Category: Technology

You can get the NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro media streaming device for just $169.99 today at Amazon (opens in new tab). That’s a price match though because you can also find this sale going on at Best Buy,. The Pro version of the SHIELD doesn’t go on sale very often, and this price is as good as it gets. We’ve only seen it drop this low once before.

The Pro version is designed so you can watch everything in the highest resolution possible. This is the top of the crop for NVIDIA SHIELD devices, and that means the best tech that can fit in there. The Tegra X1+ processor includes next-generation AI upscaling so even just regular HD content can be viewed in 4K.

Yikes.

The PS4 sold “twice as many” consoles as the Xbox One, Microsoft has stated in court papers filed in Brazil.

First spotted by GameLuster, the documents (as translated by Google Translate) state that “Sony has surpassed Microsoft in terms of console sales and installed [sic] base, having sold more than twice as many Xbox [One consoles] in the last generation.”

According to Eurogamer, Sony had sold 116 million PS4 consoles worldwide as of January 2022; industry analyst Daniel Ahmad said that figure rose to a total of around 117.2 million as of March 2022. Using some (extremely) simple math, that would put Xbox One console sales at around 58 million units as of the start of this year.

The papers were filed as part of legal proceedings surrounding Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard; you can read more about shots fired back and forth between Sony and Microsoft here.

Cycling is a confusing world to navigate, especially if you’re just starting out. There are unspoken rules (that you can definitely ignore), and a myriad of new terms that can feel like they’ve been deliberately created to bemuse and befuddle anyone trying to get into cycling for the first time.

There are seemingly endless types of bike, from aero road bikes, through gravel-adjacent offerings, to what most people would class as a mountain bike with drop bars. Even if you know what sort of bike you want it’s easy to get scared by the eye-watering price tag found on the best road bikes, so we’ve got a handpicked list of the best budget road bikes and the best budget gravel bikes too , to get you started if you need a new steed to get rolling.

Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. There are very few types of cycling he’s not dabbled in, and he has a particular affection for older bikes and long lasting components. Road riding was his first love of him, before graduating to racing CX in Yorkshire. He’s been touring on a vintage tandem all the way through to fixed gear gravel riding and MTB too. When he’s not out riding one of his many bikes he can usually be found in the garage making his own frames and components as a part time framebuilder, restoring old mountain bikes, or walking his collie in the Lake District.

Height: 182cm

Weight: 72Kg

Rides: Custom Zetland Audax, Bowman Palace:R, Peugeot Grand Tourisme Tandem, 1988 Specialized Rockhopper, Stooge Mk4, Falcon Explorer Tracklocross

Of all things intangible, you won’t expect a DSLR camera to change shape into a sneaky Transformer. However that’s the case with the latest creation by Japanese company Takara Tomy specializing in creating Transformers toys, and Canon that needs no introduction.

Canon has been known to create nifty little replicas of its own products in the past and this time around too they’ve surprised the community with this cool gadget. It’s no coincidence that two of the most iconic products of these two giants have been fused into one product. Yes, I’m talking about the EOS and mighty ol’ Transformers.

Designer: Takara Tomy

If you thought the alternate form of Optimus Prime was only a badass truck, think again as this small little toy proves it wrong. The 80 percent scale model of the Canon EOS R5 camera swiftly turns into a Transformer with little articulation, and boy, that Lens cap turning into a shield for the Optimus Prime R5 (that’s what this Autobot is christened) is the coolest thing you’ll see all day long. The maker adds a bit of spice to this transforming creation as the Decepticon gets its own miniature camera in the hand.

The real-looking Canon mirrorless camera even gets another version, wherein the resulting Transformer is a Decepticon Refraktor. Although it is not as detailed as the blue and red Autobots leader, still, a cool piece to show off on your desk setup. The Refraktor gets a Quantum Dial and the ability to split into three. So, you get A Spector, Spyglass, and Viewfinder in the seminal animation.

Attention to detail of these two Transformer models is worth appreciating. You can press the shutter button, rotate the dial, or peek inside the viewfinder. The lens can be removed like an interchangeable lens to expose the 35mm sensor and the trademark L lens red ring adds an element of realism.

Both these Transformers/cameras are slated for a February 25^th, 2023 release in Japan, with pre-orders for the Optimus Prime version starting now until September 28^th. The Decepticon Reflektor model will only be a Takara Tomy mall exclusive buyable though. They’ll be priced at 19,500 yen (approximately $147) and given the iconic appeal they should sell like hot cakes!

A Diablo 4 survey sent out by Activision Blizzard has given us a look at some of the potential microtransaction options and cosmetics we could be seeing when the RPG game arrives in 2023. As the Diablo 4 release date gets ever closer, fans are eagerly lapping up any details that might clue us in on what to expect from the next entry in the fantasy game series. Leaks from the ongoing internal beta tests have previously caused discussions about smart loot and trading in Diablo 4, and now attention has turned to possible launch editions, pre-order bonuses, and paid cosmetics that might appear in the action-RPG.

A pricing survey reportedly sent out to players has been posted to the Diablo 4 subreddit. The survey is in German, but user BellasaurusRawr has helpfully translated it into English (the results of which we have corroborated). It’s important to note that these surveys are pretty common – a similar one was recently sent out for cosmetic microtransactions in Overwatch 2 – and Blizzard has previously said that the prices listed are randomly generated per user in an attempt “to better understand player preferences.” This means that you should of course take everything here with a healthy pinch of salt, especially when it comes to pricing.

However, the options on offer do give us some more insight into the types of microtransactions we are likely to see when Diablo 4 arrives. Devil General Manager Rod Fergusson has previously stated that Diablo 4 eschews the model used by mobile crossover game Diablo Immortal, and instead will be a “full price game anchored around optional cosmetic items and full story-driven expansions.”

Included in the optional bundles suggested for the game are cosmetic changes to your characters armor – several designs are shown, but the description notes that you will receive a total of five skins, one for each of the Diablo 4 classes. Also listed are back ornaments, with an image of a set of ornate angel wings that match up to those obtainable in Diablo 3. These state that, like Diablo 3’s ornaments, they will have no influence on gameplay.

Mounts and cosmetic mount armor are also present – ​​the mount is described as a rideable creature allowing your character to move around the world faster. If accurate, this would mark the first time such a feature has been included in the Diablo series, and would follow in the vein of rival titles such as Lost Ark, although the survey notes that the mount is unlocked after completing the campaign.

Finally, there are also boxes offering access to a battle pass promising premium cosmetic rewards for playing, an in-game currency called Platinum used for cosmetic items in the in-game shop, and early access to the game before its official release date – with options for two day early access and seven day early access listed in the survey. As previously stated, all of this is likely designed to help Blizzard to determine market interest, and the prices shown on the survey should probably not be taken as an actual indication of intent.

In the run-up to Diablo 4, be sure to check out our Diablo 4 crossplay guide to learn about the multiplayer game’s cross-platform functionality, and our Diablo 4 Necromancer guide should give you some insight into the returning minion master. Meanwhile, we’ve got everything you need to know about the Diablo 4 level cap and campaign length. If you fancy a hellish tattoo, the Diablo 4 Hell’s Ink tour is still ongoing – although there’s only a few locations left, so you’ll have to be quick!

A new season has dropped, shocked, and rocked in Apex Legends, sending the player count soaring and setting a brand-new Steam concurrent player count record for Respawn’s fan-favorite battle royale.

As recorded by steam charts (opens in new tab) – a handy website that keeps a running tally on all the stats and science-y bits on Valve’s Steam platform – apex legends (opens in new tab) set an all-new concurrent peak of over half a million Legends the day after the new season launched: 510,286 to be precise.

After unveiling its latest flagship wearables and foldable phones last week, Samsung has launched the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in India. The company’s newest wireless earbuds can be pre-0rdered in India through Samsung.com and other leading online and offline retailers across the country.

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro price in India, pre-order benefits

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is priced at INR 17,999 and can be pre-ordered starting August 16, 2022. The earbuds come in three color variants: Bora Purple, Graphite, and White. Samsung is offering a cashback of INR 3,000 if the purchase is made using credit cards or debit cards from any leading banks in India. Those who pre-order the new earbuds can also get a Wireless Charger Pad (worth INR 2,999) for just INR 499.

Interested customers can also trade in their older devices and get a discount of INR 3,000. The South Korean firm is also offering easy financing options to buy the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro features

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro feature Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC, SBC, and Samsung Seamless Codec HiFi (for 24-bit audio), and 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel (5.1/7.1-channel and Dolby Atmos). They have a dual-driver setup, six microphones, Intelligent ANC, Ambient Mode, and Voice Detect (automatically switching to Ambient Mode). The earbuds have an IPX7 rating for water resistance.

With a future software update, Samsung said it would bring Bluetooth LE Audio with LC3 codec support to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The earbuds can automatically switch between Galaxy devices signed in using the same Samsung account. The Galaxy Wearable app can be used to customize touch controls, audio tuning, and use other features.

The earbuds can last up to 8 hours (ANC off) and up to 29 hours with the case. With ANC turned on, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can last up to 5 hours and up to 20 hours with the case.

SamsungGalaxy Buds Pro 2