Month: April 2022

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Crysis 4 and Hunt: Showdown developer Crytek makes remote work permanent

Crysis 4 and Hunt: Showdown developer Crytek makes remote work permanent

Crytek, developer of the Crysis series of first-person shooters and the hardcore multiplayer shooter Hunt: Showdown, announced on Tuesday that the company has made its pandemic-era remote work option permanent.

A press release from the developer noted that development on both Hunt: Showdown and the forthcoming Crysis 4 has remained “on track” and “kept pace with pre-pandemic game productions.” As a result, the studio says it has made the remote work option permanent for current and future employees both full and part-time.

The developer will not be working remotely. Crytek maintains offices in its Frankfurt, Germany headquarters and in Istanbul, Turkey, which employees will also be able to work from.

Staff currently working from home represent 80% of Crytek’s workforce, with remote working already supported in the USA, India, Brazil, China, the Philippines, and across Europe. Candidates and employees who are eligible for work at home may reside wherever in the world they choose, provided they have an internet connection. Crytek headquarters is located in Frankfurt in Germany. It also has a studio in Istanbul in Turkey for those who want to work part-time.

The company joins the growing ranks of major development studios embracing remote work, most notably Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z8Iukq3PXXE8sqvFFJ3yg6hPfdw=/0x0:1920×1005/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20108330/Crysis_Remastered_keyart.png
https://www.polygon.com/23042951/crytek-remote-work-permanent-crysis-4

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is better when it’s creative

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is better when it’s creative

Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga a nostalgia adventure that draws inspiration from the Lego Star Wars movies. There are levels that look exactly like the films, but there is also fun twists and turns on smaller Star Wars sets. The game’s greatest strengths are when it isn’t too concerned about replicating the movies perfectly but instead focuses on providing new experiences for fans.

In The Skywalker Saga each Star Wars episode has only five linear levels and is a small slice of the overall movie story. The rest of each episode consists of open-world adventuring where players fly through space or roam around the planets solving puzzles, riding vehicles, visiting iconic locations, and getting the lowdown on the area’s wider lore.

This can often lead to fun Lego vignettes. It’s a nostalgic experience to walk through Luke, Owen and Beru’s Tatooine home, complete with its iconic maintenance room for droids. It feels natural to walk outside the home of Luke, Owen and Beru and find bonus upgrades points through chasing Womp Rats.

But these huge levels can be used to move the story along just like it happens in movies. I’ll fly down to Ahch-To just to follow Luke from The Last Jedi around for a bit, and then leave. Instead of launching exciting levels, some mission objectives will just continue the story, showing a movie scene rebuilt with Lego bricks. Much of the game’s dialogue is even taken verbatim from the films — even if there are some comical Lego background goofs.

Famous Star Wars heroes and villains stand on a rock for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Image: TT Games/WB Games/Disney/Lucasfilm Games

While I enjoy the films’ science fiction and fantasy setting, playing the game gives me the chance to explore the world. It’s in this area that Lego Star Wars is truly useful. It’s amazing that TT Games created every Star Wars meaningful planet in the movie and I have access to all of them. Do I really need to run another Death Star trench race? What is that really about pod racing? I know the Gungans’ side of the battle against the droid army is important, but is it a fun level to play? Lego Star Wars excels when it departs meaningfully from its cinematic source material.

I have the most fun with The Skywalker Saga when it finds the fun in the unsung scenarios of the films and offers me the chance to explore areas that the numbered saga never did. I enjoyed defending the Millennium Falcon A New Hope ,, where I put the pieces back together with Stormtroopers. Because the movie focuses mainly on the Shield Generator sequence, I enjoyed a more extended battle of Endor. Even Rise Skywalker ,, the worst series film by a parsec gets an amazing level of difficulty in the fight/puzzle hybrid between Rey & Kylo at the demolished Death Star on Kef Bir.

Lego Star Wars – The Skywalker Saga ‘s levels selections are inconsistent. TT Games is known for straying from the beaten track to show a different angle on a Star Wars event. However, it can also fall apart under the stress of creating some of the greatest moments in film history. It works great as a Star Wars simulation, but the game is even more enjoyable as an exploration of new things. When I think back on The Skywalker Saga‘s grand journey, I know I’ll remember the weird puzzle-filled adventure through the Geonosis droid factory more than I will the iconic battle against Count Dooku himself.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oPAgJsvO49Q7ey0vkCHDEbQaj5s=/0x0:1536×804/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23417529/lego_star_wars_the_skywalker_saga_launch_qui_gon_maul_TALL.jpg
https://www.polygon.com/23042954/lego-star-wars-skywalker-saga-levels-movie-moments

First live image of ZTE Axon 40 reveals an improved under-camera display

First live image of ZTE Axon 40 reveals an improved under-camera display

ZTE has been a leader in mobile technology when it comes to under-display camera solutions. We are eagerly expecting the Axon 40 smartphone which will introduce the third generation under-display camera solution, and an alleged live image just surfaced online.

A leakster uploaded a live photo of the front to Weibo. It revealed that the location where the camera is located is virtually indistinguishable with the rest of panel. Reports are the screen will have 1440p resolution (wrongly called 2K by some makers), which is a step further from the AMOLED of the Axon 30 and nubia Red Magic 7 Pro.

First live image of ZTE Axon 40 reveals an improved under-camera display

The display area that lies over the camera’s lens has been reorganized to create a seamless effect. Instead of the previous-gen panel, Full HD panels will have a higher pixel density.

The image shows that the AMOLED panel has extremely curving sides. These will hide the bezels to the left and the right. While the top is as slim as they come, the bottom one looks as skinny as possible. The new panel is also rumored to have PWM (pixel-width modulation) dimming.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/zte-axon-40-live-photo-display/-952x498w6/gsmarena_001.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/first_live_image_of_zte_axon_40_reveals_an_improved_undercamera_display-news-54090.php?rand=119

Sony now requires devs to make 2-hour game trials for PlayStation Plus Premium

Sony now requires devs to make 2-hour game trials for PlayStation Plus Premium

Sony will require some PlayStation game developers to create trial versions of their games as part of changes coming to its PlayStation Plus subscription service, according to a new report from Game Developer. Those trial versions will reportedly be required to last at least two hours long, if the game being sold costs $34 or more.

This news follows Sony’s June announcement that it will be revamping PlayStation Plus and adding new subscription levels. A new tier of that service, named PlayStation Plus Premium, offers time-limited game trials in addition to classic games from multiple PlayStation console generations.

Sony will reportedly give developers up to three months after a game’s launch on the PlayStation Store to release a timed trial. If developers would like to submit a demo in lieu of a trial version, then Sony will reportedly approve those games on a case-by-case basis. Game Developer, citing development sources, says the requirements are not retroactive and do not apply to new PlayStation VR titles.

Polygon reached out to Sony Interactive Entertainment in order for comments.

PlayStation Plus Premium, Sony’s new service that will include these new trial versions, will be available for $119. 99 annually or $17. 99 monthly starting in June.

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https://www.polygon.com/23042769/playstation-plus-premium-free-trial-demo-game-development

ASUS has an odd second screen that was designed with creators in mind

ASUS has an odd second screen that was designed with creators in mind

If you’re going to add a second monitor to your desk setup, wouldn’t you prefer something large enough to handle your work?

While many designers praise simplicity and minimalism as virtues, some may wish they could have more than one screen. Although the jury isn’t yet out about whether multiple monitors are better or worse for productivity (especially if there are more distractions), some digital workers can’t do without one display. That’s especially true for creatives in many fields, including designers and artists that might use something like a Wacom Cintiq to create their masterpieces. ASUS has been making portable monitors in order to help increase workers’ output, but its newest might be its strangest one yet.

Designer: ASUS


Almost all second monitors, portable or otherwise, come in sizes and forms that are meant to match your primary display. While those come in a wide range of sizes, they almost all have standard monitor aspect ratios, like 4:3, 16:10, or even the ultra-wide 21:9. In contrast, it’s difficult to group the ASUS ProArt Display PA147CDV with these because of its short but wide design.

The 14-inch screen has a resolution of 1920×550, giving it a super-duper ultra-wide 32:9 ratio. It’s more like a strip of screen rather than a full monitor, and its unconventional design hints at its purpose. It’s meant more as an extension of your tools rather than your content, like a palette or another keyboard instead of a canvas. Those who have seen ASUS’ ZenBook Pro DUO laptop might be familiar with both this design and this use case because this is exactly like that laptop’s second screen.


The ProArt Display does function like a Wacom tablet display, supporting both ten-finger touch and pen input. The latter uses Microsoft’s Pen 2.0 Protocol, so there are plenty of active pens you can use with it. The screen supports 100% of the Rec. 709 and sRGB color gamuts to give artists and designers accurate color spaces. The screen’s unusual size and proportion doesn’t make it suitable for prolonged work hours. Also, its low vertical resolution will not do justice to your work.

Of course, the ProArt Display PA147CDV’s main function isn’t to be a Wacom replacement but to be your extended keyboard of sorts. Specialized software allows creators to quickly access the most-used or most important functions of apps like Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and others. ASUS’s app allows you to customize controls even for non-supported apps. And, of course, you can also use it as a second screen for references or unrelated information like news or social media. You can reduce the amount of visual space these items occupy and hopefully, this will also help to lessen their distracting effects.

The ASUS ProArt Display PA147CDV has one other trick up its sleeve, a physical dial you can also map to specific actions, like changing brush sizes or scrubbing through a video timeline. This clearly marks this display as a tool for creatives but, unfortunately, also shows the device’s biggest design flaw. That dial is fixed on the left side of the device, which restricts it to a specific setup only. People who hold a stylus in the dominant hand of their left-handed hands won’t find it easy to use the dial like right-handed users.

The ProArt Display looks like an intriguing and novel new tool to empower designers, artists, engineers, editors, and all sorts of digital creatives, but also oddly snubs a good number of these people with its inflexible design. It would have been better if it were possible to change the position of the dial or change the orientation of the screen to accommodate left-handed workflows. It’s like being forced to use computer mice that have been designed for right-handed people only, without any consideration for the rest of the population. We won’t be seeing the ASUS ProArt Display PA147CDV until sometime this quarter, and hopefully, ASUS will have a better story to tell by then.

https://www.yankodesign.com/images/design_news/2022/04/asus-has-an-odd-second-screen-that-was-designed-with-creators-in-mind/asus-proart-1.jpg
https://www.yankodesign.com/2022/04/26/asus-has-an-odd-second-screen-that-was-designed-with-creators-in-mind/?rand=374

Alleged OnePlus 10R Lite, surfaces with Dimensity 8100 chipset

Alleged OnePlus 10R Lite, surfaces with Dimensity 8100 chipset

OnePlus has a second Dimensity 8100 Max mid-ranger in the works after launching the OnePlus Ace. The Ace is about to arrive in India as the 10R, but this one seems like a more affordable alternative.

For starters, it has a smaller 6. 59″ IPS LCD with 1,080 x 2,412 px resolution. TENAA does not specify if the display will be capable of displaying high refresh rates. By the way, this sounds like the Nord CE 2 Lite display, however, that one is slated to use a Snapdragon 695 chipset.

This model, the OnePlus PGZ110, will have a larger battery with 4,890 mAh with faster 65W charging compared to the upcoming Nord. With a better chipset and battery, this model should sit above the Nord 2 CE Lite and below the Ace/10R.


OnePlus PGZ110 (10R Lite?) with a 6.59
OnePlus PGZ110 (10R Lite?) with a 6.59

OnePlus PGZ110 (10R Lite?) with a 6. 59″ IPS LCD and 64+8+2 MP cameras

The Chinese regulator also revealed the camera specifications, including a 64 MP main, 8 MP ultra wide and 2 MP helper, plus a 16 MP selfie cam on the front. The renders show the fingerprint reader that is integrated into the Power button. Another thing to notice is the lack of an alert slider, something that is becoming more common in OnePlus’ mass market offerings.

The phone will pair the Dimensity 8100 chipset with 8/12 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB storage. The phone will come in Blue or Gray as shown above.

The GPZ110 should arrive soon, though it probably won’t be a part of the OnePlus 10R and Nord 2 CE Lite launch later this week. According to leakster WHYLABS, this phone will be branded as the OnePlus 10R Lite (aka “Youth Edition” in China), but we’re yet to see a confirmation of that.


Fingerprint reader on the side
No alert slider

Fingerprint reader on the side * No alert slider

This seems to be related to the Oppo K10 5G from yesterday, though that one had a Dimensity 8000 Max chipset (you can tell them apart by the peak CPU clock speed – 2. 85 GHz vs. 2. 75 GHz). There is also a vanilla OnePlus 10 on the way with a Dimensity 9000.

Source (in Chinese) Via

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/oneplus-pgz110-tenaa/-952x498w6/gsmarena_000.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_pgz110_perhaps_the_oneplus_10r_lite_surfaces_at_tenaa_with_dimensity_8100_chipset-news-54092.php?rand=119

Samsung’s Rugged T7 Shield Portable SSD Offers Durability and Fast Sustained Performance for Creative Professionals and Consumers On-the-Go

Samsung’s Rugged T7 Shield Portable SSD Offers Durability and Fast Sustained Performance for Creative Professionals and Consumers On-the-Go

New, credit card size external SSD provides lightning-fast data transfer speeds

in a drop, water and dust resistant design for content creation indoors and out

With no performance degradation when transferring large files,

the T7 Shield is ideal for high-definition video recording and editing

Samsung Electronics today announced the release of its latest external storage device, the T7 Shield Portable Solid State Drive (PSSD), bringing exceptional performance and reliability in a durable, credit card size design. The T7 Shield is the newest addition to the Samsung T7 Portable SSD family that includes the T7, a daily driver that provides incredibly fast speeds in a sleek design, and the T7 Touch,1 a CES award-winning PSSD with a built-in fingerprint sensor for enhanced data protection.

“Creative professionals and consumers want durable, high-performance and reliable SSDs with the assurance their data will remain safeguarded, even when dropped, exposed to water or used outdoors,” said KyuYoung Lee, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “The T7 Shield offers extensive compatibility, enabling consumers to use the new SSD on multiple devices including PC, android smartphone and game console.”

IP65-Rated Durability

The T7 Shield is Samsung’s most durable PSSD to date, making it ideal for outdoor content creators or travelers who need data-rich experience without having to worry about data loss from exposure to the elements or life’s mishaps. Carefully engineered by Samsung from the inside out, the T7 Shield is shock-resistant from drops of up to three meters,2 while being IP65-certified as dustproof and water resistant. 3 Despite the new rugged design, the T7 Shield is compact and lightweight, weighing a mere 98 grams.

Exceptional Performance

The T7 Shield delivers a read speed of 1,050 megabytes per second (MB/s) and a write speed of 1,000 MB/s,4 which are the fastest transfer speeds currently available based on the USB 3. 2 Gen2 standard. 5 It is approximately twice as fast as its predecessor, the T5, and up to 9. 5 times faster than external hard disk drives (HDDs),6 saving consumers, digital creators and professionals valuable time.

Samsung has also optimized the inside and outside of the product, by changing the surface material and improving the software in the T7 Shield, to solve the performance degradation and overheating that occur when transferring large files. Due to this change, there is no performance degradation even when files of 2TB are moved at once, and heat generation is minimized, which help solve the inconvenience that consumers may experience. Through this, it is possible to transmit data stably without performance drop,7 even when performing data-heavy, continuous tasks such as high-quality video recording, editing, encoding and rendering. It reduces the risk of inconsistent drive performance.

Wide Compatibility and Strong Security

Designed to work across multiple devices, Samsung’s T7 Shield can store large numbers of pictures, games as well as 4K and 8K videos whether on a PC, Mac, Smartphone (Android), or game console. 8 Additionally, the T7 Shield has strengthened security (*256-bit AES, Advanced Encryption Standard) with hardware encryption so that consumer data can be safely protected even if the T7 shield is lost. Plus, it provides access to Samsung’s Magician Software9 which lets users to conveniently manage the drive.

Eco-Conscious Packaging

As with Samsung’s other portable SSD lineups, the T7 Shield uses one-third of the tray packaging compared to prior generations, while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions during its production through production efficiency.


Available in beige, black and blue to satisfy user preferences, the T7 Shield is offered in 1TB and 2TB sizes, making it suitable for a wide range of use cases. The drive comes with a USB Type-C-to-C cable and a USB Type-C-to-A cable, and includes a three-year limited warranty with the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) of $159. 99 for the 1TB and $289. 99 for the 2TB. The T7 Shield is available worldwide starting today. For more information, please visit https://samsung.com/portable-ssd.

Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield Product Specifications

Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield
Interface USB 3. 2 Gen2 (10Gbps)

Hardware

Information

 Capacities 1TB/2TB10
Dimensions 88 x 59 x 13mm (3. 5 x 2. 3 x 0. 5 inches)
Weight 98 grams (3. 47oz)11
Performance Sequential Read Up to 1,050MB/sec12
Sequential Write Up to 1,000MB/sec12
Durability Water/Dust Resistant IP6513
Drop Resistant Up to 3-meter14
Security Encryption AES 256-bit hardware encryption
Software Samsung Portable SSD 1.015

Samsung Magician Software
Compatibility

Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10. 10 or higher,

Android Lollipop or higher
Reliability Temperature Operating
(Case Temperature)		 0degC to 60degC16
Non-Operating -40degC to 85degC
Humidity 5% to 95% non-condensing
Shock Non-Operating 1,500G, duration: 0. 5ms, 3 axis
Vibration Non-Operating 10~2,000Hz, 20G
Certifications CE, BSMI, KC, VCCI, C-tick, FCC, IC, UL,

TUV, CB, EAC, UKCA, BIS
RoHS Compliance RoHS 2
Warranty Three (3) Year Limited Warranty17

1 CES 2020 Innovation Awards honoree

2 The drop test was conducted under controlled conditions. Drop resistance may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Damage caused by drop is not covered under warranty.
*Test condition: Device was dropped free-fall to a metal plate from 3-meter height.

3 IP (Ingress Protection) ratings define degrees of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against water and dust. T7 Shield has a IP65 rating based on internal testing conducted under controlled conditions. Water and dust resistance capabilities may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Warranty does not cover damage caused by water or dust.
**IPX5 Test condition: Device was exposed to fresh water projected from a nozzle (Ph6. 3mm) 3 meters away at 12. 5 l/min for 3 minutes.
**IP6X Test condition: Device was exposed to 2kg/m3 of active dust with a pressure under 2kPa for 8 hours in a vacuum chamber.

4 Test system configuration: ASUS Z270 ROG MAXIMUS IX HERO (USB 3. 2 Gen2 Type-C), Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-7700K CPU @ 4. 20GHz, OS- Windows 10 19H2.

5 USB 3. 2 Gen2 is the standard protocol offered on most consumer and pro model laptops. Throughput is limited due to device ports, not the SSD. Performance may vary depending on host configuration. To reach maximum read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000MB/s, respectively, the host device and connection cables must support USB 3. 2 Gen2, and the UASP mode must be enabled.

6 Based on internal test results compared to a Samsung external HDD 1TB (HX-MTD10EA)

7 The T7 Shield maintains above 900MB/s of sequential write speed with the 1TB model and 1,000MB/s with the 2TB in ambient temperature (25).

8 Compatibility with host devices may vary. Some operating systems may require reformatting of the T7 Shield.
Please find the compatible devices list on https://samsung.com/samsungssd.

9 For further information, visit https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/magician.

10 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes, 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Lower capacity may be demonstrated by computers due to use of a different measurement standard.

11 Exact weight of product may vary by capacity.

12 Max data transfer speed is measured based on Samsung’s internal testing standards with the enclosed cable. Performance may vary depending on host configuration, cable and user system environment.

13 T7 Shield has a IP65 rating based on internal testing conducted under controlled conditions. The actual environment may affect the water and dust resistance abilities of Shield. Warranty does not cover damage caused by water or dust.
*IPX5 Test condition: Device was exposed to fresh water projected from a nozzle (Ph6. 3mm) 3 meters away at 12. 5 l/min for 3 minutes.
**IP6X Test condition: Device was exposed to 2kg/m3 of active dust with a pressure under 2kPa for 8 hours in a vacuum chamber.

14 The drop test was conducted under controlled conditions. Drop resistance may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Drop damage is not covered by warranty

15 T7 Series Software’s minimum System Requirements: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10. 10 or higher, Android Lollipop or higher.

16 Case Temperature is measured at the hottest point on the case. To ensure proper operation of heavier loads within the device’s operating temperature, it is important to have sufficient airflow.

17 Samsung Electronics shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data or other information contained in Samsung Electronics products and in storage devices, or loss of profit or revenue which may be incurred by user. For more information on warranty, please visit https://samsung.com/portable-ssd.

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Samsung launches new rugged T7 Shield Portable SSD with IP65 dust and water protection

Samsung launches new rugged T7 Shield Portable SSD with IP65 dust and water protection

Samsung continues to diversify its venerable T-series line of SSDs and today is launching its new T7 Shield portable SSD with a rugged rubberized exterior and substantial dust and water protection. The T7 Shield isn’t much larger or heavier than the standard T7 or security-focused T7 Touch, but it brings the added protection from the elements that some active users may require.

Samsung T7 Shield specifications

  • USB-C connector with USB 3. 2 (Gen 2 10Gbps)
  • USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables included
  • Read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000MB/s
  • IP65-graded water and dust resistance
  • Crush resistance, along with strengthened drop resistance (up to 9. 8ft)
  • Aluminum body with rubberized exterior for maximum protection
  • Low heat conductivity with rubber texture exterior
  • Extreme temperature protection from -40degC to 85degC
  • Dimensions: 3. 5 x 2. 3 x 0. 5 inches
  • Weight: 3. 5 ounces
  • AES 256-bit hardware encryption
  • Password protection (optional)
  • Compatible with Macs, PCs, tablets, smartphones, cameras, and game consoles
  • Available in black, blue or beige colors
  • 1TB ($143. 99) or 2TB ($260. 99) configurations

Compared to the T7 Touch, which includes a fingerprint reader for added security, the T7 Shield is a relatively simple and straightforward new product from Samsung. It’s essentially a T7 wrapped in a crush-resistant exterior with IP65 water and dust resistance. This makes the T7 Shield an ideal SSD for use outdoors or in other precarious environments that you’d want to keep away from a standard SSD.

To add some context, IP65 does not protect against total submersion, such as the iPhone 13’s IP68 rating which affords water submersion for up to a maximum depth of six meters up to 30 minutes. An IP65 rating essentially means that the T7 Shield is protected from water jets for a limited amount of time; think something like a hard rain or spray from a water hose, perhaps. This is a step up from the regular T7, which lacks any sort of IP rating.

While the standard Samsung T7 with aluminum exterior is a great daily driver, there are some situations, perhaps on-location editing in dusty or wet environments, where I’d hesitate to pull it out of my bag. The Samsung T7 Shield is designed for these very situations, and the grippy rubber exterior provides users with a level of confidence that you don’t get with a standard aluminum T7 SSD.

The good news is that Samsung was able to add these protections without adding a lot of extra bulk. To be sure, the T7 Shield is slightly larger and heavier than the regular T7, but not by all that much. It is not significant enough that it will make any difference in your workflow.

Like the T7 and T7 Touch, Samsung’s newest portable SSD enjoys fast 10Gbps connectivity thanks to USB 3. 2 Gen 2×1 support. This unit has a slightly recessed USB connector and Samsung also includes USB-C-to-USB-C cables. Just keep in mind that if you want to experience the best speed from the drive, you’ll need to connect to a 10Gbps USB-C port on your Mac. Connecting via the USB-A port on a Mac, even the new Mac Studio, will keep you stuck at 5Gbps.

Confusing USB nomenclature aside, the Samsung T7 Shield SSD supports 10Gbps, but there is debate about Apple’s support, or lack thereof, of 10Gb/s transfers on its USB 3. 1 Gen 2 interfaces (now called USB 3. 2 Gen 2×1 by the USB-IF). On my Mac Studio I found that I was able to get the best performance by connecting to the rear Thunderbolt 4 ports. Connecting to the front-facing USB 3. 1 Gen 2 ports on my Mac Studio still reported as being connected at 10Gbps in System Profiler, but performance lagged slightly behind the Thunderbolt 4-connected speeds.

Connected to front-facing port on Mac Studio (left) vs rear thunderbolt port (right)

In my hands-on test with the Samsung T7 Shield, I was fairly happy with the performance. In my first test I was able to to transfer a ~10GB file in about 10 seconds, which translates to roughly 8Gbps. In another test I was able to transfer a larger ~150 GB file in 180 seconds, which is roughly 6. 7Gbps, more than enough for 4K ProRes workflows, and all without causing the exterior of the drive to become more than just a little warm. Although these tests are not scientific in nature, they give an idea of how performance when connected via USB-C to Mac Studio computers or any other Mac computers.

At any rate, anyone looking for a tougher Samsung T7 SSD will likely be satisfied with the T7 Shield. It comes in both 1 and 2TB varieties, and is available in black, blue or beige colorways starting at $143.99. It’s an ideal SSD for 4K video editing while on the go, especially if you opt for the roomy 2TB version.

What do you think about the T7 Shield? Please comment below to share your views.

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https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/26/samsung-launches-new-rugged-t7-shield-portable-ssd-with-ip65-dust-and-water-protection/

Fortnite’s bringing Street Fighter’s Blanka and Sakura to the game

Fortnite’s bringing Street Fighter’s Blanka and Sakura to the game

Blanka and Sakura are the latest Street Fighter characters coming to Fortnite, which will, I assume, reach 7. 7 billion concurrent players on Thursday, because Blanka is showing up wearing a suit. That’s right: Blanka from Street Fighter 2 wears men’s business suits now. I suggest you get used to it!

The latest Street Fighter characters to join Fortnite will arrive on April 28, at 8 p.m. EDT, in the game’s item shop. Blanka will receive the original look of the Brazilian fighter in shorts and shackles, as well as the Blanka Delgado Alt style. Epic Games claims that Blanka was inspired by Rival School ‘ Bowman Delgado. But, we won’t let that stop us from putting Blanka into a suit. Blanka also gets a fruit salad ax (“Tropical Hazard Kebab Pickaxe”) and the Blanka-Chan Back Bling, plus a backflip emote.

Sakura, who first appeared in Street Fighter Alpha 2, gets her original school outfit, an alternative gym style inspired by a Street Fighter 4 look, and the Victory Sway emote. Sakura does a groovy win-dance. The Sakura outfit also comes with a claw machine-inspired Back Bling, a Fighting Tournament Trophy pick ax, and the Kayari Buta glider, modeled after a ceramic incense burner used to ward off mosquitos.

Epic Games will hold two versions of a Blanka & Sakura Cup in Fortnite: One is a mobile-only Zero Build Duos Cup happening on April 27, and the second is an all-platforms Battle Royale Duos Cup happening on April 28. The top-performing players in each region can earn the Bonus Stage loading screen, which features Blanka and Sakura meting out street justice on Peely, who apparently parked his car in a handicapped parking spot. This is not the best look for a banana man.

Here’s the new Blanka and Sakura loading screen, if you want to acquire it by right-clicking.

Blanka and Sakura join previously featured Street Fighter characters Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile, and Cammy in Fortnite. The addition of Capcom’s World Warriors is part of a lengthy celebration of Street Fighter’s 35th anniversary. The original Street Fighter was released in arcades in the summer of 1987.

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https://www.polygon.com/23042675/fortnite-street-fighter-blanka-sakura-cup

Four features we expect to see on iPhone 14 this year

Four features we expect to see on iPhone 14 this year

In less than six months, Apple will announce the upcoming iPhone 14 series. There are certain features on the new iPhone that have been confirmed by rumors. Read on as we roundup four of them that we expect to see on the iPhone 14.

No more mini version

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard that iPhone mini sales disappoint Apple. Now, 9to5Mac sources recently confirmed that we won’t see another of these phones with the 14 series.

According to our sources, the new iPhone 14 (codenamed D27 and D28) will be available in 6. 1-inch and 6. 7-inch versions, while the Pro models (codenamed D73 and D74) may be slightly taller to accommodate the new hole-punch + pill design.

So, if you’re looking for a smaller phone, you’ll have to go with the new iPhone SE 3 and its “iconic design.”

Different design between regular and pro models

iPhone 13

The iPhone 14 Pro will have a new hole-punch + pill design. Apple will change its iPhone X design for the first time. That said, this new design will be exclusive to the Pro models, since the regular versions will likely remain with the same notch of the iPhone 13, which is 30% smaller than the one found on the iPhone 12.

Analyst Ross Young also corroborates with this report by saying all the models will feature the same design again on 2023. The Pro models will have the latest design until then.

A15 Bionic for iPhone 14, A16 Bionic to iPhone 14 Pro

9to5Mac independent sources and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo say Apple might break from tradition this year by releasing some iPhone 14 models with the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13.

The A15 chip would power the 6. 1-inch iPhone 14 and 6. 7-inch 14 Max, although the RAM would be upgraded to 6 GB from 4 GB. The new A16 SoC would be reserved for the higher-end, and more expensive, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max models.

As of now, it’s unclear whether Apple will rebrand the A15 chip for the regular 14 phones – such as A15X – or instead use the more powerful version found on the iPhone 13 Pro.

48MP main sensor for the iPhone 14 Pro

Another important feature coming to the iPhone 14 Pro is a 48MP Wide sensor. First suggested by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman was the latest to report on this new feature.

While a 48MP could unlock new functionalities, it’s likely that Apple will keep shooting photos in 12MP, as you can read more about it here. The regular iPhone 14 models will stick with a 12MP sensor in all lenses.

Wrap up

There are many rumors surrounding this phone. For example, Apple could likely add satellite communication for the 2022 iPhone. This was first rumored for the 13 model, but ended up not making the cut. Apart from that, all of the features above will likely to be part of the iPhone 14.

Which one are you excited to see in these new smartphones? Please comment below with your views.

Related:

  • iOS 16: New features, iPhone compatibility, release date

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https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/26/four-features-we-expect-to-see-on-iphone-14-this-year/