Epic Games Gets Apple’s Theft Claim Knocked Out of Fortnite Fight

Epic Games won the dismissal of two Apple tort claims in a dispute over access to its popular video game Fortnite on the iPhone maker’s App Store.

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Sony expects PS4 to PS5 transition to take about three years

Sony is looking at forward compatibility to bring more PS5 games to the PS4. The information comes from Sony Interactive Entertainment Vice President Hideaki Nishino. In an interview with AV Watch (translated by tweaktown) Hideaki Nishino says, “In terms of compatibility, it is important to move PS4 titles on PS5, but I have insisted that forward compatibility (supplying the same titles as PS5 to PS4) is important.” He goes on to say that “the transition from PS4 to PS5 will take about three years. In the meantime, how can I keep buying games on PS4? Can the purchased games be played on PS5? That is important."

The above statement is a bit of a departure from what Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said at the beginning of 2020. He talked about generations and not being held back by the limitations of the outgoing console. However, it looks like Sony is changing that stance and is looking to keep PS4 users happy that aren't ready to move on to the PS5 just yet. 

While games like Spider-Man Miles Morales (review) and Horizon Forbidden West will launch on the PS4 as well as the PS5, other games like Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart and Demon Souls Remake will be exclusive to the PS5. So, while we will see some games launch on the PS4 to keep fans of the console happy before they decide to invest in new hardware, there will also be games exclusive to the next-gen as an incentive to move forward. How Sony will strike the right balance in this regard remains to be seen.

The PS5 is backwards compatible with the PS4 and a lot of games are getting a free upgrade to the PS5. This means that if you purchase a game on the PS4 and there is a PS5 version available, then you will be upgraded to that version of the game for free when you get your new console.  

Microsoft has been helming this approach from the start stating that there will be no Series X/S exclusive games in the first year of the Xbox Series console launch. While there are third-party exclusives like the Medium for the Xbox Series S/X, there will be no first-party exclusives for some time making the transition easy for those that want to wait before getting the new console. 

The lingering question remained whether developing for old hardware would mean the developers would be held back in some way, and that doesn’t seem to be the case to some extent. Spider-Man Miles Morales is a great example of this. While the game looks stunning on the PS4, it takes advantage of the PS5 SSD for load times, features like ray-tracing and also has a 60fps mode. So, it will be interesting to see how cross-gen games look going forward. It also brings to mind the question as to which games will be launching on the PS4 in 2021. Will we see God of War: Ragnarök come to PS4 as well? 

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YouTube simplifies video quality preferences for data and Wi-Fi

YouTube gives users a host of resolutions for consuming content all the way from the lower 240p up to 4K i.e., 2160p. However, choosing from so many options may be a daunting task for some and leaving it on Auto may pick a resolution lower to your liking. In order to address such concerns and also to simplify the resolution selection, it looks like YouTube has implemented new options. You can choose what quality the video plays back on YouTube and you can choose different options for mobile network and Wi-Fi

New video playback quality settings on YouTube

Clicking on the three dots when playing a video on your smartphone, then clicking on the quality button used to throw up a number of resolution options. Now all you get are four options: Auto, Higher Picture Quality, Data Saver and Advanced.

Auto: This setting “Adjusts to give you the best experience for your condition”. While on this setting, most videos for me stuck to the 480 resolution even though the device in question is an iPhone XR. The same on the 2020 iPad Air (review) would keep the resolution at 720p as well for me. 

The next option is the Higher Picture Quality mode which uses more data. The iPhone XR here set the resolution to 720p for me even though higher options are available and that kind of made sense since the XR display has an 828 x 1792 pixel resolution. But you can manually go into advanced and change the resolution to a higher one if you like. Know that this will consume more data. 

On the iPad Air 2020, the High Picture Quality resolution was set to 1440p which also makes sense since the device has a resolution of 1640 x 2360 pixels. 

Next up is the Data Saver Mode which as the name suggests lowers the quality. On the iPhone, it dropped the quality to 240p. 

The last option is Advanced which brings up all the resolutions the video is available in and you can manually choose what resolution to play the content in. This is the exact same as what we had before the new update. 

Another thing to note is that when you change any of the video quality settings while watching a video, it affects the settings of that video only. To make a universal change, you need to open the YouTube app. Click on the icon in the top right corner that represents your account, then click on Settings, and make the universal change in the Video Quality Preferences tab. Note that this tab has a (BETA) written signifying that it isn't available to all. So, if you don't see it here on your device, then the feature hasn’t rolled out to you. 

While it's nice to see YouTube simplify the video quality settings, those that know exactly the resolution they want need to click a few more times on screen to get to the detailed resolution menu and this can get a little annoying. However, since this feature is in beta, we think it may see some changes before the final rollout.

 

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Apple announces octa-core M1 SoC, will power new Macbook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini

Apple today finally unveiled the System on Chip that will be powering its next generation of laptops and desktop computers, dubbed M1. Apple had revealed its plans for the move earlier this year. Alongside the M1, Apple also announced three new pieces of hardware; the new MacBook Air, the new Mac Mini and a brand new MacBook Pro 13-inch, all powered by the new M1 SoC. This marks the beginning of a two-year transition period for Apple from Intel-based Macs to those powered by their own Silicon. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dive right in.

Apple M1: Everything you need to know about Apple Silicon

The Apple M1 is a System on Chip built using ARM’s instruction set, as against the current x86 architecture that has been dominant in the PC space for decades. Using ARM’s instruction set, we see some similarity in the way Apple has gone about the M1 in comparison to its A-series processors. The first and foremost notable thing is Apple turning to the big.LITTLE design, with 4 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores on the M1. Current x86-based processors do not employ such a design, causing them to be less battery efficient. In addition, the M1 also features a GPU baked in with up to 8-Cores. The M1 chip also packs a 16-core Neural Engine. Perhaps the most incredible feat wit the M1 chip is the fact that it integrates the CPU-GPU Cores, the DDR4 memory, I/O chip, the Thunderbolt Controller and the Apple T2 Secure Enclave all into one chip. In addition, the new M1 chip also brings a host of industry-leading technologies to the platform, enabling workloads that weren’t previously possible on devices in the class. Besides high-performance, Apple is also promising some incredibly battery life thanks to the M1 chip.

Apple MacBook Air: Everything you need to know

The MacBook Air has been the most popular thin and light laptop for many years, for its exceptionally light form-factor through which Apple was able to deliver reliable performance and exceptional battery life. The 13-inch laptop from Apple powered by the M1 chip gets claimed CPU performance bump of up to 3x in comparison to the previous model while the GPU performance is bumped up to 5x, thanks to the GPU which can be configured with up to 8-Cores. The storage on the new MacBook Air is now twice as fast as the one featured on the Intel-based model, allowing for larger files to open faster. Another notable achievement made possible by the M1 chip is the shift to a fan-less design.

Mac Mini: Everything you need to know

The Mac Mini has been a very versatile machine from Apple’s stables. Besides being a mini-PC that can fit into even the smallest crevices of a work-desk, the last update to the Mac Mini also made it a favourite as rendering machines. Apple is infusing the M1 chip on to the Mac Mini as well, giving it the power of 8 CPU cores and up to 8 GPU Cores. Given the configuration, Apple claims that the new Mac Mini can deliver up to 4x the frame rate in titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is a pretty bold claim. When we tested the game on the 16-inch MacBook Pro at 1080p, we noted frame rates of just about 45fps. Apple also claims that users can render complex timelines in FinalCut Pro up to 6 times faster on the new Mac Mini powered by the M1 chip than an Intel-comparable configuration.

MacBook Pro 13-inch: Everything you need to know

Finally, we have the 13-inch MacBook Pro which gets the new M1 chip. The MacBook Pro has been a staple favourite amongst content creators for the longest time, however, with the he 13-inch Intel-based model lacking a powerful GPU, its use cases were limited. Now with the M1 chip, users will finally be able to get a lot more out of the MacBook Pro, if Apple’s claims about the 8-core GPU are to be believed, the MacBook Pro 13-inch could end up being a viable alternative to the larger 16-inch Intel-based model for creative professionals.

Getting the Software to Work

Apple has had the foresight to prepare the app-ecosystem for the transition to Apple Silicon. Apple has announced Universal Apps, programs that are built on a code-base which allows the same application to run on both Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs rather seamlessly. For applications that are currently limited to Intel-based machines, Apple has Rosetta 2, an application compatibility layer that will allow you to run all your programs on the Mac. Additionally, Apple has said that all iOS and iPadOS will run natively on the M1-powered machines as well. What remains to be seen is how the plugins for various editing applications will be handled. Will an x86 version of the plugin work seamlessly with an Intel-based Mac App? Also, will Apple allow access to the iOS and iPadOS App Store from directly within Big Sur?

MacBook Air, Mac Mini and MacBook Pro 13-inch Price and Availability

The MacBook Air will retail at a starting price of Rs 92,900, while the MacBook Pro 13-inch will start at Rs 1,22,900. The Mac Mini can be picked up for a starting price tag of Rs 64,900. Apple is also offering student pricing on these machines which is notably lower than the MRP, and also offering bundle apps like FCP, Compressor, Logic etc. Additionally, it should be noted that the prices mentioned are for base configurations, which feature the M1 chip, 8GB DDR4 memory and 256GB of storage. All machines. Can be configured with up to 16GB DDR4 memory and a whopping 2TB of storage. As for shipping dates, the Apple India Store currently pegs the shipping date for the three machines to be between November 25 and December 1.

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Realme X7 series teased to launch in India soon

Realme X7 and Realme X7 Pro have officially been teased to launch in India soon. The Realme X7 debuted in China back in September with Mediatek Dimensity processors, 64MP quad-camera setup and 65W fast charging out-of-the-box. The phones were earlier tipped to launch in India and now the company CEO Madhav Sheth has officially confirmed that the company is planning to bring the phones to India.

In a post on Twitter, Realme CEO Madhav Sheth said that he was “personally involved in defining many interesting products including some of the latest 5G smartphones like X7 series and new AIOT items that are very much expected by Realme fans”. 

realme is not just a smartphone brand but an integral part of your Tech-lifestyle now. In 2021, our aim is to make #realme the Most Popular Tech-Lifestyle brand that equips everyone to stay smart & connected. Wish you guys a #HappyDiwali. Read my complete letter to know more. pic.twitter.com/5gdhm8ji9l

— Madhav Faster7 (@MadhavSheth1) November 9, 2020

As per previous rumours, tipster Mukul Sharma has revealed that the Realme X7 series could launch in December in India. However, there’s no official word on the exact launch date of the Realme X7 series yet. As the Realme X7 series has already made its debut, we already know the specifications of the phones and both the Realme X7 and X7 Pro share a lot in common. 

Jist got an intel from my source about the Realme X7 series. In all likelihood, the launch is in December, just like last year's December launch.#realme #realmex7 #realmex7pro

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) October 30, 2020 Realme X7 Pro specifications

Realme X7 Pro features a 6.55-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution AMOLED screen with a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The display supports 120Hz high refresh rate, is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 and is also home to a fingerprint reader under the screen. It measures 8.5 millimetres in thickness and weighs 184 grams.

The X7 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ processor with an octa-core CPU and Mali-G77 GPU. This is paired with upto 8GB RAM and 256GB storage options to choose from. The phone runs on Realme UI which is based on Android 10.

Realme X7 Pro comes with a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 119-degree field-of-view, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout. The rear cameras can record in upto 4K UHD at 60FPS with support for EIS.

The X7 Pro is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging out-of-the-box. Realme claims that the phone can go from 0-100% in 35 minutes.

Realme X7 specifications

Realme X7 features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The screen is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass for additional protection and there is a fingerprint reader underneath. It measures 8.1 millimetres in thickness and weighs 175 grams.

The X7 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor with an octa-core CPU and Mali0G57 GPU. It runs on Android 10-based Realme UI out-of-the-box. This is paired with upto 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage options to choose from. 

The Realme X7 comes with a quad-camera setup on the back that is the same as on the X7 Pro, including the front-facing camera.

The Realme X7 has a 4,300mAh battery that also supports 65W fast charging. Realme claims that the phone can be fully charged in 33 minutes.

 

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World Cricket Championship 3 Comes Out of Beta, Brings New Features Like World Tour

World Cricket Championship 3 aka WCC 3 is out of beta and is now live on both, Google Play Store and App Sore, as a free download. The mobile cricket game offers realistic visuals of a cricket match in a stadium, along with commentator voices from Aakash Chopra and Matthew Hayden to add bit more of realism to the game.

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Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B up for pre-orders on Flipkart

Micromax In Note 1 and Micromax In 1B are available for pre-orders in India. Micromax launched the In Note 1 and In 1B earlier this month, making its comeback in the lower mid-range smartphone segment. The In Note 1 will go on sale starting November 24 while the In 1B will be available to purchase from November 26 from Flipkart.

Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B are powered by MediaTek processors with multiple cameras on the back, high-capacity battery with fast charging support and stock Android 10 to boot. The In Note 1 is touted as a competitor to the Redmi Note 9 and Realme Narzo 20 while the In 1B goes up against the likes of the Poco X3, Redmi 9 series, Realme C15 and more.

Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B pre-order details

Micromax In Note 1 and Micromax In 1B is up for pre-orders on Flipkart and interested buyers can pre-book the phone during the Flipkart Big Diwali Sale 2020. 

The New Indian is all up for grabs. IN 1b Pre-Booking will start from 10th Nov, 12 Noon in the #BigDiwaliSale on @Flipkart. Go #INForIndia at just INR 6999 (2+32GB) and INR 7999 (4+64GB). Click here to know more: https://t.co/ZYoQnm7z21. #INMobiles #MicromaxIsBack pic.twitter.com/28NUQqBxrl

— Micromax India (@Micromax__India) November 9, 2020

As part of the launch offer,  Flipkart is offering instant cashback for Axis Bank and American Express cardholders. The Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B are also available with a No Cost EMI option.

Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B price

Micromax In Note 1 is priced starting at Rs 10,499 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and Rs 12,499 for the 4GB+128GB variant. 

The Micromax In 1B starts at Rs 6,999 for the base variant with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, while the 4GB+64GB model is being offered at Rs 7,999.

Micromax In Note 1 specifications

The Micromax In Note 1 has a plastic build that measures 8.99 millimetres in thickness and weighs 196 grams. It features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display with a punch-hole cutout in the middle for the selfie camera. 

The In Note 1 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 processor with an octa-core CPU and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. This is paired with 4GB RAM and upto 128GB storage to choose from. The phone also supports microSD cards of upto 256GB storage for expansion. The In Note 1 runs on stock Android 10 out-of-the-box.

The Micromax In Note 1 has a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 48MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 115-degree field of view, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout.

The In Note 1 has a fingerprint reader on the back and is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging and reverse charging.

Micromax In 1B specifications

Micromax In 1B features a 6.52-inch HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels) resolution display with a waterdrop notch cutout on the front. The In 1B measures 8.9 millimetres in thickness and weighs 188 grams.

The In 1B is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 processor with an octa-core CPU and is paired with upto 4GB RAM and 64GB storage options to choose from. The phone supports storage expansion by using microSD cards of upto 128GB. Like the In Note 1, the In 1B also runs on stock Android.

The Micromax In 1B has a dual-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 13MP camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera housed within the notch cutout.

There is a fingerprint reader on the back and the phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery.

Still confused about the differences between the Micromax In Note 1 and In 1B, here's a detailed specifications based comparison. Additionally, you can also read how the Micromax In Note 1 compares with the rest of its Chinese counterparts here.

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