There’s always been tons of merchandise to match the popularity of the Fallout series, and this lovely custom gaming PC is easily one of the best.
The chassis for the NZXT H6 Flow PC is based on the iconic Vault-Tec aesthetics of the game series, with the blue paint covered in old rust stains and the bright yellow highlights complementing it.
The inside also features the same design as well as the series mascot Pip-Boy, which can be seen through the glass side panel. One of the main fans even has the Nuka Cola emblem on its center, another nice touch.
(Image credit: NZXT / POPeART_)
Not only is this an incredibly well-designed desktop – from PC manufacturer NZXT and renowned hardware artist POPeART_ – but it packs some serious punch in terms of specs. It sports some of the best processors and best graphics cards with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, an AMD Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics card, 32GB RAM, and 2TB of storage. More than enough to handle the best PC games at the highest settings.
Unfortunately, you can’t purchase this PC anywhere, as it’s only available through a UK-based Bethesda giveaway which runs until April 26, 2024. If you wish to enter for yourself, you’ll need to be a legal resident of the UK, follow the official Bethesda UK Twitter / X account, and quote retweet the competition information.
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Here’s a quandary… Say you’ve enjoyed driving an EV for a few years and your lease is ending, or you own an EV and it’s time for an upgrade. You’re already familiar and comfortable living with a battery EV and you’re not going back to internal combustion – not even a hybrid. Alternatively, you’re new to EVs, but you’ve done your homework, and you’re ready to take the plunge and get a battery EV.
What are the must-have features to future-proof your next EV purchase? It’s 2024. There are more battery EV choices than ever before, and access to fast and reliable public charging networks is improving rapidly. This is a particularly difficult question to answer if, like me, you’re driving a Tesla. You love your car and the ecosystem, but you can’t stand Elon and don’t want to support him by giving Tesla your money.
As a two-time Tesla owner, I know I’m biased. But regardless of Elon’s antics, I think that Tesla still delivers the best EV experience on the market today – especially in North America – and the company still makes some of the best EVs when it comes to technology, efficiency, packaging, and value. The Model Y’s popularity worldwide can attest to that. So I asked myself, how close can I get to driving a Tesla without driving a Tesla?
A real-world range of more than 275 miles
Mini Cooper SE (Image credit: TechRadar / Myriam Joire)
The average American drives fewer than 40 miles a day – I know. So, assuming you can charge at home every night, a small, light, and affordable battery EV with a range of about 100 miles makes perfect sense. Look no further than the Mini Cooper SE, upcoming Mini Cooper EV, or new Fiat 500e. Even a Nissan Leaf would get the job done. Problem is, if you live in an apartment like me, you might not be able to charge at home.
Also, the US (and Canada) are big countries. It’s not unusual for folks in North America to travel long distances, be it a few times a year or several times a month. Your EV should be able to replace your internal combustion vehicle without limitations, and that’s why range matters. And I’m not talking about EPA range here, but range measured in real-world conditions taking weather, topology, and driving style into account.
I’ve been doing EV road trips all over the West Coast of the US for six years now with the two Model 3s I’ve owned back-to-back, and in my experience, a real-world range of 275-350 miles is the sweet spot – and something you should consider for your next EV. But range isn’t the only ingredient for worry-free long-distance travel in a battery EV. Charging infrastructure is also critical, which brings us to the next requirement.
Supercharger access and charging rates above 200kW
(Image credit: Tesla)
In the US right now, Tesla’s Supercharger network counts more than 21,800 DC fast chargers. Of those, over 15,000 support charging at up to 250kW (400V), and are open to non-Tesla cars – currently Ford and Rivian EVs via an adapter, with support for more manufacturers to come. The second largest DC fast charging network in the US is Electrify America with over 4,000 chargers, some capable of charging at 350kW (800V).
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But there’s more to charging on the road than the number of compatible DC fast chargers available for your EV. Up-time is another issue. Based on multiple surveys, the Supercharger network is about 99% reliable, while 23% of chargers from other DC fast charging networks are down at any given time. Worse yet, these chargers are often out of commission for multiple days but are still listed as functional by charging networks.
Obviously, charger reliability is important, but so are charging rates. EVs don’t charge at a constant rate. Assuming the batteries are pre-conditioned (pre-heated for the fastest charging performance), EVs tend to charge faster below 80% charge, and fastest between 30-60% charge. As such, the Chevy Bolt, which supports 55kW charging, will charge much slower than the Hyundai IONIQ 5 which peaks at 230kW.
How much of a difference does this make? The Chevy Bolt will take 70 minutes to charge from 20-80%, while the IONIQ 5 (AWD) will take 20 minutes to charge from 20-80%, and both offer a similar range (about 260 miles EPA). Also, the IONIQ 5 will only charge this fast using a 350kW (800V) charger. So, basically, your next EV should have access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and support 200kW or faster charging.
A software defined vehicle
Rivian (Image credit: Rivian)
Another thing to consider for your next EV is whether it’s a full SDV (software defined vehicle) or not. I’ve written about this before, but basically, SDVs are cars with functions and features that are primarily enabled through software and can improve over time via OTA (over-the-air) software updates. Tesla was the first to popularize SDVs, followed by other EV startups (Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar) and Chinese manufacturers.
While most EVs support OTA software updates, not all are full SDVs. This means that not all hardware components in these cars can be updated OTA. EVs from legacy car manufacturers mostly fall into this category, although things are improving rapidly. It’s one thing for your infotainment system to receive updates OTA, it’s another thing for your BMS (battery management system) to be updated OTA.
Why should you care? Because with SDVs, the manufacturer controls the hardware and software directly. A vehicle that’s designed to function as one cohesive system is more likely to deliver a good user experience. In other words, the reason so many cars don’t provide a good user experience today is because they’re basically a random assortment of hardware and software designed by various suppliers.
Level 2+ ADAS
Polestar 3 interior (Image credit: Polestar)
One essential feature your next EV should include is a proper Level 2+ ADAS (advanced driver assistance system). The good news is that basic Level 2 functionality is pretty much standard on most EVs these days. Level 2 ADAS is defined by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) as partial driving automation (including automatic steering, acceleration, and braking) that requires the driver’s full attention at all times.
Ideally, you’ll want an EV equipped with Level 2+ ADAS, where the car mostly drives itself – like changing lanes and taking exits by itself based on the current navigation route – but requires the driver to regularly touch the steering wheel and look at the road. Some of these systems – like GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise – are even hands-off (but still eye-on) on certain sections of road, conditions permitting.
Direct-to-consumer sales
This is not tthe experience you’re going for (Image credit: Getty Images)
Ask around, and it’s pretty clear that most of the time, buying or leasing a car from a dealership is a major PITA. What if you could purchase or lease your EV directly from the manufacturer – like you buy an iPhone from Apple – online or in a store, with a set price? That’s exactly what Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid offer, and having experienced it myself, it’s something you should seek for your next EV purchase.
So there you have it – five must-have features to future-proof your next EV purchase. If, like me, you’re someone who prefers cars over crossovers, the EVs closest to meeting these five conditions are the Rivian R3/R3x, Lucid Air Pure, and Polestar 4. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E GT, VW’s ID.Buzz, Kia’s EV6, Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and 6, and Volvo’s EX30 are also in the running if you’re willing to compromise a little.
Meta, Microsoft, X, and Match today joined Epic Games to protest the way Apple complied with a court ruling requiring it to walk back its anti-steering rules. In an amicus brief in support of Epic Games (via The Wall Street Journal), the four companies said that the fees Apple is charging are too high, and that there are too many restrictions on how developers link to their websites. “The Apple Plan comports with neither the letter nor the spirit of this Court’s mandate,” reads the brief.
For context, Apple was ordered to change its App Store rules in 2021 as part of the decision in the Epic Games case. The judge took issue with the anti-steering guidelines that kept apps from directing consumers to lower prices available outside of the App Store. Apple delayed implementing the changes while it attempted to appeal the ruling, but the appeal was not successful and Apple had to update its rules in January.
Developers are now allowed to include a single link in their app, with that link going to a website where customers can make a purchase without using the in-app purchase system. Apple is still collecting commission for purchases made this way, requiring developers to pay between 12 and 27 percent (three percent lower than the standard 15/30 fee).
Epic Games last week told the court that Apple has not complied with the order, and that the Cupertino company should be held in contempt of court. Epic Games said that Apple’s implementation makes links “commercially unusable” due to the fee and the “accompanying web of restrictions.”
Microsoft, Meta, X, and Match further complained that Apple is not allowing apps to include “even the most basic information” about alternative purchase options. Apple does not allow apps to let customers know about how to receive a discount by purchasing directly from a website, for example.
Meta said that it should be able to direct users to the web to pay for boosted posts to avoid Apple’s fee, and Microsoft complained that Apple’s rules limit options for providing subscriptions and discounts. X, formerly Twitter, said that Apple’s 27 percent fee eliminates incentives to include an external link, while Match claimed that the rules prevent price competition for digital transactions.
Apple in January claimed that it was in full compliance with the injunction, and that it has given developers a way to inform customers about alternative purchase mechanisms both in their apps and outside of their apps.
The amicus brief filed today supports Epic Games’ recent filing. Epic Games has asked the court to force Apple to bring its policies into compliance with the injunction, so it will be up to the court to decide whether Apple’s rule change does enough to satisfy the requirements of the initial judgment.
Epic Games is once again after Apple, this time accusing the Cupertino company of violating a court ruling that requires Apple to allow developers to offer in-app links to direct customers to third-party purchase options on the web.
Apple tweaked its U.S. App Store policies back in January, and developers are permitted to put one link in their apps that leads to a website where customers can make a purchase without using the in-app purchase system. Apple is still charging commission for these purchases, requiring developers to pay between 12 and 27 percent (three percent lower than the 15/30 standard fee).
Epic Games is unhappy with the fee that Apple continues to charge, today telling the court that Apple has not complied with the order, and asking that Apple be held in contempt of court. Epic Games claims that the fees make the links “commercially unusable,” thereby subverting the injunction.
Apple violates the Injunction in three ways. First, with respect to External Links, Apple has imposed new fees and enacted a slew of new rules that work together to make the links commercially unusable. This new fee and accompanying web of restrictions subverts the purpose of the Injunction, allowing Apple to continue extracting its excessive commissions and making it effectively impossible for a developer to inform users about, and direct users toward, an alternative platform for making a purchase.
Second, Apple continues to categorically prohibit any steering using “buttons” or “other calls to action”. Specifically, Apple does not allow External Links that resemble a “button” in any way.
Third, Apple’s Guideline 3.1.3 still prohibits certain apps, including all multiplatform services (i.e., apps that operate across multiple platforms and allow users to access the same content across these platforms, including popular games such as Minecraft), from “within the app, encourag[ing] users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase”. This language expressly contravenes the Injunction by prohibiting any steering to alternative purchasing methods.
Epic Games collected statements from other developers that have spoken out against Apple’s App Store fees, including Paddle CEO Christian Owens and Down Dog CEO Benjamin Simon.
Apple was initially ordered to make the App Store changes in 2021 as part of its court battle with Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, who oversaw the case, took issue with Apple’s anti-steering rules. Apple was able to delay implementing the App Store changes for a few years while it appealed, but none of the courts decided to change the verdict. Apple ultimately took it to the Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the case, so Apple had to comply immediately at the beginning of the year.
Epic Games claims that the fee Apple charges for the link is “financially unattractive” for developers who want to choose another payment solution, and it “prevents any meaningful competition between payment solutions.” The company wants the court to require Apple to bring its policies into compliance with the injunction.
Apple was recently denied an appeal in the Apple vs Epic trial, and now Apple is making some changes to the App Store in the UJSA to comply with the original ruling from 2021, Apple will now allow alternative purchase links in the app store.
Previously any sign-ups for anything or purchases had to be through Apple and their app store, developers only had the option to use this as a payment method, now Apple is also allows external links as payment methods, more details below.
In addition to using Apple’s convenient, safe, and secure in-app purchase system, apps on the App Store in the United States that offer in-app purchases can also use the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (US) to include a link to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services. To use the entitlement, you’ll need to submit a request, enable the entitlement in Xcode, and use the required StoreKit APIs. Apple will review your app to ensure it complies with the terms and conditions of the entitlement, as well as the App Store Review Guidelines and the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
You can find out more details about the changes coming to the Apple App Store and the payment options that will be available over at Apple’s developer website at the link below, Apple will apparently still charge developers a commission, although exactly how this will be done is not known as yet.
Source Apple, 9 to 5 Mac
Image Credit: James Yarema
Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Top News
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