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There’s only one good way to celebrate Star Wars day, and that’s with these Meta Quest 3 games and apps

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on There’s only one good way to celebrate Star Wars day, and that’s with these Meta Quest 3 games and apps

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May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars day, is today and for Meta Quest 3 (or Oculus Quest 2) owners there are some far better ways to celebrate than simply watching one of the classic films. That’s because you can immerse yourself in a galaxy far far away with some stellar Star Wars VR titles.

What’s more there are some superb savings to be had on my favorite Star Wars VR game – Star Wars Pinball – right now, making it the best time to pick this title up if you haven’t already. There are others you can check out too that aren’t discounted like Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, as even at full-price there’s a lot to love about them.

Alternatively you can celebrate Star Wars day the traditional way with a marathon of the Star Wars films in order, or by reading up on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew which is set to land later this year.

Star Wars Pinball VR

Okay, okay, I know pinball won’t leave you feeling like a lightsaber-wielding badass, or a slick space pirate, but I promise you have to try this game out. If only because it’s currently massively on sale – coming in at just $8.49 / £6.79 instead of $24.99 / £19.49 just for Star Wars day.

Star Wars Pinball VR reimagines the iconic digital cabinets Zen Studios has crafted over the past few years in a full VR experience. They are situated in a fan’s dream hangout space you can decorate with collectible goodies that you unlock by getting high scores and competing challenges, and the pinball machines themselves are a delight.

They capture the retro-chic flair that real world pinball machines offer, while delivering on digital expectations by featuring interactive elements that wouldn’t be possible in real life. There are 10 total cabinets to master, but if you want to mix things up further you can explore the Career mode; it adds various restrictions and powers to your gameplay that force you to mix up your playstyle.

I’ve enjoyed this game since it first released, and will admit to almost falling over a few times because I’ve been so immersed in the game that I tried to lean on a cabinet that wasn’t there. If you haven’t tried it already you absolutely should right now, especially because it’s at a bargain price.

Vader Immortal

No villain, nor character in general, is more iconically Star Wars than Darth Vader. So what better way is there to celebrate Star Wars day than with a trilogy inspired by the Sith Lord himself.

As a smuggler who picked the wrong planet to explore – the fiery world of Mustafar which Vader calls home – you must use your lightsaber skills and latent force powers in order to survive the adventure that fate has thrust you into, including an encounter with Vader himself.

This series is far from fault-free – chief among its issues is it’s fairly brief even spread across three games – but the lightsaber combat feels exactly like you always dreamed it would. The force abilities are clunkier, but again it’ll be exactly what everyone who’s ever tried (and failed) to pull an out-of-reach object closer by willing it towards them ever wanted.

The other downside of grabbing Vader Immortal right now if you’re interested is you can only pick each entry up individually. They’re often bundled together in a package that comes with a big discount but that’s currently not the case – so if you’re not desperate to play this game today you might want to hold off until it’s on sale.

Supernatural

If you want to swing a lightsaber around – or at least something like one – and get a little fitter whirl you’re at it, then check out Supernatural. I got hooked on the VR fitness app during my month-long VR workout experiment with my Meta Quest 3, and recently I’ve been enjoying its limited time Star Wars-themed Flow sessions.

My personal favorite one is the Dark Side list because it features Duel of the Fates – it’s so much fun to do battle while this tune blasts through my headset’s speakers. But there’s also a general Star Wars and a Light Side mix if you don’t want to embrace the Sith’s teachings.

Just act fast as these Star Wars levels are leaving very soon.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge

If you’re less interested in being a laser sword-wielding space wizard, and would rather be like the blaster touting characters in The Mandalorian or Andor, then Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge will be right up your street.

Set in Batuu – the same location you can travel to at Disney World in Orlando Florida – you must help some familiar droids as you adventure through the wilds of this Outer Rim settlement. Once you’re done you can continue this quintessentially Star Wars story with the Last Call DLC, and if you’ve enjoyed the main game I know you’ll enjoy this expansion too.

As an extra bonus, you can additionally explore tales from Star Wars’ rich history, with short bonus IG-88 and Ady’Sun Zee (a Jedi Padawan) missions. They’re very much secondary to the main game’s plot, but they’re great minigames especially if you’re sharing the experience with friends and family who just want a quickfire burst of Star Wars.

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Tags Apps, celebrate, day, Games, Good, Meta, Quest, Star, Wars

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I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences

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From a user’s perspective, it’s difficult to know exactly how accurate your wearable is. For example, if you’re in the market for the best running watch, what are the chances that you’ll have the opportunity to strap on two different models at once and run the same route to compare that data? And even if you do manage to find a way to do so, how do you determine which of the two is more accurate?

These are the questions that keep me up at night. As TechRadar’s Fitness and Wearables Editor, it’s my job to figure out how to reliably test wearables in order to determine how accurate they are. My two gold standards are the Garmin Epix Pro (one of the best Garmin watches) and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (which we’ve ranked the best smartwatch, period); but I’ve never before pitted them against each other, nor have I had a more reliable third party to test them against. So, I decided to do just that – running the TCS London Marathon.

Every London Marathon runner is given a bib that comes with a built-in GPS chip, which gives each runner an official time. Thereafter, that time is considered as a qualifying time for other races, such as the exclusive Boston Marathon, or in some cases, even world records.

As such, that GPS chip has to be accurate, verifiably so, in order to ensure runners have an accurate measurement of their race time. And so that GPS chip is the perfect reliable metric against which to measure two of the best smartwatches money can buy, while also evaluating how the popular run-tracking app Strava treats the information from my Garmin watch.

Of course, at the time I signed up I’d totally disregarded the 16 grueling weeks – well, 13 actually, with one week ill, and a further two significantly more chilled-out recovery and tapering weeks – of training that would be required to get me in shape. However, running the race was a singular experience; there’s nothing quite like the wall of noise from the crowd that buffets you as you run over the iconic Tower Bridge. It made all the pain worthwhile. I finished the race with a chip time of 4:00:54 – respectable, but slightly shy of my sub-four-hour goal.

So, what do Garmin, Strava and Apple have to say about one of the most famous foot races of all time? I’ve taken a look at the GPS files and information provided by all three services, in order to show you the difference between them. I tried to end the workout on both wearables at the point I crossed the finish line, and successfully did so, so there should only be a few seconds’ difference from a time perspective.

Garmin Epix Pro: statistics

I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch

(Image credit: Future)

Recording time: 4:01:04
Distance: 42.81km
Average pace: 5:38/km
Average heart rate: 166 BPM
Total calories burned: 3,005.

The Garmin Epix Pro is my everyday running watch of choice. I welcome Garmin’s complex interface, in-depth running statistics, multitude of graphs plus recovery metrics, such as its Training Readiness Score. Its super-long battery life not only enables the collection of a decent amount of sleep and recovery data, but it also allows me to go on multiple long runs with the battery-sucking GPS mode active, without having to worry non-stop about having to recharge the watch.

My Garmin recorded my total distance as 42.81km. Although the race course was just over 42.2km (or 26.2 miles) in length, Garmin shows the distance I actually travelled, including weaving in and out of other runners and taking wide corners. While this might not sound like it would make up much extra distance, it adds up over four hours.

The Epix Pro recorded my average pace at 5 minutes, 38 seconds per kilometer, or 5:38/km. As well as all the other stats recorded, my average heart rate was 166 BPM during the race, measured from my left wrist, and total calories burned was 3,005 – the equivalent to around two large Domino’s original cheese & tomato pizzas, give or take a slice.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: statistics

I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch

(Image credit: Future)

Recording time: 4:01:07
Distance: 42.38km
Average pace: 5:41/km
Average heart rate: 168 BPM
Total calories burned: 2,888

This is where things get interesting. Garmin and Apple use different GPS files, different heart rate sensors and different algorithms to process information, and as such also end up with slightly different results over the same race. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 uses what Apple calls a precision dual-frequency GPS system, combining L1 and L5 satellite bands to more accurately determine your position when you run through tall buildings – London’s more densely packed areas, for example.

Garmin also uses a multiband GPS technology it calls SatIQ – Satellite Intelligence – that determines the optimal GPS mode based on your environment. If you’re close to tall buildings or in a dense forest, for example, it will use multiband GPS. However, when a low-power GPS mode can achieve the same accuracy – in more open areas, for example, it will auto-switch to single band.

The end result is a difference of around 400 meters, or 0.4km – which doesn’t appear to be much on the face of it, but for elite athletes it could be the difference between running a marathon and disqualification.

One thing I noticed is that even though the Apple Watch Ultra is able to see where I am with pinpoint accuracy, when I dive into my splits (the time I spent over each kilometer of the race), Garmin gives me the numbers down to the nearest 10 milliseconds. Apple, in its customer-friendly approach, provides the data only to the second. Maybe this is where my extra 0.4km was registered. The Apple Watch also underestimated my heart rate by 117 calories (less than half a slice of pizza) compared to the Garmin watch.

Honestly, the difference is minor, especially over four hours of effort. Discovering which of the two is more accurate is difficult; but for the average person running 10km on a Saturday, the variances between the two watches are small enough to chalk them up to algorithmic differences.

Strava: statistics

I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch

(Image credit: Future)

Recording time: 4:01:04
Distance: 42.80km
Average pace: 5:36/km
Heart rate: 166 BPM
Total calories burned: 3,005

Strava uses the information from the Garmin Epix Pro – including my Garmin’s raw GPS information – to arrive at its measurements, which is the reason the health stats such as heart rate and calories are so similar. However, Strava processes GPS data with its own algorithm, so there are slight differences.

Strava tends to slightly underestimate Garmin’s data: in a community post, it’s said the reason this happens is that Garmin (both the device and Garmin Connect) rounds up distances, whereas Strava rounds down. It’s only 0.01km slower, but considering both use the same GPS file, you may see differences on your device and on Strava when looking at recorded workouts.

There are a few other changes: distances are always stored in meters on devices and then shown on Strava in the athlete’s preferred units. The first number Strava gives you on its summary is Moving Time, not total time, so it discounts any quick stops.

My Moving Time was actually slightly under four hours; to discover the full time, I had to dive into the statistics under the “Analysis” section. Garmin, as a serious tool for serious people, doesn’t bother with protecting my fragile ego with a faster time, and simply provides the total time recorded on the watch.

Conclusion: Are the differences significant enough to matter?

I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch

(Image credit: Future)

Both these watches are equipped to handle serious races and distances, representing the cream of Garmin and Apple’s respective crops. They have long battery lives, tough casings, top-of-the-range sensor arrays and GPS offerings, and come in at similar premium price points. Since I’m not an elite runner, an annual marathon is the only way I can test both the watches limits – and my own.

For running, I don’t believe the differences between the two models will prove statistically significant for anyone other than elite runners. Regular amateur runners, even those running marathons or ultra-marathons, use watches to provide accurate locations and good information for training – and in this regard, both the Apple and Garmin watches are more than accurate enough to provide the information such runners will need.

And Strava? Well, if you’ve ever wondered why there are differences between your watch’s measurements and the information on your Strava account, now you know.

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card review

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card review

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Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: One-minute review

When photographers and videographers discuss memory, two brands often get instant mentions: SanDisk and Lexar. Both manufacturers produce a wide range of cards, but they also command a premium price tag. While Kingston may not be as well-known for its memory cards, the company is nonetheless a significant player. The Canvas range of cards has a solid reputation and following among professionals, especially those who work in less-than-ideal conditions.

SD cards remain the go-to choice for most photographers and videographers, although the high-resolution files produced for both video and stills are pushing the format to its limits. However, the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 has been designed with these cameras in mind and is capable of keeping up with the write speeds required by cameras like the Canon EOS R5 C and Sony A7 IV.

We’ve conducted plenty of tests on the best SD cards and best microSD cards. And our speed tests here confirm Kingston’s ratings. When used for professional video, the card performed flawlessly, and the 256GB of storage proved ample for small—to medium-sized shoots.

Given its performance and reliability, the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 offers great value. If you’re a professional in need of a reasonably priced SD card, this should be your first choice.

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: Pricing & availability

How much does it cost? Approx. $60 / £50
When is it available? Now
Where can you get it? It is available for sale in the US, UK and Australia

The Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card is widely available in a variety of capacities, ranging from 128GB to 1TB. The V60 model is the mid-range card, while the Kingston Canvas React Plus 256GB SD Card, which has a V90 rating, is also available but commands a price four times higher.

The Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card is available directly from Kingston, Amazon US and Amazon UK. and in most camera and electronics stores.

Pricing & availability: 5/5

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: Benchmarks

Using AJA System Test Lite, the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card achieved speeds close to those advertised by the manufacturer, with a read speed of 256MB/s and a write speed of 186MB/s. While the read speed was slightly lower than the advertised 280MB/s, the all-important write speed exceeded the quoted 150MB/s for this capacity card and sustained this speed over an hour of testing. These results demonstrate the card’s ability to handle high-resolution video files as they are being captured in the camera.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	Read (MB/s)	Write (MB/s)
AJA	256	186
CrystalDiskMark	268.68	196.29
ATTO	243.20	189.02
AS SSD	241.31	185.48

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	Row 0 – Cell 1
Capacities available	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB
Size	24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm
Weight	2g
Enclosure material	Plastic
Connector	UHS-II
Technology	Class 10, UHS-II, U3, V60
Warranty (in years)	Lifetime
Rated R/W speeds (MBps)	280/150MB/s read/write (256GB-1TB)
Software bundle	n/a

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB: Build & handling

One of the great things about memory cards is that their design can stay the same can’t because they need to fit into a standardized port. Indeed, the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card adheres to this standard. Tested in a MacBook Pro M1, Intel Nuc Ghost Canyon, Sony A7 IV, and Canon EOS R5 C, the card slotted into place with no issues.

The card’s general construction is solid and well-made, as usual. It is formed from plastic, with the delicate electronics safely encased inside. On the exterior, there’s just the Kingston label with the 256GB capacity emblazoned on the front. This is quite handy for quickly verifying that you have grabbed the correct capacity card, but aside from aesthetics, it serves little other purpose. The days of leaving a strip to mark on details or contact information have long since passed.

On the back are the two lines of contacts that signify this is the faster UHS-II generation of SD cards. Other than that, the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB appears on the surface to be a standard SD card.

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: Features

The Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 card balances performance, capacity, and price, aimed at professional photographers and videographers. The range also features a V90 class card, which offers a significant increase in write performance—almost double that of the V60 card—but this comes at a considerable financial cost, almost four times the price.

In reality, the V60 is likely to meet the needs of most photographers, with UHS-II technology enabling the older Speed Class 3 (U3) classification and the newer Video Speed Class 60 (V60). This will satisfy the demands of all photographers and the majority of mirrorless and DSLR shooters whose cameras are compatible with SD cards.

The card’s UHS-II technology allows for write speeds of up to 280MB/s in ideal conditions, which is more than sufficient for most off-the-shelf cameras when shooting 4K video or capturing high-resolution images in burst modes. Most cameras that require higher data writing speeds than this also offer the newer CFExpress cards for that purpose.

While the advent of high-capacity cameras is welcome, they do impose additional demands on storage. Here, the 256GB capacity offers a good middle ground, with smaller and larger capacity cards available to suit your needs.

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60: Performance

Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB SD Card is marketed as a high-performance option designed for professional photographers and videographers. To assess its performance, it was tested in capturing both video and stills with the Canon EOS R5 C and Sony A7 IV. Additionally, a variety of benchmarking tools were used to measure the read and write speeds and to evaluate performance consistency under sustained use.

In practical camera use, the Kingston Canvas React Plus proved to be an ideal partner for high-resolution cameras like the Canon EOS R5 C and Sony A7 IV. The card supported burst shooting modes and handled the high data storage demands required when recording 4K video directly in-camera, without the need for an external recorder. The write speeds were reliable during several days of shooting with both cameras. Post-shoot, the files were transferred to an OWC drive, and the card’s high read speeds enabled fast file transfers.

In real-world tests, the card performed exceptionally well, meeting the demands of the cameras and facilitating speedy downloads at the end of the shoot. Switching to benchmark tests, the results in the field were confirmed by software-based assessments.

The AJA System Test reported read speeds of up to 256 MB/s and write speeds of 186 MB/s. The CrystalDiskMark test further demonstrated the card’s capabilities, with impressive read speeds of 268.68 MB/s and even higher write speeds of 296.29 MB/s. The ATTO Disk Benchmark showed read speeds peaking at 243.20 MB/s and write speeds at 189.02 MB/s, reflecting consistent performance that aligns with the needs of continuous high-resolution image capturing and video recording. Finally, the AS SSD Benchmark confirmed these results with read speeds of 241.31 MB/s and write speeds of 185.48 MB/s, reinforcing the abilities of this card.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	Row 0 – Cell 1	Row 0 – Cell 2
Value	Great performance for the price, costly for non-professionals.	5
Design	Durable and reliable, lacks innovative features.	5
Features	Top-tier features for high-resolution media.	5
Performance	Exceptional in tests and real-world applications.	5
Total	Ideal for demanding professional use, highly rated.	5

Should I buy the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB?

The Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB demonstrates excellent performance that will meet the demands of professional photographers and videographers. Its performance in the real world and benchmark tests show its capabilities in handling large files and frequent write cycles, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for reliability and speed in an SD card.

How I tested the Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 256GB

For this test the card was used in several different devices all of which support the exFAT but with a focus on use in the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5 C. Before starting this test the card was reformated to give the greatest compatibility for the real world tests and also for testing through the benchmarking software.

The softare used included the latest versions of CrystalDiskMark, Atto, AS SSD and AJA benchmarks, noting the best scores achieved in each. They are all free and can be downloaded by anyone. After the standard benchmarks I then use the card in a variety of tech, including as previously mentioned the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5 C to ensure compatibility and performance over a sustained period. I then transfer a folder of files, roughly 10GB in size, to get a rough idea of real-life performance.

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Tags 256GB, canvas, card, Kingston, React, Review, V60

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ICYMI: the week’s 7 biggest tech stories, from Netflix enraging users to the Rabbit R1 disappointing all of us

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on ICYMI: the week’s 7 biggest tech stories, from Netflix enraging users to the Rabbit R1 disappointing all of us

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Happy Star Wars Day to those who celebrate! But even on these most nerdy of holidays, the tech world moves so fast it’s like it’s jumped to Hyperspace.

If you’ve lost track of the top stories this week we’re here with our trusty lightsaber to cut through the noise so you can get caught up on the most important tech news of the past seven days from Netflix, Rabbit R1, DJI, and Apple.

Speaking of, be sure to head back here on Tuesday, May 7, to read about all the latest hardware announcements from the Apple event. And return next Saturday for another ICYMI news round-up.

7. Apple teased “a different kind of Apple event”

A teaser for the May 7 Apple event

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple’s May 7 ‘Let Loose’ event is just around the corner, and while we’re all but certain to see new iPads – specifically the iPad Pro 2024 and iPad Air 6 – unveiled next week, there could be a surprise or two.

In social media posts, Apple has described its upcoming showcase as “a different kind of Apple event,” which has got us thinking about how this iPad-centric reveal might differ from previous Apple events we’ve tuned into.

There are some obvious but boring conclusions to draw here, like the fact that this ‘Let Loose’ event is being held slightly earlier than other Apple events – proceedings are due to kick off at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST, which is May 8 at 12am AEST in Australia – but we’re hoping Apple justifies its own hype with a more exciting revelation (perhaps we’ll get a sneak peak at the company’s long-awaited generative AI software?).

6. Netflix started its Basic tier retirement

A man watches the Netflix logo on a Toshiba TV with a remote in his hand

(Image credit: Thomas Trutschel)

Oh, Netflix, you just can’t help yourself, can you? Three months after the streaming titan hinted that it would start to phase out its Basic tier subscription – starting with the UK and Canada – it’s pressing ahead with the unpopular plan. Indeed, Netflix users in the aforementioned nations have reacted angrily to the Basic plan’s removal in June, with many threatening to subsequently close their accounts.

Other countries, including the US, aren’t affected yet. But, with a global rollout likely to happen, we suggest you work through your watchlist of the best Netflix shows, best Netflix movies, and best Netflix documentaries ASAP. Otherwise, you might have to start paying extra or be subjected to ads when you’re automatically switched over from the Basic tier to the Standard with Ads one, if you want to watch them on the world’s best streaming service.

5. The Rabbit R1 disappointed us

Rabbit r1

(Image credit: Rabbit)

Welcome to the very disappointing age of personal AI devices. First there was Humane AI, a wearable AI Pin that was slammed by most major tech critics. Following fast on its heels was Rabbit R1, a far more adorable pocket-sized AI companion that at least has a screen.

Sadly, that’s the kindest thing we can say about it at the moment. This is a bright orange device that is supposed to bridge the gap between intention and action without the need to navigate various apps. In reality, it’s an odd little box with an awful analog scroll wheel, inconsistent performance, and an average LLM. As far as we can tell, it does nothing your iPhone with the Microsoft Copilot app installed on it can’t do, and the marquee item – accessing app features without using apps – often doesn’t work. To make matters worse, there are now claims that the Rabbit OS is little more than an Android app. That may be so, but it’s definitely not the handset’s biggest problem, At least it only costs $199.

4. The DJI Mini 4K landed on Amazon

DJI Mini 4K in the hand

(Image credit: DJI)

A potential DJI ban in the US aside, life just got harder for DJI rivals that make beginner-level drones after the launch of the Mini 4K.

It’s DJI’s cheapest-ever drone to shoot 4K video and it costs less than $300 / £270 which is an absolute bargain. With much the same hardware as the Mini 2 SE, the Mini 4K is ideal for beginners with easy flight moves, tutorials in the Fly App, a foldable sub-250g design, 31-minute flight time, downward object sensing, and Level-5 wind resistance.

Where it improves on the 2.7K video-equipped Mini 2 SE is higher resolution video, higher bit rates, and a 2x digital zoom. DJI’s cheapest drone just got more powerful and we expect it to be very popular.

3. The Arc browser came for Chrome’s lunch

The techradar homepage in the new Arc browser

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The Arc browser finally came to Windows 11 after originally launching on macOS and iOS, and we’re already loving it more than than Google Chrome and especially Microsoft Edge. It’s speedy, uses far less memory than Chrome, and lacks Edge’s annoying ads and all its other clutter.

Obviously, things aren’t perfect in every way. As it is a Chromium browser, the looming privacy threat of Manifest V3 is very real, and there’s the issue that the browser can still track users with ad block installed.

Though Arc has a lot of great things to offer, and The Browser Company team developing it has promised big feature updates are incoming, including Windows 10 support.

If you’re interested in trying out Arc out for yourself, you can download it for free here.

2. New VR games abandoned the Quest 2

Oculus Quest 2 on a white background

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet)

The Oculus Quest 2 might have recently seen its price drop to just $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.99, which is ridiculously cheap – but we highly recommend you ignore it and pick up a Meta Quest 3 instead, even if it’s $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.99.

That’s because the first Meta Quest 3 exclusive games were revealed recently, with Batman: Arkham Shadow being announced only a few days ago. So finally, after years of dominance, it’s officially time to put down your Quest 2 – as stupendous as it was – and pick up a different standalone headset as you can no longer enjoy the latest and greatest VR software on the aging Meta device.

So long Quest 2, we’ll miss you.

1. ChatGPT became a little more human

ChatGPT Plus memories

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Artificial intelligence became a little more human this week for all ChatGPT Plus users after OpenAI rolled out its Memory feature.

Exactly what the name suggests, memory allows the AI chatbot to recall key details from your previous conversations. Say you mention your birthday is next week, or that you just got a new cat, the bot will remember this and should use the information to inform its responses to your prompts in the future.

This should make it feel more like you’re continuing a conversation with the same person rather than a complete stranger every time, but if the idea terrifies you then you can turn the feature off, delete the bot’s whole memory, or delete only certain details.

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Tags biggest, disappointing, enraging, ICYMI, Netflix, Rabbit, Stories, Tech, users, weeks

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Samsung’s archrival strikes crucial partnership with Nvidia’s closest ally to deliver key next-gen memory — SK Hynix teams up with TSMC to advance HBM development but could this move encourage TSMC to become like Intel?

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South Korean memory giant SK Hynix, which recently announced plans for the construction of the world’s largest chip factory, has now announced a major partnership with top Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, TSMC.

The two firms aim to cement their positions in the fast-growing AI market by developing and producing the next-generation of High Bandwidth Memory, known as HBM4.

The production, scheduled for 2026, will make use of TSMC’s state-of-the-art packaging technology. The project’s initial focus will be on the improvement of the performance of the base die, the element of HBM that connects directly to the GPU. SK Hynix will reportedly adopt TSMC’s advanced logic process for HBM4’s base die, allowing for extra functionality to be packed into a minimal space. The two firms intend to optimize the integration SK Hynix’s HBM and TSMC’s CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate) technology.

A strategic move for TSMC

“We expect a strong partnership with TSMC to help accelerate our efforts for open collaboration with our customers and develop the industry’s best-performing HBM4,” said Justin Kim, President and the Head of AI Infra, at SK Hynix. “With this cooperation in place, we will strengthen our market leadership as the total AI memory provider further by beefing up competitiveness in the space of the custom memory platform.”

Dr. Kevin Zhang, Senior Vice President of TSMC’s Business Development and Overseas Operations Office, and Deputy Co-Chief Operating Officer, agreed, stating, “TSMC and SK Hynix have already established a strong partnership over the years. We’ve worked together in integrating the most advanced logic and state-of-the art HBM in providing the world’s leading AI solutions. Looking ahead to the next-generation HBM4, we’re confident that we will continue to work closely in delivering the best-integrated solutions to unlock new AI innovations for our common customers.”

This collaboration is a strategic move for TSMC as much as it is for SK Hynix – if not more so – and demonstrates the firm’s potential in a role beyond foundry service provider. It’s hard to guess at the future, but should TSMC wish to continue its growth trajectory, it may need to consider expanding its strategic horizons even further, a move which could see it competing with some of its partners such as AMD or even rivals like Intel.

Competition is fierce in the semiconductor industry and moving up the value chain – leveraging its advanced technology to drive higher margins – is a risky move, but one that could potentially be hugely rewarding for the Taiwanese chip giant.

Via Nikkei

Microsoft quietly improves Edge browser with a new internet tester and fixes

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on Microsoft quietly improves Edge browser with a new internet tester and fixes

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Microsoft has rolled out a new update to its Edge browser which adds a host of security and stability fixes alongside a dedicated internet speed test as well.

As spotted by Techspot, the Microsoft Edge browser update Version 124.0.2478.80 has brought in a new internet speed test built into the sidebar as well as fixes aimed at plugging a couple of glaring security vulnerabilities that were highlighted by the community from a prior update.

It’s worth noting that Edge did have a built-in speed tester, much as Google Chrome does right now, but it was removed for about a year before being re-implemented in the sidebar alongside a redesigned world clock, unit converter, translator, dictionary, and calculator all available shorthand. While far from exciting, it sure sounds useful.

A screenshot of Microsoft Edge's new Speed Test feature

(Image credit: Future)

You can use the new sidebar feature from the Red Toolbox as found at the top of the righthand corner which will expand the newly refreshed items into view. However, while the internet speed test is accessed from this menu, it will open up in a separate browser window and then give you the upload and download score.

The new feature is yet another reason why many think Microsoft Edge is better than Google Chrome despite the latter’s popularity. Google still retains favor despite advancements made by Microsoft’s built-in Windows browser which comes pre-installed with every copy of Windows 11, but Microsoft continues to try and innovate its way to broader popularity (as well as some shameless pleading to stick with its browser as your default).

Another step towards a definitive web browser

While Microsoft Edge may not quite have the same level of fame and success that Google Chrome does, a steady string of updates and innovations like this may be enough to turn the tide.

Edge generally has lower power consumption, and, most crucially, goes easier on your RAM relative to Google Chrome when under the same level of stress.

Still, it has struggled to gain traction as people’s preferred web browser, but continually rolling out new advancements like this built-in internet speed test is certainly a way to convince people of a browser’s superior functionality.

Army vs Navy live stream 2024: How to watch Inter-Services rugby match online

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on Army vs Navy live stream 2024: How to watch Inter-Services rugby match online

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An annual grudge match that’s been played 96 times since 1920 and only interrupted by WW2 and the Covid pandemic, Army vs Navy is an institution and provides a rich source of pride and braggadocio for military personnel and families. Here’s where to watch Army vs Navy live streams online – from anywhere.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

The Navy secured their first victory over the Army since 2010 last year, thanks to tries from Setareki Raumakita, Dan Rutter and Jarrard Hayler, while Jordan Gott was named man of the match after sending six penalties and three conversions over the crossbar.

It was the first time they’d laid hands on the Babcock Trophy since 2016 but they haven’t won back-to-back games against the Army in 28 years.

That’s because the Army have for decades been the dominant force in the Inter-Services Competition, winning the title 19 times in the past 25 years. However, even with Germany international Cameron McDonald contributing a hat-trick of tries, they were unable to find their sea legs a year ago.

Fiji and Northampton Saints hooker Sam Matavesi, representing the Navy, will be the biggest star on show at Twickenham. You can follow our guide to get an Army vs Navy live stream from all over the world – including FREE stream options.

How to watch Army vs Navy for free

Unblock any stream with a VPN

If you’re keen to watch Army vs Navy but you’re away from home and the coverage is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you’re not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to live stream Army vs Navy from anywhere:

Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three…

1. Download and install a VPN – as we say, our top choice is NordVPN

2. Connect to the appropriate server location – open the VPN app, hit ‘choose location’ and select the appropriate location

3. Go to the broadcaster’s live stream – so, in this case, just head to YouTube or Rugby Pass TV

2024 Army vs Navy schedule

(All times GMT)

2pm – Army vs Navy (men)
4.45pm – Army vs Navy (women)

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Tags ARMY, InterServices, Live, Match, Navy, Online, rugby, Stream, Watch

Featured

NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, May 4 (game #62)

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, May 4 (game #62)

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Your Saturday Strands is here, ready to put your brainpower to the test as you attempt to uncover hidden words within a grid of letters. Today’s puzzle is really not too bad, but if you’re struggling for the solutions then scroll down for my hints – and keep going for my commentary.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today (game #62) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… The horror

NYT Strands today (game #62) – hint #2 – clue words

What are some good clue words today?

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SCORE

• LOVE

• SLEET

• SPATE

• HOST

• OVERT

NYT Strands today (game #62) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

• Watch with the lights on

NYT Strands today (game #62) – hint #4 – spangram position

Where does today’s spangram start and end?

• Start: bottom, 4th column

• End: top, 2nd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #62) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game #62 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #62, are…

PSYCHO
POLTERGEIST
HALLOWEEN
HOSTEL
SCREAM
SPANGRAM: SCARYMOVIE

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

This was a pretty easy Strands puzzle. Some of that was due to the theme being something close to my heart – namely horror movies. I’ve watched every one of the answers, and many more besides, which definitely helped me to solve it. But it also benefitted from some of the letter placement making it easier to find the words. Take PSYCHO in the bottom left corner: there’s a grid of six consonants together in that corner of the board, which means the ways in which the letters can be combined are drastically reduced. I was able to find that answer with little effort as a result, which – together with the theme hint of ‘The horror’ – confirmed what I was looking for. After that, the task was a mere matter of me wracking my brain for classic horror flicks. POLTERGEIST was the only slightly tricky one, simply because I couldn’t spell it…

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Friday 3 May, game #61)

JUNGLE
PISTACHIO
FOREST
OLIVE
ARTICHOKE
EMERALD
SPANGRAM: GREENS

CLOWNFISH
SKUNK
CHIPMUNK
TIGER
BUMBLEBEE
ZEBRA
SPANGRAM: STRIPED

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s currently in Beta and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

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Tags answers, Game, hints, NYT, Saturday, spangram, Strands, Today

Featured

Sony Xperia 1 VI leak reveals new camera app and more features borrowed from Alpha cameras

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 4, 2024
No Comments on Sony Xperia 1 VI leak reveals new camera app and more features borrowed from Alpha cameras

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A wealth of information has leaked for the Sony Xperia 1 VI revealing almost everything there is to know about the smartphone. Specs, camera array, features; you name it and it’s probably there. According to news site MSPowerUser, the device is slated to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset plus a 5,000 mAh battery that’ll reportedly last two days on a single charge. On the front is an OLED display. It’s unknown exactly how large the screen will be, but it’s said to have a 19.5:9 aspect ratio which is smaller than the Xperia 1 V’s 21:9 aspect ratio.

As impressive as these specs may be, the real star of the show is the software. MSPowerUser claims Sony is combining its Photography Pro, Videography Pro, and Cinema Pro apps into one useful tool. The report points out this is a move seemingly “inspired by [the company’s own] Alpha series cameras.”

Like the Alpha line, the Xperia 1 VI could receive “human pose estimation technology”, giving it the ability to focus on people even if they’re facing away from the lens or are obscured. Sony even apparently has plans to introduce an app called Video Creator, simplifying the video production process and helping users make content.

Sony Xperia 1 VI — (Image credit: MysteryLupin/X)

Camera upgrade

Previous leaks said Sony wouldn’t be making any changes to the camera system on the Xperia 1 V. As it turns out, that may not be the case. MSPowerUser doesn’t say how many megapixels the main wide-angle camera will be. However, they do say it’ll have a 24mm lens supported by an “Exmor T for mobile stacked CMOS image sensor.” This allows the camera to behave like it has a 48mm lens with 2x optical zoom.

Alongside it is an ultra-wide angle camera with a 16mm lens and a telephoto option sporting a 95 to 170mm lens. The latter is capable of 7x zoom. MSPowerUser also mentions how the company claims photos taken by the Xpera 1 VI’s main lens will rival those taken on one of their full-size cameras.

Sony Xperia 1 VI in two colors

(Image credit: MysteryLupin/X)

Notable features

Beyond the camera array, the report states the smartphone will have a wide array of audio-enhancing software including support for the DSEE Ultimate upscaler. Company devs are improving the device’s speakers so they’re able to better deliver “bass and clarity.”

Returning to the screen. Sony may implement several gaming-centric features. Chief among them is the 240Hz touch scanning rate ensuring fast response times. Gamers will also be able to activate FPS Optimizer to keep the in-game frame rate high. All hardware is probably going to make the phone run hot. To keep things cool, the Xperia 1 VI is said to have a vapor chamber.

The images you’ve been seeing come from user MysteryLupin on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) who recently posted a series of photographs they claim are of the new phone. What’s interesting about the set is all the files match the pictures seen on MSPowerUser’s report so Lupin’s post may be legit. Of course, take everything you read here with a grain of salt. Things can always change. The publication says the phone “is set to launch on May 17th.” No word on how much it’ll cost.

Til we learn more, check out TechRadar’s roundup of the best camera phones for 2024.

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Tags Alpha, App, borrowed, camera, cameras, features, leak, reveals, Sony, Xperia

Featured

Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, May 4 (game #831)

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 3, 2024
No Comments on Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, May 4 (game #831)

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Saturday’s Quordle is potentially a tricky one, so you may well need some hints for it. Scroll down if you do – or scroll down further if you simply want to jump to the answers and my commentary.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Quordle expert

Marc McLaren

Quordle today (game #831) – hint #1 – Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #831) – hint #2 – repeated letters

Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #831) – hint #3 – uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #831) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)

Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #831) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)

What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?

• W

• Q

• M

• L

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #831) – the answers

Quordle answers for game 831 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle, game #831, are…

I cut it fine with this edition of Quordle, only solving the fourth and final sector on the last guess. QUICK, which might have been expected to cause problems thanks to that uncommon Q, was not the issue; my opening three guesses gave me -UIC-, so it was a fairly obvious answer. Instead, I struggled with LIEGE – which has a pesky repeated E – and MURAL, which has a common format that’s shared by many other words. I got there in the end, but it was a close-run thing.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #831) – the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 831 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #831, are…

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #830, Friday 3 May: NUDGE, CLASH, KNAVE, AGENT
Quordle #829, Thursday 2 May: TULIP, PLAZA, DAILY, SINGE
Quordle #828, Wednesday 1 May: ROUGH, SYNOD, POSSE, PARRY
Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZ
Quordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANT
Quordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABID
Quordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHE
Quordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILE
Quordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATH
Quordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITE
Quordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOP
Quordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOW
Quordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGA
Quordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCE
Quordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOAT
Quordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINK
Quordle #814, Wednesday 17 April: COLON, EQUIP, SUITE, BLURB
Quordle #813, Tuesday 16 April: METAL, MATEY, AGREE, DRIVE
Quordle #812, Monday 15 April: STINT, RAPID, BRING, BUILD
Quordle #811, Sunday 14 April: WITTY, DADDY, SHORT, SLUNG

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Tags answers, Game, hints, Quordle, Saturday, Today