Month: April 2022

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Origin coffee machine concept pays tribute to Ethiopia

Origin coffee machine concept pays tribute to Ethiopia

Whenever I take my first sip of coffee in the morning, I am always thankful to whoever it was that first developed coffee and the farmers who harvested this particular blend I’m drinking. While some of the world’s best coffee is generally known to come from Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam (my country, the Philippines, will hopefully someday be included in that list), one of the unsung heroes of the industry is Ethiopia where coffee beans have been thriving since the 7th century. This concept design for a coffee maker pays tribute to the East African country.

Designer: Cheese C


The Origin coffee maker concept wants to bring “meaningful coffee” to your cup by reminding you of its origins. The shape of the coffee maker is inspired by the map of Ethiopia, although of course it’s not in the exact shape but is modeled after the basic outline. This way, the designer is able to “honor” the origin of coffee, although historians can’t really say that the locals who grew the beans cultivated or consumed these precious beans there.


But in any case, the Origin name is pretty apt. The shape is part cylindrical and part rectangular but with a slight protruding top, particularly where the “pressured” coffee comes out. At first glance, it reminds me of a traditional moka pot but without the spout and the handle. It is made from metal and the color is achromatic, giving it an industrial feel that can match other kitchen appliances if that’s your theme. The finishing is not smooth though as it intentionally makes it look like it has corrosions and scratches.

The product design makes it seem easy to use as there are just a few buttons you need to press including the on/off and open/close buttons. You have the option to make an espresso or an americano and there’s also a button or level for the water and the beans. Being a coffee addict, this is something I may actually consider especially as it was designed meaningfully. But of course, a coffee maker or machine is only as good as its beans and the water you use.

https://www.yankodesign.com/images/design_news/2022/04/origin-coffee-machine-concept-pays-tribute-to-ethiopia/1.jpg
https://www.yankodesign.com/2022/04/20/origin-coffee-machine-concept-pays-tribute-to-ethiopia/?rand=374

D&D ruleset could be applied to more brands and IP, just like Magic

D&D ruleset could be applied to more brands and IP, just like Magic

Hasbro is considering using the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset as the foundation for games that explore more brands and intellectual property, the company said Tuesday. CEO Chris Cocks said in a call with investors that Hasbro’s newly acquired digital toolset, D&D Beyond, could become the main hub for that kind of expansion.

When asked about the due diligence that Cocks and his team performed prior to the acquisition of D&D Beyond from Fandom, he transitioned quickly into discussing growth opportunities created by that purchase. One of them was the expansion of Universes Beyond.

“We have a number of international growth opportunities,” Cocks stated. Cocks said that there is a lot more exclusive content available. You know, we’ve talked a lot about Universes Beyond in Magic, which is this concept of thinking about Magic as a play system and bringing in outside brands or outside IP into that play system. We see potential for that with D&D as well, and we think D&D Beyond can be a primary hub for that.”

Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond was announced in 2021. It’s a series of partnerships with outside companies that puts their characters and their worlds onto Magic cards. The first batch of partners includes Games Workshop, which is working with Wizards to create a Warhammer 40,000-themed collection of Commander decks. Following that launch, a partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises (formerly Tolkien Enterprises), will put characters from The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy into play. A previously released collection of The Walking Dead-themed cards is also grandfathered into the program.

What would Universes Beyond look like when applied to Dungeons & Dragons? Well, it would probably look a lot like the other licensing partnerships that Wizards has already published for the 5th edition ruleset. They include a Stranger Things-themed starter set, a Rick & Morty-themed starter set, and the co-branded books featuring the cast and characters from Critical Role. The only difference here is that Hasbro sees D&D Beyond — a 100% digital platform — as the central hub for those kinds of products.

Cocks also invoked the Hasbro Pulse initiative, which has been a driving force in creating limited edition, high-end Star Wars and Transformers toys starting with Jabba’s Sail Barge from a few years back. It also played a roll in rebooting the HeroQuest franchise and the third edition of Betrayal at House on the Hill. You can easily see a Beadle & Grimm’s collector’s edition of a Universes Beyond D&D Campaign being offered for sale in this area. D&D Beyond would be the test bed to find the largest fanbase, while Hasbro Pulse would help to market and execute on the high-end offering.

“We see a lot of e-commerce and direct opportunities working in partnership with our Hasbro Pulse team to have physical-digital tie-ins that are unique to the [D&D Beyond] platform,” Cocks said. “It’s a fantastic learning opportunity for us and, to your point, very similar to what we’ve seen with [Magic: The Gathering] Arena, where we build this relationship with our customers. It’s a great incremental business opportunity and a fantastic learning platform for us to understand how people are playing our games, what do they want to purchase, and how can we make our products better. This has been an integral part of the segmentation process for Magic over the past couple years .”

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Jp2Azvj3gx5-dxZuCXT7I06Iwek=/0x0:2040×1068/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19289181/jbareham_191014_0961_stranger_things_0001.jpg
https://www.polygon.com/23033582/dnd-licensed-expansion-universes-beyond-magic-the-gathering

Players can now update DualSense PS5 controllers directly on PC

Players can now update DualSense PS5 controllers directly on PC

If you’re a PlayStation 5 owner, you likely know the hassle of having to connect to your console in order to update the firmware for your DualSense controller. It’s especially cumbersome if you happen to be a PC gamer who prefers the feel of the DualSense to that of keyboard and mouse.

Starting today, that’s no longer an issue, as Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Wednesday that PC players will now be able to update the firmware of their DualSense wireless controllers using Windows 11 and “select Windows 10 devices,” without needing to connect to a PS5.

In a page dedicated to the announcement, Sony details the steps that players will have to take in order to update their controllers through their Windows PC, including downloading Sony’s firmware updater app and connecting their wireless controller using a USB cable.

Players will be periodically notified of new firmware updates and prompted to update their controllers to the latest version via the firmware app.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WAPomIuZNGhCQOaBOso5aTRpoHo=/0x215:3000×1786/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22014582/hhargreaves_201103_ecl1040_ps5_detail_26368.jpg
https://www.polygon.com/23033597/ps5-dualsense-controller-windows-pc-update

Sonic Origins brings 4 Sonic the Hedgehog games to console & PC in June

Sonic Origins brings 4 Sonic the Hedgehog games to console & PC in June

Sega’s Sonic Origins collection will bring Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD to current gaming platforms on June 23, the publisher announced Wednesday. (That’s Sonic the Hedgehog’s canonical birthday, if you want to get him a gift card. )

Sonic Origins will be released digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, and will cost $39.99. A “Digital Deluxe” version with extra perks, including more challenging missions, special character animations, and music tracks from other Genesis titles, will cost $44.99.

Inside the four Sega Genesis-era Sega Genesis games, Sonic Origins will have a variety of special features like an Anniversary Mode that displays widescreen images and allows players to earn medallions for completing challenging missions. Sega released a screenshot Wednesday :

showing some of the mission types that were used in the original Sonic the Hedgehog .

The Mission menu screen showing a number of challenges for the original Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Origins

Image: Sega

Medallions can be spent on content from an in-game vault, to try out special stages, and other items. A digital pre-order bonus offer includes 100 medallions, as well as Mirror Mode and a Mega Drive-style letter box.

Sega announced Sonic Origins last May, during Sega’s Sonic Central livestream. The new collection is notable for its inclusion of or NeSonic 3 & Knuckles, a Genesis game that has recently been excluded as part of classic Sonic the Hedgehog rereleases. Sonic 3 was not included as part of the Sega Genesis Mini library (though Sonic Spinball was), nor was it given the Sega Ages treatment for Nintendo Switch, the way Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 were.

Sonic fans have speculated, without confirmation from Sega, that Sonic 3 & Knuckles‘ rerelease is complicated by thorny music rights. Sega did not approve of Sega’s use of some of Jackson’s songs in the Genesis game’s music. Some rereleases of Sonic 3 (like the 1997 Windows PC port) have featured different music tracks, said to have been swapped in from an earlier version of the game.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v4czBt4KBQ2SMWRp6lpKXQHPR7Q=/0x43:1920×1048/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23402985/SonicOrigins_Standard_1920x1080.jpg
https://www.polygon.com/23033468/sonic-origins-release-date-price-sega-genesis-games

Motorola Edge 30 leaks in more official images, specs follow

Motorola Edge 30 leaks in more official images, specs follow

Motorola is readying a new Edge 30 phone and we’ve got a hand of some new detailed images of the device in all its colors as well as some live shots confirming the visual appearance.


Motorola Edge 30 live images
Motorola Edge 30 live images

Motorola Edge 30 live images

The vanilla counterpart to the Moto Edge 30 Pro will arrive in silver, blue and dark blue hues which all refract light in different shades. It has a punch hole display at the center and triple cameras on its back. We also get a look at the sides and bottom of the phone for good measure.


Motorola Edge 30 design
Motorola Edge 30 design
Motorola Edge 30 design

Motorola Edge 30 design

In terms of specs, Edge 30 is expected to bring a 6. 5-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and 144Hz refresh rate just like its Pro counterpart. The Snapdragon 778G+ will sit at the helm aided by 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. The back will house a 50MP main cam with OIS alongside a 50MP ultrawide sensor and a 2MP auxiliary lens. Expect a 32MP selfie cam housed in the punch hole upfront as well as an under-display fingerprint scanner.


Edge 30 in all its colors
Edge 30 in all its colors

Edge 30 in all its colors

Moto Edge 30 will boot Android 12 with Motorola’s MyUX on top while its 4,000 mAh battery will charge at up to 33W speeds with the bundled charger. The phone is rumored to cost about EUR550 in Europe for the 128GB storage trim.

Source 1 * Source 2 (tweet)

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/motorola-edge-30-ofic-images-live/-952x498w6/gsmarena_00.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_edge_30_leaks_in_more_official_images_specs_follow-news-54023.php?rand=119

Dark Souls tabletop RPG rulebooks will be corrected and reissued

Dark Souls tabletop RPG rulebooks will be corrected and reissued

Steamforged Games will correct and reissue manuals for Dark Souls: The Roleplaying Game, whose rulebooks have been in circulation for a month and are reportedly shot through with errors.

“[T]he best course of action is to order reprints of the book,” Steamforged said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “issuing replacement copies to those customers who have already bought or pre-ordered the Standard Edition and/or Collector’s Edition.” Steamforged added “a sincere apology” for the errors and thanked players for bringing the problems to light.

That began last week, when collector’s edition buyers in Europe and the United States got their advanced copies, and found mistakes ranging from spelling errors all the way up to game-breaking inconsistencies in the rules. The books’ full launch in the U.S. comes May 16.

Dark Souls: The Roleplaying Game, is a tabletop role-playing game adapted from both FromSoftware’s A-list video game franchise and an open-source version of Dungeons & Dragons’ 5th Edition rules. Steamforged announced pre-orders for the game back in January, riding the coattails of the commercially successful but critically middling tabletop game it Kickstarted in 2016.

Last Week, some players who purchased early complained about serious contradictions in the information they had been reading in their rulebooks. One example is that a Knight would not have the strength to wear their starting-level armor . In another, Casters couldn’t wield a recommended weapon. Steamforged, in a statement to Polygon, said it took the complaints “seriously” but didn’t, at the time, consider them game-breaking mistakes.

” Although these issues shouldn’t impact the gameplay of the game they’re still striving to improve our processes to ensure that our loyal fans continue enjoying the games we produce,” Steamforged stated last week.

Tuesday’s statement applies not only to hard copies of Dark Souls: The Roleplaying Game‘s standard and collector’s edition, it also means PDFs for the game will be rewritten and reissued. Steamforged stated that they are “coming soon” with information about how to get updated copies and the release date.

” We ask for patience while we collect more information about these reprints and the timescales involved. Also, how to best ensure that we solve this problem for every customer.” Steamforged stated.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hl3mCy3pyK_WSRLhayXxAnusK3c=/0x146:2040×1214/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23212847/dark_souls_book.jpg
https://www.polygon.com/23032681/dark-souls-roleplaying-game-tabletop-rulebooks-errors-corrected-steamforged

Redmi 10 Power unveiled with a leatherette back, more RAM

Redmi 10 Power unveiled with a leatherette back, more RAM

Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi 10 Power in India today – a fancier version of the Redmi 10 that is already in the country (it was announced on March 17, sales started on March 24). Note: keep in mind that the global Redmi 10 is quite different from the phone in India bearing hte same name.

The Redmi 10 Power comes in two colors, Sporty Orange and Power Black, both with a leather texture on the back. This replaces the stripped pattern of the regular Redmi 10.

Redmi 10 Power unveiled in India: a Redmi 10 with a leatherette back, more RAM

Another upgrade brings the RAM capacity up to 8 GB, while the vanilla model only offers 4 and 6 GB options. Storage is set at 128 GB with a dedicated microSD slot you can use to add more.

Other than that, the Redmi 10 Power features the same Snapdragon 680 chipset and still runs Android 11-based MIUI 13. It keeps the 6. 7″ IPS LCD (HD+) with Gorilla Glass 3 and the 50 MP camera on the back (with 2 MP depth sensor), along with the 5 MP selfie camera. It runs on the same 6,000 mAh battery with 18W charging support (you you only get a 10W adapter in the box, though).


Redmi 10 Power with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, 50 MP camera and a 6.7
Redmi 10 Power with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, 50 MP camera and a 6.7
Redmi 10 Power with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, 50 MP camera and a 6.7

Redmi 10 Power with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, 50 MP camera and a 6. 7″ IPS LCD (HD+)

What is not the same is the price – the Power is priced at Rs15,000 ($195/EUR180), while the Redmi 10 (6/128 GB) is Rs13,000. Note the extra 2 gigs of RAM on the Power model. However, if you can fit within 4/64 GB, the base Redmi 10 for India costs Rs11,000.

Redmi 10 Power unveiled in India: a Redmi 10 with a leatherette back, more RAM

The Redmi 10 Power will be available for sale in India soon, but Xiaomi is yet to announce the date. You can set up a notification on the Xiaomi store if you don’t want to miss the first sale.

Redmi 10 Power unveiled in India: a Redmi 10 with a leatherette back, more RAM

Note that this incarnation of the hardware isn’t available globally (with or without the leather back), but from what we hear it may be rebranded as the Poco C40.

Source

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/redmi-10-power-india/-952x498w6/gsmarena_0000.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_10_power_unveiled_in_india_a_redmi_10_with_a_leatherette_back_more_ram-news-54027.php?rand=119

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Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit on certified renewed Galaxy S21 phones

Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit on certified renewed Galaxy S21 phones

Earth Day is this Friday and you can celebrate by avoiding 121 lbs (55 kg) of CO2 emissions – that is how much is saved by reusing a phone instead of buying a new one. And that doesn’t have to be an old, banged-up phone either.

Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit if you pre-order a renewed Galaxy S21 from its official store. The Galaxy S21 starts at $675, the S21+ at $850 and the S21 Ultra at $1,000. The $100 credit can be applied to accessories for the phone and other Samsung products at checkout.

You can trade in an old device for up to $675 more in credit (you can send in a phone with a cracked screen as well). With trade-in, the S21 can drop town to $225, the S21+ to $325 and the S21 Ultra also to $325 (as the maximum trade-in credit is higher). Pre-orders start today and if you pick one up today, it should reach you by April 29.

Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit if you get a certified renewed Galaxy S21 series phone

If you’re wondering what happens to phones that get sent in, they are either renewed (like these S21 units) or, if the phone is too far gone, they are recycled (Samsung is an e-Stewards Enterprise Partner, more on that here).

Anyway, these Galaxy S21 phones have been restored by Samsung itself to like-new condition. The phone comes with a new battery, and any necessary replacement parts. A new IMEI is assigned to the phone, leaving no connection to the previous owner. The renewed phones have a 1 year warranty.

Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit if you get a certified renewed Galaxy S21 series phone

If you’re not sure you can live with a refurbished phone, you can use the Try Now, Pay later program. You pay nothing up front, spend up to 21 days with the phone and return it if you don’t like it (Samsung will cover the shipping costs).

And if you don’t have the money up front, 0% APR financing is available for between 12 and 48 months. For example, a renewed Galaxy S21 can be yours for $18. 76 a month with a 36 month plan.

One final note, Galaxy S20 and even Galaxy S10 models are also available from the Certified Renewed program, but those don’t get the $100 instant credit.

Samsung US is offering $100 instant credit if you get a certified renewed Galaxy S21 series phone

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/samsung-us-galaxy-s21-certified-renewed-deal/-952x498w6/gsmarena_000.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_us_is_offering_100_instant_credit_if_you_get_a_certified_renewed_galaxy_s21_series_phone-news-54022.php?rand=119

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 to bring 108MP main camera

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 to bring 108MP main camera

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4 is expected to bring some major camera improvements and reliable tipster Dohyun Kim believes the foldable’s main camera will get upgraded to a 108MP sensor. Naturally, some began to wonder if the camera module will be the same one used in the Galaxy S22 Ultra (1/2.55″ ISOCELL HM3 sensor).

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 rumored to bring 108MP main cam

This is where another tipster @chunvn8888 chimed in saying the setup on the Z Fold4 will be nearly identical to the S22U apart from the 10MP periscope sensor. This means we should expect the same 12MP ultrawide and 12MP 3x telephoto modules from the flagship Galaxy S phone on the upcoming foldable. Recent rumors also predict a selfie cam upgrade to 10MP from the Z Fold3’s 4MP shooter.

Galaxy Z Fold4 is expected to pack the yet to be announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ chipset, a thinner and lighter body compared to its predecessor and no holster for the S Pen.

Source (tweet)

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/samsung-galaxy-z-fold4-108-main-cam/-952x498w6/gsmarena_000.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_fold4_rumored_to_bring_108mp_main_cam-news-54019.php?rand=119

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

BLU unveiled its first 5G smartphone today and, as is typical for the company, it offers a lot of value for money. The BLU F91 has an MSRP of $300, but the first flash sale will drop that price down to $200. The phone packs a large screen, large battery and, of course, 5G connectivity.


BLU F91 5G in Oceanic Blue
BLU F91 5G in Oceanic Blue
BLU F91 5G in Oceanic Blue
BLU F91 5G in Oceanic Blue

BLU F91 5G in Oceanic Blue

That is courtesy of a Dimensity 810 chipset, a 6 nm chipset with 2x Cortex-A76 @ 2. 4 GHz + 6x A55 @ 2.0 GHz, a Mali-G57 MC2 and a 5G (sub-6) modem. It is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage, plus a microSD slot (which officially supports up to 256 GB cards).

You get Android 11 out of the box. Note that there is no mention of how many OS updates there will be for the phone.

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

Anyway, the F91 is equipped with a large 6. 8″ LCD with 1,080 x 2,460 px resolution (20:9). A punch hole holds the 16 MP selfie camera, which can do face unlock, there is also a fingerprint reader mounted on the side.

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

The main camera on the rear is based on the 48 MP Samsung GM1, a 1/2″ sensor with 0. 8 um pixels (1. 6 um with binning). Night mode supports multi-frame noise reduction. Also on the back is a 115deg ultra wide-angle camera with a 5 MP sensor, plus a 2 MP macro cam and a 2 MP depth sensor.

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

The F91 is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery, which will last 3 days of regular use, according to he company. It supports 18W fast charging as well as 10W wireless charging. A charger is included in the box, but we’ll get to that.

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

The phone supports the following 5G bands: n2, n5, n25, n41, n66, n71 and n77. The phone will be compatible with T-Mobile, Metro PCS and other carriers, however, it is not compatible with AT&T, Verizon or Sprint. It does support NFC for mobile payments and other such services.

Finally, the retail package – it’s like something out of 2010 and we mean that in a good way. The package includes a USB-C cable and charger as well as a headset, protective glass, and a case. These are the only accessories that you can use to charge your phone wirelessly.

BLU unveils its first 5G phone: the F91 is powered by a Dimensity 810

The BLU F91 5G is available on Amazon in the US. As we mentioned earlier, the current price is $200, but that is set to go up to $300 after the initial sale. Amazon allows you to trade in an old device and get an Amazon Gift Card, so you can knock the price even lower.

Source

https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/22/04/blu-f91-5g-official/-952x498w6/gsmarena_000.jpg
https://www.gsmarena.com/blu_unveils_its_first_5g_phone_the_f91_is_powered_by_a_dimensity_810-news-54021.php?rand=119