemon unite is celebrating its first anniversary with roster additions and timed events.

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Four Ultra Beasts Coming To Pokemon GO Fest Finale Event

nihilego, pherosma, buzzswole, xurkitree in pokemon go

News

The Pokemon GO Fest Finale is a few weeks away and Pokemon Presents just dropped some news about the Ultra Beasts coming to the event.

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Earlier today during the Pokemon Presents stream, it was announced that four Ultra Beasts will become more widely available to Pokemon GO trainers. Each Pokemon GO Fest event this Summer has focused on a different Ultra Beast, and it looks like the Finale will bring together all four that have been released so far.

The Pokemon Go Fest Finale event will take place on August 27 from 6 AM until 10 PM local time and will feature wild Pokemon that aren’t usually seen out in the wild. The details were a bit sparse as far as which Pokemon will appear, but like past events, it’s expected to be revealed before the big day arrives.

Additionally, Shaymin’s Sky Forme will be coming to the game during the GO Fest Finale as a part of the Special Research for the event. The Land Forme was previously released as apart of the other Go Fest events.

As for the main event, the Ultra Beasts that debuted in Pokemon GO during the global GO Fest and the creatures from the other events in Seattle, Berlin, and Sapporo, will become available to players around the world who take part in the Finale.

The four Ultra Beasts included here are Nihilego, Pherosma, Buzzswole, and Xurkitree. This will be the first time that all of these Pokemon (besides Nihilego) will be available globally instead of just locally for trainers at the in-person GO Fest events.

You can check out the official reveal of these details in the video down below along with the rest of the other announcements made during today’s Pokemon Presents.

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Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4: everything we know so far

Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4: everything we know so far

The Amazfit GTR 3 and GTS 3 were unveiled in October, so we are waiting for their successors to show up. While the launch date is yet to be revealed, what look like official renders of the products have been leaked. A previous leak also gave us a glimpse of the two devices, and the design doesn’t seem to have changed suggesting it’s the final look. We presume that Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 are not far away from launch. So let’s dive in to find out everything that we know so far.

Design

GTS 4 on a white bg
Amazfit GTS4 GSMarena

The Amazfit GTR 4 — the R in the name stands for round — stands out with a large crown (that’s probably a button) at the 2 o’clock mark. Apparently, the case will be made of aluminum, and it looks like another button is at the 4 o’clock mark. By comparison, the existing GTR 3 has curved sides and two crown-like buttons. As indicated by the latest report from GSMarena, the GTR 4 will be offered in silver and black casings. Plus you will get to choose between leather, silicone, and nylon fabric straps.

On the other hand, the GTS 4 — the S stands for square — gets a rectangular body. Like the GTR 4, it also gets an aluminum casing and a crown element for navigation. The casing has two color options gold and black which can be paired with nylon or silicone straps. It is likely to weigh 27 grams and have a thickness of 9mm. The GTS 4 looks identical to its predecessor with little to no changes.

Specifications

Smartwatch on a white bg
Amazfit GTR 4 GSMarena

The Amazfit GTR 4 is expected to feature a 1.43-inch AMOLED display. It may have a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and Always on Display functionality. The GTS 4 is expected to feature a larger 1.75-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 390 x 450 pixels. The brand is bringing a new 4PD BioTracker 4.0 PPG optical sensor that will provide more accurate measurements of heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress levels. There’s dual GPS functionality as well, so you don’t need to have your phone connected to the watch for GPS.

The Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 will get a speaker and a microphone so that you’re able to take calls and play music on the go. Finally, Amazfit GTR 4 may pack a 475 mAh battery which is likely to provide you with 12-days of battery life. While the GTS 4 is tipped to sport a 300mAh battery with up to 7 days of battery life in Normal mode.

Software

As far as the software is concerned, these devices will run Zepp OS 2.0. It will come with pre-installed Amazfit apps but will support a bunch of other apps including mini-games. Moreover, some regions will also get support for Amazon Alexa. Amazfit is said to offer more than 200 watch faces including 30 animated options. Both these smartwatches will be able to track over 150 sports activities.

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Researchers Have Taught Machines How to Follow Lego Instructions

Researchers Have Taught Machines How to Follow Lego Instructions

The enduring appeal of Lego comes not from the complexity of the sets, nor the adorable minifigure versions of pop culture icons, but from the build process itself, and turning a box of seemingly random pieces into a completed model. It’s a satisfying experience, and another one that robots might steal from you one daythanks to researchers at Stanford University.

Lego’s instruction manuals are a masterclass in how to visually convey an assembly process to a builder, no matter what their background is, their experience level, or what language they speak. Pay close attention to the required pieces and the differences between one image of the partly-assembled model and the next, and you can figure out where all the pieces need to go before moving on to the next step. Lego has refined and polished the design of its instruction manuals over the years, but as easy as they are for humans to follow, machines are only just learning how to interpret the step-by-step guides.

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to machines learning to build with Lego is interpreting the two-dimensional images of the 3D models in the traditional printed instruction manuals (although, several Lego models can now be assembled through the company’s mobile app, which provides full 3D models of each step that can be rotated and examined from any angle). Humans can look at a picture of a Lego brick and instantly determine its 3D structure in order to find it in a pile of bricks, but for robots to do that, the researchers at Stanford University had to develop a new learning-based framework they call the Manual-to-Executable-Plan Network—or, MEPNet, for short-as detailed in a recently published paper.

Not only does the neural network have to extrapolate the 3D shape, form, and structure of the individual pieces identified in the manual for each step, it also needs to interpret the overall shape of the semi-assembled models featured in every step, no matter their orientation. Depending on where a piece needs to be added, Lego manuals will often provide an image of a semi-assembled model from a completely different perspective than the previous step did. The MEPNet framework has to decipher what it’s seeing, and how it correlates to the 3D model it generated as illustrated in previous steps.

photo of lego instruction converted into a 3D model by machine learning

screenshot: Ruocheng Wang, Yunzhi Zhang, Jiayuan Mao, Chin-Yi Cheng, and Jiajun Wu

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The framework then needs to determine where the new pieces in each step fit into the previously generated 3D model by comparing the next iteration of the semi-assembled model to previous ones. Lego manuals don’t use arrows to indicate part placement, and at the most will use a slightly different color to indicate where new pieces need to be placed—which may be too subtle to detect from a scanned image of a printed page. The MEPNet framework has to figure this out on its own, but what makes the process slightly easier is a feature unique to Lego bricks: the studs on top, and the anti-studs on the underside that allow them to be securely attached to each other. MEPNet understands the positional limitations of how Lego bricks can actually be stacked and attached based on the location of a piece’s studs, which helps narrow down where on the semi-assembled model they can be attached.

So can you drop a pile of plastic bricks and a manual in front of a robot arm and expect to come back to a completed model in a few hours? Not quite yet. The goal of this research was to simply translate the 2D images of a Lego manual into assembly steps a machine can functionally understand. Teaching a robot to manipulate and assemble Lego bricks is a whole other challenge—this is just the first step—although we’re not sure if there are any Lego fans out there who want to pawn off the actual building process on a machine.

Where this research could have more interesting applications is potentially automatically converting old Lego instruction manuals into the interactive 3D build guides included in the Lego mobile app now. And with a better understanding of translating 2D images into three-dimensional brick-built structures, this framework could potentially be used to develop software that could translate images of any object and spit out instructions on how to turn it into a Lego model.

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Uber receipts are crashing Microsoft Outlook

Uber receipts are crashing Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft has flagged a formatting bug that freezes Outlook whenever you open emails with complex tables, including, er, Uber receipts. The glitch is SW powerful it even crashes Word, too. The problem was first noted in a standard release of Outlook, but existing beta and Current Channel Preview versions face the same bug if they try to open messages with tables.

Microsoft says it’s developed a fix to reach beta users “shortly” and get everyone in a patch arriving August 9th. If you really need to see a breakdown of that last Uber trip, you can revert to the earlier version in Windows by running Command Prompt instructions in Microsoft’s .

— Matt Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Who says greatness has to be expensive?

The middle of the smartphone road has amazing options that balance price and features. These days, you can still get incredible cameras, vivid screens and decent battery life without breaking the bank. But there are so many—so where do you start? How about this guide? We’ve just updated it with a new overall winner.

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Infrared light detection has increased the detail.

TMA

TMA

NASA and its partners on the James Webb Space Telescope have shared a fresh look at the Cartwheel Galaxy. It reveals extra details about both the star formation and the black hole at the center of the galaxy, which is around 500 million light-years from Earth. Using infrared light detection, JWST could peer through the dust that obscured the Cartwheel Galaxy from view when other telescopes observed it.

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Fix your smartphone or tablet on your own terms.

TMA

TMA

Samsung’s self-repair program, in collaboration with iFixit, is finally available. You can now try to fix your Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21 or Galaxy Tab S7+ with officially sanctioned components and tools, complete with guides to walk you through the repair process. The initial selection is just screen and batteries, charging ports and back glass, with prices ranging between $67 (for a charging port on any model) to $227 (for a Tab S7+ display).

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The Prime perk is currently available in 10 US metro areas.

Amazon is giving some Prime members another perk. Subscribers in more than 10 US metro areas will now be able to shop from select local brick-and-mortar stores through Amazon and have the items delivered to their home on the same day. At the moment, participating retailers include apparel brands PacSun, Superdry and Diesel, as well as popular vitamin retailer GNC.

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They’re working with Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now.

Logitech and Tencent have announced they’re working on a handheld cloud gaming device. They’re blending the Logitech G brand’s hardware know-how with Tencent’s software prowess. According to their landing page, the device is tentatively — and imaginatively — called the Logitech G Gaming Handheld. It will “support multiple cloud gaming services,” Logitech said. Tencent and Logitech are working with the Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now teams at Microsoft and NVIDIA, so expect the handheld to support both platforms.

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Taiwan’s presidential website hit by cyberattack ahead of Nancy Pelosi’s visit

The site was bombarded by more than 200 times the normal traffic.

As more than 300,000 people anxiously watched the flight path of SPAR19, the US Air Force plane carrying Nancy Pelosi on her tour of Asia, Taiwan’s presidential website went down in an apparent cyberattack. According to Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Chang Tun-Han, the attack originated outside Taiwan and saw the website bombarded with more than 200 times its regular traffic. They claim the website was back to normal operation “within 20 minutes.”

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Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal: Save $120 at Amazon, Walmart

Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal: Save $120 at Amazon, Walmart


Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

SAVE $120: amazon(opens in a new tab) and Walmart(opens in a new tab) have the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 41mm) on sale for its all-time low price of $279 as of Aug. 2. That’s 30% off its $399 MSRP.

Several major retailers seem to be clearing out their inventories ahead of this fall’s new Apple Watch (Pro? Series 8?) release.

As of Aug. 2, the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 with GPS has made a quick return to its all-time low Prime Day price at Amazon(opens in a new tab) and Walmart(opens in a new tab). (Hope you like the green case/clover sport band combo, because that’s the only colorway they’ve discounted to this degree.) Apple usually sells it for $399, so you’ll pocket a 30% savings.

SEE ALSO:

The best fitness trackers for keeping up with your goals

A quick aside in case you’re in the market for a new pair of wireless earbuds, too: Amazon was randomly giving customers 20% off last year’s Beats Studio Buds(opens in a new tab) or Beats Fit Pro(opens in a new tab) with an Apple Watch Series 7 purchase at the time of writing. Both are winners of our Mashable’s Choice Award, so you can’t go wrong.

Apple’s most notable upgrades to last year’s Series 7 were primarily cosmetic. Compared to the Series 6 from 2020, it’s got a bigger, curvier, and more durable watch face screen, with room for a full keyboard, more text, and larger buttons. Its 18-hour battery life carried over from the previous generation, though it did get new USB-C “charging architecture” that allows it to juice up 33 percent faster.

Features-wise, increased workout support for biking and e-biking (including fall detection) joined the Series 7’s suite of health tools. That further includes a Mindfulness app, a heart sensor, a blood oxygen sensor, an always-on altimeter, and an Emergency SOS function.

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World of Warcraft Mobile Game Reportedly Canceled by Blizzard After Finance Dispute

World of Warcraft Mobile Game Reportedly Canceled by Blizzard After Finance Dispute

A World of Warcraft mobile game has reportedly been quietly canceled due to financing disputes.

According to Bloomberg, the upcoming smartphone game had been in development for three years but has now been canceled due to a dispute between Activision Blizzard and NetEase.

“The two companies disagreed over terms and ultimately called a halt to the project, which had been kept under wraps,” said a source close to the deal.

The project, referred to as “Neptune” by those working on it, was said to be a Warcraft spin-off, set during a different period to World of Warcraft. It’s unknown whether it would have directly tied into either Warcraft, Warcraft II, or Warcraft III.

The good news is that it’s not Warcraft Arclight Rumble – the upcoming mobile “tower offense” game due to release later this year.

As far back as February this year, Activision Blizzard revealed that it was working on multiple mobile Warcraft titles, and this was thought to be one of the big reasons behind Microsoft’s acquisition of the company for a reported $69 million earlier this year.

Now, it looks as though those mobile games may be up in the air – after all, the extent of Activision Blizzard’s working relationship with NetEase following this high-profile cancellation is uncertain. Another of Activision Blizzard’s mobile games, a Pokemon Go-style AR game, was also canceled.

Devil Immortal Key Art

NetEase currently publishes World of Warcraft in China and is also behind the popular yet controversial mobile game, Diablo Immortal, which has come under fire for its microtransactions. Despite this, Activision Blizzard is set to make a killing with the game, which earned $24 million in its first two weeks.

Whether or not Activision Blizzard and NetEase will continue working on Warcraft mobile titles remains to be seen. But at the moment, Warcraft Arclight Rumble is still full steam ahead. And it looks as though the popular Warcraft franchise is set to continue making them a ton of money.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

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EA confirms commitment to single-player and live-service games

EA confirms commitment to single-player and live-service games

Electronic Arts, publisher of popular series like FIFA, Dead Space, and Apex Legends, restated its commitment to developing and publishing single-player games, despite previous comments and financial reports that show a greater profit from live-service games.

Live-service games refer to games that have an online component of some kind, receiving regular updates through patches and content drops. Examples of live-service games would be Apex Legends and FIFA, which both feature online game modes and microtransactions.

EA has, in the past, shown disdain for single-player games. In 2017, EA shuttered Visceral Games, the studio behind the popular horror shooter Dead Space, as well as canceling a single-player Star Wars title. The reasoning? EA believed that single-player games were not as popular as live-service games. As reported originally by gaming site Dualshockers, they stated of linear games: “people don’t like [them] as much today as they did five years ago or ten years ago.”

On a recent call with shareholders and investors, CEO Andrew Wilson had this to say about single-player games: “When we think about our portfolio and we think about building it out, we really think about it on two key vectors. One, how can we tell incredible stories and two, how can we build tremendous online communities and then how do we bring those two together.”

In a follow-up financial report, EA reported that over 70% of the company’s profits come from live service games. Their net income for the past quarter of this fiscal year is approximately $450 million AUD, a growth of nearly 50% over last year’s earnings.

EA’s heavy hitters in this space are FIFA, including FIFA Ultimate Team with an engagement growth of 40%, and FIFA Mobile. “Our FIFA franchise and the successful launch of F1 drove our net bookings outperformance, delivering another quarter ahead of expectations,” CFO Chris Suh stated.

EA has plenty of reasons to celebrate, however — in addition to signing a $45m deal with LaLiga, Spain’s premier Football League, the company is also preparing for a collaboration with Marvel in their upcoming FIFA 23.

Original reporting by The Metro.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.

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