Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is expected to launch sometime early next year but the phone was just spotted on the company’s South Korean website. There have been several leaks in the past giving us a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming Samsung Galaxy flagship lineup.
According to a report by Gizmochina, a Samsung phone bearing the model number SM-S908U has been spotted on a support page on Samsung’s South Korean website. The support page in question reveals very little about the phone but a Twitter user has revealed that the production of the Galaxy S22 series is in full swing.
According to my Info, Samsung is producing and shipping thousands of parts per day for the S22 Series. So the production is in “full swing”. Mostly Pet-Sheets and Flex-Cables, 10-20k per Week. Tab S8 Production also started, but only a few hundred parts were made last week. https://t.co/b6XPwPIrYT
— Snoopy (@_snoopytech_) December 11, 2021
A purported Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was recently spotted on Geekbench with the model number SM-S908N which is likely associated with the South Korean market while the model number S908U could be the SKU for the global market.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra leaked specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is rumoured to feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is likely topped with Gorilla Glass. The phone is expected to draw inspiration from the design and profile of the Galaxy Note series. Moreover, it's also expected to support the S Pen like last year but there are rumours that the S22 Ultra also has a dedicated stylus holder like the Galaxy Note phones.
The cameras on the S22 Ultra are said to be generational upgrades featuring the same resolutions as last year. We are expecting a 108MP main camera based on the HM3 sensor along with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP periscope telephoto camera and a 10MP telephoto lens. On the front, there is likely a 40MP selfie camera.
We will know more about the Samsung Galaxy S22 series as we near the launch date which is expected to be held in February.
Also Read: Qualcomm and Microsoft’s exclusivity deal set to expire soon: Here’s what it means for Windows on ARM
Garena Free Fire has announced that it will be introducing a new type of backpack to the game. The new interactive backpack will add a dash of pizzaz to the standard backpack by adding new animations to it. The first of the lot is the Beaston Backpack. This backpack features the Beaston pet and the teaser video shows players what they can expect.
Garena has not mentioned how players will be able to get their hands on the interactive backpack. One can assume it will require players to spend Diamonds, which is the game’s in-game currency. The Beaston Backpack will either be available to purchase outright, or players will have to go through a draw.
To recall, Beaston was a new pet that was added to the game earlier this year. As with almost all pets, Beaston allows for certain abilities. He comes with the Helping Hand skill which increases the throwing distance of Grenades, Gloo Walls, Flashbangs, and Smoke Grenades. The percentage increase that players can expect will change depending on the level that Beaston is at.
Beaston also has three available actions that can be performed. The first is a ‘Celebration’ that occurs when the player kills an enemy or takes a medkit. The second is a ‘Play’ action that can be manually triggered via the command wheel, while the third is called ‘Show’ which is also triggered via the command wheel. These are unlocked when Beaston reaches level two, three and four, respectively.
WhatsApp is essentially the messaging app of choice for a large portion of the world. Countries like India run on the messaging service and thus there is an onus to keep the app safe in terms of privacy. And, WhatsApp has done just that. The company has just announced that it will be blocking apps that allow users to monitor ‘Last Seen’ and ‘Online’ statuses. These apps were used by people to harass others and even monitor time logs. As more and more sensitive material is passed through its servers, WhatsApp has to take extra precautions to keep things safe for its users.
WhatsApp has banned third-party stalker-ish apps on its platform
In fact, as we reported earlier, Whatsapp was already working on numerous updates that increase one’s privacy. The company had begun working on what could be one of the most important updates for working professionals - hiding the Last Seen information from specific people. WhatsApp had begun testing this feature in its Beta version, and it seems to be rolling out for all users now. The feature was first spotted on WhatsApp beta version 2.21.23.14 and will work in a similar fashion to new features that let you hide your profile pictures from specific contacts, and hide your status updates from specific contacts.
The option to hide the Last Seen timestamp will be offered with the following parameters - everyone, user’s contacts, user’s contacts except a list of specific people and nobody. Do note that if you disallow someone from viewing your Last Seen, you won’t be able to view theirs either. Now, the company has gone a step feather and even blocked apps that allow users to access these features. It’s a smart and positive step by the company and will only serve to make WhatsApp a safer platform to communicate on.
Also Read: WhatsApp’s disappearing messages receive new updates and renewed timelines
Activision has started teasing its upcoming Season 11 update and as always, there will be a brand new map that will be added to the game. While the developers haven’t explicitly mentioned the name of the map, eagle-eyed gamers have already identified the map as Icebreaker.
Call of Duty: Mobile - Season 11 Icebreaker map
The Icebreaker map was first added to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. As the name of the map would suggest, the map features an icy setting with an abandoned nuclear submarine as its primary feature. Aside from the large open spaces around the submarine, players can also encounter tight spaces on the inside.
Aside from the new map, leaks suggest that the holiday version of the Raid map will be making a comeback. To recall, this version of the map adds some festive cheer to the map by adding things like snow, Christmas trees, and presents.
It is not yet confirmed if Nuketown Russia will also make a comeback in the Season 11 update to Call of Duty: Mobile. This version of the popular Nuketown map was given a Soviet-style makeover with train cars, and tanks.
The current season of Call of Duty: Mobile is almost over and players are advised to ensure that they reach at least Tier 21 of the current free Battle Pass. That should ensure that players get two of the new additions to the game. This includes the Orbital Laser Scorestreak and the SVD Sniper Rifle. This season also saw a new multiplayer map in the form of Vacant. This map was first introduced in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot and is set around an abandoned office building. Players can expect close-quarters combat, but there will be areas that will suit long-range weapons. There is also a new MVP Replay system that players can check out at the end of the match. This will showcase the player’s best eliminations at the end of the match.
Also read: All You Need To Know About Call Of Duty: Mobile - Season 10 Shadows Return Battle Pass
Online gaming has really taken off ever since the proliferation of fast internet and stable connections. The thrill of playing games with all your friends was a big selling point and now the industry is a major player when it comes to big bucks. But, there are downsides to this as well, one of the major ones being gaming addiction. In light of this, the Indian government has just released an advisory to parents and teachers on children’s safe online gaming. And judging by what the government has assessed it seems fair that parents and teachers are made aware of a very modern problem that they might not have considered. The release states that, “Playing online games leads to a serious gaming addiction which has been considered as a gaming disorder. The game is designed in a way that each level is more complicated and complex than the previous one. This causes a player to push themselves to the limit in order to progress in the game. Therefore, playing online games with no restriction and self-limits leads many players to become addicted and are eventually diagnosed with gaming disorder”
Another bone of contention that most regulatory bodies have with game companies is the predatory practice of pay to win or in-app purchases. These cosmetic or more useful items usually come at a cost and children can rack up a large bill if not controlled. Other governments have also taken note of this issue and have dealt with them accordingly. Models like ‘pay to win’ are slimy practices by companies looking to make a quick buck off unsuspecting children and have no place in an industry like gaming. It’s definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to the regulation of these kinds of harmful practices. We’ve listed all the Do’s and Don’ts that the Indian government has released below.
Don’ts:
Do not allow in-game purchases without parental consent. To avoid in-app purchases; OTP-based payment methods may be adopted as per RBI’s guidelines.
Avoid credit/debit cards registration on apps for subscriptions. Place an upper limit on expenditure per transaction.
Do not let children buy directly from the laptop or mobile they use for gaming.
Advise children not to download software and games from unknown websites.
Tell them to be beware of clicking links, images, and pop-ups in the websites as they may contain a virus and harm the computer, and may contain age-inappropriate content.
Advise them not to give personal information over the Internet while downloading games.
They should never share personal information with people in games and on gaming profile.
Advise them not to communicate with strangers, including adults, through web cam, private messaging or online chat, as it increases the risk of contact from online abusers, or bullying from other players.
Advise them against engaging in game for long hours without taking a break considering health aspects and addiction.
Do’s:
While playing online games, if something wrong happened, stop immediately and take a screenshot (using the “print screen” button on the keyboard) and report it.
Help your child to protect their privacy online, get them to use a screen name (avatar) that does not reveal their real name.
Use antivirus/spyware programs and configure web browsers securely using firewall.
Activate parental controls and safety features on the device or in the app or browser as it helps restrict access to certain content and limit spending on in-game purchases.
Notify If a stranger tries to start a conversation about something inappropriate or requests personal information.
Check the age rating of any games your child is playing.
In case of bullying, encourage not to respond and keep a record of the harassing messages and report the behavior to the game site administrator/block, mute or ‘unfriend’ that person from their player's list, or turn off the in-game chat function.
Play alongside your child to get a better sense of how they are handling their personal information and who they are communicating with.
Help your child understand that some features in online games are used to encourage more play and spending. Talk to them about gambling, what it is and its consequences both online and in the physical world.
Always ensure that your child accesses the internet from a computer placed in the family space.
Keep your eyes open for:
Unusually secretive behaviour, mostly related to their online activity
A sudden increase in the time they spend online, especially social media
They seem to change screens on their device when approached
They become withdrawn or angry, after using the internet or sending text messages
Their device suddenly has many new phone numbers ·and email contacts.
Install internet gateway at home which has features like monitoring, logging and controlling the types of content that the children can access.
Teachers need to keep an eye on falling grades and social behaviour of the students.
If teachers observe something that may seem suspicious or alarming, they should inform the school authorities immediately.
Teachers should ensure that children are sensitized about the pros and cons of the internet from time to time.
Teachers should train students for secure configuration of web browsers & web applications.
Also Read: PUBG: Battlegrounds Will Become Free To Play On PCs And Consoles From January 12
Krafton Inc has announced that PUBG: Battlegrounds will soon be moving to a free-to-play (F2P) model. To recall, PUBG: Battlegrounds is the version of the popular battle royale game that is available for PC and console. The announcement was made during The Game Awards 2021. The transition will happen starting January 12, 2022.
“As PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS pioneered the battle royale genre and has grown into a globally influential game IP, this is the perfect time to transition to F2P and welcome new players to the game,” said CH Kim, CEO of KRAFTON, Inc. “The game has grown substantially since we brought it to Early Access nearly five years ago, and we believe it offers one of the best values in gaming. Whether it’s the game’s eight unique maps, consistently updated features or engaging in-game partner activations, transitioning to F2P is the next step in our journey to widen the scope of the PUBG IP through content that both new and veteran players will love.”
PUBG: Battlegrounds F2P transition
When PUBG: Battlegrounds transitions to the free-to-play model, it will also introduce a new Battlegrounds Plus option. This is an optional premium account upgrade that will give players access to a bunch of new and exclusive in-game features. While all players will start with a basic account that will offer most of the game’s features, the Battlegrounds Plus option will be available for a one-time fee of $12.99 (roughly Rs 982 when directly converted).
It should be noted that players who purchased and played PUBG: Battlegrounds before its transition to F2P will receive the PUBG - Special Commemorative Pack. This will include an automatic upgrade to Battlegrounds Plus, the Battle-Hardened costume skin set, the Shackle and Shanks Legacy Pan and the Battle-Hardened Legacy nameplate.
Other benefits of the Battlegrounds Plus membership include:
Bonus 1,300 G-COIN Survival Mastery XP + 100% boost Career - Medal tab Ranked Mode Custom Match functionality In-Game items, including the Captain’s Camo set, which includes hat, camo mask and camo gloves
