Like spotting the first sign of shore after years adrift, Skull and Bones has finally, actually found its way to launch. Six separate delays and several different concepts that were forced to walk the plank might’ve made you understandably apprehensive about Ubisoft’s long-brewing pirate game, but I’ve already found a yo-ho-whole lot to be excited about after spending nearly 30 hours with its surprisingly unconstrained open beta this past weekend. The 17th-century Indian Ocean works well as avast open world to be explored and plundered, the RPG mechanics are (briny) deep with opportunities for buildcrafting alongside your fellow scurvy dogs, and the naval combat you’ll spend bucca-nearly all your time on the high seas engaging with is tactical and consistently entertaining. Aside from the expected instability one usually encounters with a beta for an online game, the only red flags so far are the lackluster story and a list of endgame activities that feel like they could become repetitive in short oar-der. I won’t be able to complete my voyage until the full version sets sail later this week, but I’m already excited to sea more.
Poco X6 Pro Review: Trumps all in its segment!
24.01.2024 - 15:50 / tech.hindustantimes.com / Pro
The name ‘Poco' has been synonymous with smartphones that offer extremely good value for money. It all started with the Poco F1 back when the company was still called Poco by Xiaomi. It was launched as a flagship killer's killer, following OnePlus's decision to jump into the flagship category segment. At that time, no one knew who'd introduce the next flagship killer, and then suddenly, Poco F1 took the world by storm. It offered a top-of-the-line chipset at a highly competitive price. For those not familiar with it, the smartphone even came in a Kevlar fiber variant! How cool is that! However, that was the only Poco device that impressed me, and although there have been many decent offerings in the following years, with the most recent device being the Poco X5 Pro, none have managed to generate the same amount of hype…until now.
The Poco X6 Pro was launched on January 11 and it wowed tech enthusiasts around the country courtesy of its features, specifications, and more importantly, its price. On paper, it should be the smartphone to buy under Rs. 30000 with features such as MediaTek Dimensity Ultra (which has made its global debut with the smartphone), 1.5K display, and Xiaomi HyperOS. But is it really the one to go for in a highly competitive segment that also has offerings from Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, and Motorola?
I've spent a few weeks with the smartphone and, let me tell you, it will offer a massive bang for your buck. Here's why.
I've never been a fan of flashy colours, and it is safe to say that I was pleased to get the Racing Grey variant. If you've ever been mesmerized by BMW's Nado Grey colour, then imagine that on a smartphone. It looks great! The Poco X6 Pro adopts the same design strategy that has made its predecessors successful in the Indian market so far, with a tall and sleek form factor. The phone gives a premium feel with a plastic back that feels like glass (almost) and a plastic frame that had honestly fooled me for aluminium at least until I actually got a hold of the spec sheet. While the Poco X6 Pro's design quotient is top-notch, the back attracts a lot of fingerprints, and I mean a lot! You'll need to put on a case before you start using it, or develop a habit of keeping a microfiber cloth along with you, which Poco doesn't sell yet (I'm looking at you Apple!).
Although the smartphone has a decent weight to it, you won't notice it much courtesy of rounded edges which make it comfortable to hold. There's a massive camera module at the back that features four circular rings - three cameras and one LED flash. I've never been a fan of large camera bumps, but Poco's implementation here is commendable as it rarely ever hinders the pocketability of the smartphone. One of the best
AI will "drive productivity" in India and be relevant for "rest of the world", Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's tour of India has put the spotlight on artificial intelligence and he has highlighted the abilities of the country's technology workforce to provide transformational economic growth and that too at good speed. India could be one of the countries that can benefit significantly from AI which may also result in solving the country's distinctive structural issues according to Nadella. In a number of interviews over the last few days, Nadella has said that he believes India, with its wide range of talent and massive developer community, could give major competition to developed countries even in this space and achieve transformational change. So, even though India initially missed the digital bus when it came Internet, computers, smartphones and more, currently, on AI, the country is right at the forefront of progress being made. At the Microsoft CEO Connection event in Mumbai, Nadella said, “This is the first time I feel what's happening in India and what's happening in the rest of the world—there is no impedance (delay), there is no gap.”
Samsung Galaxy S24 call recording capabilities enhanced with VoWiFi support
Samsung has enhanced the call recording functionality on its Galaxy smartphones, enabling users to record calls in VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi) mode. This advancement is currently exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, operating on OneUI 6.1, built on the Android 14 OS. It is anticipated that this feature will extend to older Samsung smartphones in the near future.
IPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro Max top world's best-selling smartphone list; now, buy one with huge discount
In a significant milestone, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple's "iPhone Pro Max" models, helped it claim the title of the world's best-selling smartphone. "iPhone Pro Max" has secured its position as the most popular smartphone globally, based on statistics from 2023. Market analysis by Canalys reveals that both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the subsequent iPhone 15 Pro Max claimed the top spots in global annual shipments for the first time.
The Big Indie Interviews: Holy Cow Productions and Hobo Interactive discuss racing their way to the crown at the first ever digital Big Indie Pitch
The Big Indie Pitch is a regular event run by the makers of PCGamesInsider.biz. It sees indie developers engage in a speed-dating-style pitching competition for fame and those sweet, sweet promotional packages.
Pilot flies plane with Apple Vision Pro? Shocking video post goes viral!
A pilot named Chris Clarke has stirred up a storm on the internet after a video surfaced showing him allegedly flying a light aircraft while wearing Apple Vision Pro. The video, posted on X, has garnered over 5.6 million views since Tuesday, accompanied by a cautionary Community Note. In the footage, Clarke is seen using the Apple Vision Pro, manipulating windows and interacting with visionOS while also handling the plane's controls. This incident adds to a series of viral videos involving the Apple Vision Pro since its release, including one where a driver used it while operating a Tesla on Autopilot, drawing attention from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
BGMI-owner Krafton India launches pre-registration for Garuda Saga, its debut Indian-themed game
Krafton India, which is the company behind Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), in collaboration with Alchemist Games, has unveiled its latest venture, Garuda Saga- a mobile game that delves into India's cultural tapestry. The game is currently open for pre-registration on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with exclusive rewards awaiting early registrants.
Lava Blaze Pro 5G review: A top mid-range contender
Lava Blaze Pro 5G Review: In a market largely influenced by Chinese smartphone giants, Indian consumers have become accustomed to seeing brands like Vivo, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme dominating the mid-range segment even as the South Korean major, Samsung, keeps spicing up the space with its amazing smartphones. However, amidst this landscape, Lava, a homegrown tech company, has been striving to carve out its space in this fiercely competitive arena. Introducing the Lava Blaze Pro 5G, their latest addition to the 5G segment in India, the company aims to challenge the established players in the sub Rs. 15000 smartphone market - the space that has the most competition.
Asus ROG Ally 2 Gaming Handheld Could Be Coming This Year
According to the vice president of Asus India, Arnold Su, a second-generation successor of the Asus ROG Ally gaming handheld is planned to be released sometime this year. The Asus ROG Ally is a handheld gaming console that is capable of providing a gaming experience on the go while also functioning as a Windows 11 PC. This allows it to play a variety of PC games, including both the Steam and Xbox Game Pass libraries.
Asus ROG Ally Might Get a Successor Later This Year
Asus has indicated that it has plans for a successor to its ROG Ally handheld gaming PC. Speaking to Techlusive, Asus India VP of consumer and gaming PCs Arnold Su said that the company is planning a second-generation release of the ROG Ally later this year.
Why are Apple, Amazon, Google and Meta facing huge fines? And will it protect consumers?
Following a lengthy investigation, the United States Justice Department is set to file a lawsuit against Apple for potentially breaching antitrust laws. The department alleges Apple is using hardware and software limitations that make it harder for rival companies to compete with iPhones and iPads. If the filing goes ahead, it will mean each of the “big four” tech companies – Amazon, Meta, Google and Apple – will have been sued by the US federal government within the past five years for monopolistic business practices.
BGMI tips: How to make good use of drop balls in a tense match to overpower enemies
BGMI tips: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) provides numerous tricks and ways to win an intense match, however, winning requires making extremely strategic movements. While many players try to hide or play the game in as quiet a manner as possible, some like to go on a rampage to dominate the enemy team. If you have just started playing the game, these BGMI tips are specially curated for you. This guide will cover how players can use drop balls smartly to overpower enemies and confuse them to make their next move. Check out the BGMI tips here.