Apple to reportedly keep Touch ID, headphone jack in next iPad
Apple will keep Touch ID and the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack on the 2019 iPad, which will reportedly be unveiled soon alongside the iPad mini 5. The features, which were removed from the 2018 iPad Pro, will live on in the 7th-generation iPad, though there are conflicting reports on display size.
Halo Infinite, a spiritual reboot for the series, will make its way to E3 2019
Halo Infinite, the follow-up to 2015's Halo 5: Guardians, was described by 343 Industries as a spiritual reboot of the series. The game will be at E3 2019, coinciding with reports that Halo Infinite will be a launch title for the next-generation Xbox consoles that will also be unveiled at the event.
Sony is apparently issuing refunds to Anthem players on PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 owners have reported instances of Anthem causing the console to go back to the dashboard, or in some cases, completely shut down. Some frustrated players claim that it is easy to request for a refund from Sony for digital copies of the game that were downloaded from the PlayStation Store.
Fortnite may soon add respawn mechanic similar to Apex Legends
Fortnite may soon add the respawn mechanic, which was popularized by the surprise Battle Royale hit Apex Legends. Gamers have discovered files related to the Second Chance Van and the Second Chance Card, and have pieced together that respawning in Fortnite will likely work much like in Apex Legends.
Bethesda generates a buzz with previews of Fallout 76 brewing station
Bethesda previewed to Fallout 76 players the Wasted on Nukashine quest and the Brewing Station, which will give players the ability to make wines and spirits, beers, and mixed drinks. The beverages, like their real-world counterparts, will grant various bonuses, alongside different negative side effects.
Facebook Messenger dark mode rolls out: Here’s how to unlock the hidden feature
Facebook Messenger quietly added a dark mode, though users will need to take a few extra steps involving the crescent moon emoji to activate the hidden feature. The app's dark mode is said to be a work in progress, but it appears that most of its sections already support the long-requested feature.
Samsung reportedly wants to be the foldable display supplier to Apple and Google
Samsung allegedly sent samples of its foldable displays to Apple and Google, in a pitch to supply the technology to its rivals. The samples were sent after the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which transforms from a smartphone with a 4.6-inch screen into a device with a larger 7.3-inch display.
Apex Legends was leaked last year, but nobody believed it
Apex Legends, which seemingly came out of nowhere to challenge Fortnite for the Battle Royale throne, was apparently leaked last year on Reddit. Developer Respawn Entertainment was relieved that nobody believed the leak, which was undeniably an image of an early version of the game's King's Canyon map.
Sony officially ends PlayStation Vita production after 7 years of struggle
Sony has officially ended production of the PlayStation Vita, which was a commercial failure despite being an upgrade to the successful PlayStation Portable. The handheld console bids goodbye seven years after its North American launch, though this is not a surprise as there have been signs of its demise.
Tesla app now keeps track of electric vehicle’s repair status
The updated Tesla app will now provide owners with real-time status updates for their electric vehicles under service, and will also alert them once the repairs are done. The move is part of a wider initiative to improve Tesla's service system, in preparation for the arrival of the $35,000 Model 3.
Google Clock now also supports Pandora, YouTube Music as alarm options
Google Clock, through its version 6.1 update, finally added Pandora and YouTube Music as alarm options, following Spotify which has been supported since July. Users will now be able to choose tracks from these services to wake them up in the morning, instead of jarring sounds or annoying jingles.
Fortnite Save the World players suffer from deadly Driftboard glitches
Epic Games recently added Driftboards to Fortnite as a mobility option, and they have become an important tool in Battle Royale mode. Players in the Save the World mode, however, have suffered from various glitches with the Driftboards, as they are sometimes launched across the map while riding them.
9 out of 11 small SUVs do well in tests of pedestrian-detection systems
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested the effectiveness of pedestrian detection systems in 11 small SUVs, and most of them came away with great scores. The technology is seen as an important countermeasure to the growing number of pedestrian fatalities, which reached 5,977 deaths in 2017.
Facebook to shut down Onavo app that harvested user data for market research
Facebook is shutting down Onavo VPN amid the latest privacy scandal that involves the social network, as the app's code was repurposed for the controversial Facebook Research app. Onavo was framed as a way to keep user traffic safe, but it also harvested data that was collected by Facebook.
Fallout countdown video spotted in Amazon placeholder for Bethesda game
Amazon placeholders for a Bethesda game were spotted, and they included a countdown video in the style of Fallout. A new Fallout game may be in the works, but with Fallout 76 just released last year, remasters of older titles in the franchise may be more likely, with a possible announcement at E3 2019.
Twitter reacts to Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime retiring, Doug Bowser taking over
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that he will retire in April, after 13 years leading the company, and he will be replaced by Doug Bowser. Twitter sent messages of gratitude to Fils-Aime, while celebrating the irony of Bowser taking over control of the Nintendo kingdom.
What’s ahead for Anthem? BioWare rolls out 90-day road map
BioWare rolled out the 90-day roadmap for Anthem, covering the first Act named Echoes of Reality. The studio promises new Freeplay events, Legendary missions, and something called the Cataclysm, though a significant number of items in the plan are unnamed to prevent spoilers of the game's lore.
Google’s Project Yeti hardware may be revealed at Game Developers Conference
Google will reportedly unveil its gaming hardware for Project Yeti at the Game Developers Conference in March. The console will be powered by the game streaming technology featured in the recently concluded Project Stream beta test, which allowed users to play Assassin's Creed Odyssey right on Chrome.
Microsoft reportedly planning to unveil next-gen Xbox consoles at E3 2019
Microsoft is reportedly planning to unveil the next-generation Xbox consoles, codenamed Anaconda and Lockhart and collectively known as Project Scarlett, at E3 2019, in which Sony will not be participating. Halo Infinite, which was revealed at E3 2018, will be a launch title for the new consoles.
Shanghai Dragons break 42-match losing streak in Overwatch League
The Shanghai Dragons finally won in the Overwatch League, breaking their infamous 42-match losing steak that is the longest in the history of professional sports. The team went winless at 0-40 in the league's inaugural season, but returned in season two with a revamped roster led by Gamsu.
Over 16,000 Apex Legends cheaters have already been banned by Respawn
Respawn Entertainment revealed that it has already banned over 16,000 cheaters in Apex Legends in less than two weeks since its release. The developer may be working on an in-game feature to report cheaters, which have become so prevalent that streamers are even implementing hacks while live.
Twitter keeps your direct messages, even years after you delete them
While Twitter users that delete their accounts or their direct messages on the social network might expect that the data is gone for good, a security researcher has discovered a "functional bug" that allows DMs to be recovered even years after they were deleted.
Apex Legends dataminers discover upcoming characters and weapons
Dataminers have discovered code in Apex Legends that refers to characters named Octane and Wattson, and weapons named the Havoc Rifle and the L-Star EMG. Octane is believed to have a Stim Pack ability, which is likely similar to the Stim ability of Titanfall 2, while Wattson has the Tesla Trap.
Niantic promises to make Pokémon Go less troublesome for homeowners
Niantic is looking to settle the lawsuits filed by angry homeowners who were affected by hordes of Pokémon Go players trespassing on their properties. Niantic promised to resolve complaints within 15 days and maintain a database to avoid poor placements of the PokéStops and gyms, among other things.
‘Apex Legends’ players may soon be able to battle on their own or in teams of 2
Apex Legends, which may have what it takes to challenge Fortnite, currently only allows players to enter battle royale matches in groups of three. That may soon change though, as datamined code allegedly refers to Solo Mode and 2-Man Squads, which will allow players to fight alone or with one partner.
‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ wins Game of the Year in 2018 Steam Awards
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds took home Game of the Year at the 2018 Steam Awards, beating the likes of Monster Hunter: World, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Hitman 2, and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. The other awards handed out include Labor of Love, Better with Friends, and Most Fun with a Machine.
‘Apex Legends’ bug traps players in the Supply Ship for an easy win
A newly discovered Apex Legends bug gives players easy wins by trapping them in the Supply Ship, where they are immune to damage while the circle closes in on their opponents. Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the battle royale shooter, said that a patch to fix the issue is on the way.
Fitbit’s new fitness tracker is its cheapest, but you can’t buy it yourself
The Fitbit Inspire is the company's cheapest wearable device yet, but interested customers will not be able to buy it by themselves. The fitness tracker offers very basic functions and features compared to more advanced products such as the Fitbit Versa, but it may be Fitbit's most important product.
Xiaomi Mi A1, OnePlus 5T emit the most radiation among smartphones, report says
A report by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection compiled the specific absorption rate of smartphones, which represents the the amount of radiofrequency waves emitted. Xiaomi and OnePlus were found to be the worst offenders, taking the top two spots and four spots each in the top 16.
Leak allegedly reveals new ‘Animal Crossing,’ ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’ release dates
A U.K.-based retailer reportedly leaked the release dates for the new Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Nintendo Switch. While the alleged launch dates may be legitimate, gamers are advised to wait for an official announcement from Nintendo on when these exclusives will roll out.