The long wait for details on Nintendo’s next console is finally over. The upcoming Switch (previously known as the ) was officially announced today with a three-minute gameplay video that focused on the system’s portability, upcoming game library, and its flexibility. From portable play to multiplayer matches in games like Splatoon, the Nintendo Switch is the hybrid system it was rumored to be. First, the game quality looks pretty good — if nothing like the quantum leap some were hoping for. Nvidia has stated that the Switch “includes an Nvidia GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce cards.
When we talk about Qualcomm, we typically discuss its SoCs, CPU performance, and general market position in the Android ecosystem. Qualcomm’s modem division, however, is absolutely vital to its overall success, even if discussions of that technology tend to fly under the radar. Between its extensive 4G LTE patent portfolio and dominant position in the Android market, a great deal of cellular revenue flows through Qualcomm’s coffers — and establishing a leadership position on 5G is key to keeping it that way. This need to keep focused on the next generation of hardware is why Qualcomm just announced its X50 5G modem.
Mars is a long way from home, and the trips between here and the Red Planet could be a long, lonely time. With each one-way flight needing months and months, travelers are going to need more than a Big Book of Crossword Puzzles to while away the hours. But with no in-flight broadband and payload mass at an extreme premium, how can we keep astronauts from the psychological hazards of extended isolation in deep space? For NASA, at least, VR presents a partial solution. NASA teamed up with Time and 8i to create a VR version of Buzz Aldrin, and gave it to participants in NASA’s simulated Mars expeditions.
The PlayStation VR ($399) has been out in the wild for about a week now, and I’ve been busy giving it a thorough workout. Since my headset arrived last Thursday, I’ve spent countless hours fixing cars, golfing, defusing bombs, and leaning perilously over the virtual abyss. With a few days of VR exploration under my belt, I’ve emerged from my dark and sweaty headset to lay bare exactly what the launch experience was like for the PSVR. I’ll hit on some of the biggest successes and failures, run down the seven games that I spent most of my time with, and by the end you should know if it’s worth making the investment.
Fans of alternative, non-x86 CPU architectures haven’t had it easy the past few decades. Intel and AMD collectively own the desktop, laptop, workstation, and nearly all of the server markets. IBM, Oracle, and other non-x86 manufacturers have been pushed to the margins — IBM still has its own mainframe and big iron business, but the price tags on that hardware have more zeroes on them than enthusiasts can afford. A new crowdfunding project seeks to change that, with plans to build a completely open motherboard based around Power8. The project, , is built by Raptor Engineering, a member of the OpenPower foundation.
Qualcomm is a giant in the modern telecommunications market. Its modems and smartphone SoCs power hundreds of millions of devices across the globe. Rumors suggest that Qualcomm might be planning to acquire NXP Semiconductor in a deal worth at least $30 billion. Talks between the two companies are expected to continue over the next few months, the reports. If Qualcomm is a high-profile success story that’s risen to dominate modem licensing and smartphone SoC design, NXP Semiconductor is the multi-billion dollar semiconductor company you haven’t heard of. Today, NXP focuses on the Internet of Things, RFID-equipped devices, embedded markets, and ultra-low power communication.
Last week, to the largest hack known to have occurred in computing history. Passwords, logins, and other account information on some 500 million people were stolen in the heist. At the time, Yahoo claimed that the hack was the work of state-sponsored actors — but independent analysts working on analyzing the hack have begun pushing back that assessment, while current and former Yahoo employees say security was a distant priority at Yahoo. InfoArmor and history of the attack against Yahoo. The first offers to sell Yahoo-derived data appeared on April 3, 2016. According to InfoArmor’s analysis, the individuals attempting to sell the Yahoo data (and other major data sets for websites like Instagram, LinkedIn, Dropbox, MySpace, and Tumblr) are fronting the data sets for criminal groups, as opposed to acting directly on behalf of government agencies in foreign countries.
Apple Buys Popular Weather App ‘Dark Sky,’ Discontinues Android VersionAndroid is the , due in large part to its powerful open-source nature. Users have grown to love Android for the plethora of features and customization options, but sometimes it can all get a bit confusing. Google is always making tweaks and coming up with new features for Android, and OEMs like Samsung and LG can add their own stuff on top of that. It can be hard to keep up, so we’ve gathered the 25 best tips for your phone right here. Configure Your Lock Screen
After a disappointing showing with 2014’s Civilization: Beyond Earth, Firaxis Games is returning to the classic Civ formula. In Civilization VI, you’ll pick a society to control, build a nation from scratch, and ultimately work towards world domination in one way or the other. If you’ve played Civ games before, you almost certainly know what you’re getting into here. It doesn’t seem like Firaxis is shaking things up too much this time around, but the move to a more exaggerated art style is rather divisive. Our sister site PCMag with an early build of the game, and didn’t care much for the new art direction.
