PayPal has confirmed that it will be laying off around 9% of its workforce, accounting for an estimated 2,500 workers.
An official announcement by President and CEO Alex Chriss framed the change as one that would help to “right-size” PayPal to stay competitive in an evolving market, indicating that the company’s growth isn’t aligning with its headcount.
Affected staff members will be informed this week, signalling a swift introduction of PayPal’s restructuring plan to streamline costs and improve operational efficiency.
PayPal lays off another 2,500 workers
This isn’t the first time that PayPal has had to get rid of workers as a result of a challenging economy. Almost exactly a year ago, on January 31, 2023, the company announced that it would be cutting around 2,000 jobs, equalling 7% of its then headcount.
Moreover, PayPal joins a growing list of companies having to make workers redundant this year, with January’s total coming to around 29,000, according to layoffs.fyi. In 2023, a total of 262,000 tech industry workers were affected, with just shy of 90,000 workers being laid off last January.
Within hours of PayPal’s announcement, rival company Block also announced a similar 10% staff reduction, accounting for the loss of around 1,000 jobs.
PayPal’s move comes in response to a more than 20% decline in share price over the past 12 months, from a 52-week high of $88.63 to a January 31, 2024 close of $63.76.
Details about the support packages available to staff have not been disclosed, however the company shared: “True to our values, we will support our employees' transitions with the utmost respect, support, and compassion.”
TechRadar Pro has offered PayPal the opportunity to share more context or to add a comment, but the company did not immediately respond.
In this latest edition of 'games you could've swore were on Steam that actually aren't on Steam,' Dragon Quest Builders is finally coming to Steam.
The RPG series' Minecraft-like spin-off was initially released in 2016 for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. A Nintendo Switch port followed a couple of years later. Now, as announced by the official Dragon Quest Twitter account, Dragon Quest Builders is arriving on Steam on February 13, 2024. Better late than never, eh?
The Steam page for the game is live right now, and it can be pre-ordered for $27.99 / £21.99. A bundle containing it and the sequel, Dragon Quest Builder 2 (which is already available on Steam), can also be purchased at a reduced price. The announcement tweet also confirms that the Steam version bundles in all previously-released DLC for the game.
#DragonQuestBuilders is coming to @Steam on February 13! This definitive version includes upgraded crafting features and DLC from past versions all in one package.⚒️ Pre-order now and get ready to build! pic.twitter.com/IJ1Y8H62YsJanuary 29, 2024
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If you're unfamiliar with Dragon Quest Builders, then it might be something that greatly appeals to you. The game and its sequel differ from the turn-based shenanigans of the mainline series to deliver an experience that's not unlike Minecraft.
Players inhabit a blocky world that they can terraform with various tools and build new weapons, upgrades, facilities, and entire villages should they choose to do so. Unlike Minecraft, though, Dragon Quest Builders' world isn't procedurally generated, and there are plenty of hidden treasures and enemies lurking around to encourage exploration and character growth.
It's a solid first attempt at a Minecraft-style adventure for the Dragon Quest series. And while the sequel would improve upon this first game in various ways, it's nice to have the choice to play the original on Steam finally. If only for preservation above all else. And if anything, it'll give Square Enix fans something to play while waiting for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's launch on February 29.
Want to expand your RPG horizons? Consider checking out our guide to thebest RPGsyou can play in 2024 for recommendations on stellar adventures.
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Cisco, Microsoft, and Samsung have teamed up to offer new meeting room solutions that they hope will attract even more businesses. The ann...
Cisco teams up with Samsung and Microsoft to boosts video calling tools — but will it be enough to topple Zoom and Google Meet?
Cisco, Microsoft, and Samsung have teamed up to offer new meeting room solutions that they hope will attract even more businesses.
The announcement, which is geared toward supporting and improving hybrid collaboration experiences, consists of new integrated video conferencing solutions for Cisco Room Series.
The trio say that the joint effort comes as a response to the fact that an overwhelming majority (98%) of meetings now involve remote participants, a trend that has seen significant growth since the pandemic.
Cisco teams up with Microsoft and Samsung
The new collaboration combines Cisco’s RoomOS-powered appliances, Samsung’s Smart Signage displays, and Front Row, a feature that’s supported by Microsoft Teams Rooms certified devices. Together, the companies reckon that the deep integration of software and hardware will “[eliminate] distance between meeting participants.”
Cisco EVP and General Manager for Security & Collaboration, Jeetu Patel, added: “Through our collaboration with these industry leaders, we’re delivering something we call Distance Zero, eliminating second-class experiences no matter where you are working.”
Hardware that works with the new solutions is already available, and the full functionalities are expected to be available in the coming months.
Devices include Samsung’s 5K and 4K UDH displays and the new 105-inch Samsung Smart Signage. Cisco devices and those using Microsoft Teams Rooms will also benefit from camera, audio, and speech-boosting artificial intelligence.
The partnership promises scalable, manageable, and secure solutions for meeting rooms, as well as interoperability between Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams.
However, Cisco isn’t the only company working with others to provide greater interoperability. More than a year ago, but in the wake of the pandemic, Google Meet and Zoom revealed that customers would be able to join calls on the opposing platform from their chosen tool.
Cliff Bleszinski, one of the creators of Gears of War, took to Twitter to express confusion as to why Microsoft hadn't asked him to consult on the series.
Bleszinski served as lead designer for the first three Gears of War games back when Epic Games was developing the sci-fi shooter. In 2014, Microsoft acquired the rights to Gears of War from Epic Games and announced that the series would continue to be developed under Black Tusk Studios, which would later be renamed The Coalition.
Though Microsoft then brought in Rod Fergusson who directed the production of the original trilogy, Bleszinski has not been approached to consult on the ongoing series, at least, not according to a new post on Twitter / X.
"We've been over this a million times re: Gears," Bleszinski's statement reads.
"I'm down to consult, Give my two cents. Crickets. I understand that Gears will always be an ENORMOUS [sic] part of my legacy. I appreciate and respect that. That said. MS/Coalition haven't hit me up. OK. It is what it is. If they were smart, they'd enlist me for my input because, just from a PR standpoint alone it would be gold."
Bleszinski departed Epic Games in 2012, and then went on to found Boss Key Productions in 2014. The studio would go on to develop LawBreakers - a multiplayer-oriented sci-fi shooter. However, after lackluster sales, Boss Key was dissolved and Bleszinski took his career in a new direction.
"I moved on," he added. "Restaurants. Broadway. My memoir. And now, comics (and standup comedy!). As much as I appreciate your support and those who know me from my Gears work [...] it's time to move on. I'm on a new journey. I have been for some time now.
"Please check out my comic Scrapper," he continued. "It comes from the heart - just like Gears did."
While Bleszinski is no longer connected to the development of the Gears series, it's clear that the veteran developer still has plenty of creative projects in the works.
There are two things you need to know before we get into the nuts and bolts of one of the weirdest wireless speakers we've ever come across (the Bearbrick is so unique and outrageously priced, it will likely never feature among the best Bluetooth speakers we've tested but that's not to say it's not one of the most interesting we've come across).
The first is that Medicom Toy (purveyors of collectible action figures, vinyl dolls and what-have-you) has achieved something very close to ubiquity with its Bearbrick model. There isn’t a design museum worthy of the name that doesn’t have one or two examples knocking about, and there are literally thousands of variations of its ‘400%’ model available on the company’s website. Fancy a Bearbrick as Tweety-Pie? Or as Andy Warhol? Or one or other of Daft Punk? Go right ahead.
The other is that I’ve been reviewing audio equipment for over two decades now, and in that time I’ve never really deviated from the opinion that a product needs to perform to a standard that justifies its asking price if I’m not going to stick the boot in. I’ve lost track of the number of times a manufacturer (or its representatives) has tried to tell me that because a product is gold-plated, or limited-edition, or endorsed by a musician, then the rules of ‘quality per quid’ shouldn’t apply. Naturally I’m always very polite, but equally naturally I don’t find it all that difficult to disregard this nonsense.
Rinaro doesn't make toys
(Image credit: Future)
While I always try my utmost not to pre-judge equipment, I can’t pretend I didn’t have my reservations about the Bearbrick Audio 400 ahead of its arrival. An unsmart Bluetooth speaker? An dumb (i.e. no Wi-Fi) Bluetooth speaker with poseable arms and legs? Costing $500 / £595 / AU$760? I know only too well that writing a negative review is generally easier (and more fun) than writing a positive review, but really… this looked like shooting fish in a barrel.
But then again, the press release mentioned input from Ukraine’s Rinaro Isodynamics. I’m familiar with Rinaro Isodynamics, which is a hugely well-regarded brand in audiophile circles thanks to its acknowledged excellence where high-end stuff like planar magnetic drivers are concerned.
I had first-hand experience of its expertise very recently, when I reviewed a $3,000 / £2,750 / AU$4,560-worth of Meze Audio headphones that featured Rinaro Isodynamics componentry (like the Meze Audio Liric) – and as listening experiences go, this one was prodigious. Rinaro’s involvement in the Audio 400 made me wonder if it was actually going to be more than a frippery and an irrelevance after all…
Childish or the cutest thing imaginable?
(Image credit: Future)
Once the Bearbrick Audio 400 itself arrived, I was able to give the product proper consideration. On the plus side, a four-driver array (two 20mm polypropylene tweeters, one in each ear, and two 40mm carbon paper cone mid/bass drivers angled out from the rear of the bear’s cranium) designed to deliver omnidirectional sound and powered by 20 watts of Class D amplification, looks good on paper.
Bluetooth 5.0 with codec compatibility limited to SBC and AAC, on the other hand, does not. Six hours of battery life is sort-of OK, I suppose. And I was conflicted about the control options – is twisting the bear’s left paw to adjust volume and its right paw to skip forwards or backwards through my playlist simply juvenile? Or is it the cutest thing imaginable?
With the (replaceable) battery charged – via the USB-C socket in the bear’s left heel - and a wireless connection to a Samsung S23 Ultra smartphone made, it was time for some critical listening. Standing upright, and with its arms by its sides, the Audio 400 is a tidy 280 x 132 x 70mm (HxWxD) – the perfect size, in other words, to stand on my desk and peer over my laptop while I listen to that endless playlist of test-tunes I’ve been compiling for years.
A spacious, tonally balanced listen
(Image credit: Future)
Like I said, I’ve been doing this sort of work for an awfully long time now – but I can count on the fingers of one hand the occasions when I’ve encountered a product I’m prepared to cut even the merest hint of slack where performance-per-pound is concerned.
And despite the fact that it’s got some real positives where its audio presentation is concerned – it’s quite spacious, tonally balanced, reasonably punchy and quite eloquent, through the midrange in particular – the Bearbrick Audio 400 is not without its issues. The idea that its sound is omnidirectional, for instance, is fanciful. It’s basically flat where dynamics are concerned. Yes, it’s an energetic and quite well-controlled listen – but if you turn the volume right down it becomes noticeably bass-forward.
And for a hard-nosed and dispassionate individual like me, of course, the biggest problem is the price. $500 / £595 / AU$760 is a lot for a dumb Bluetooth speaker, and it’s even more to pay for a Bluetooth speaker that doesn’t offer class-leading sound. In all honesty, you can spend $300 / £349 / AU$520 on a DALI Katch G2 and get more complete audio performance. Does the DALI look like a bear? No, it doesn’t. Does it represent better value for money than the Audio 400? You bet your boots it does.
The Bang & Olufsen phenomenon
(Image credit: Future)
In this instance, there’s more in play than whether or not a particular product represents good value for money. For years, I’ve privately referred to this as ‘the Bang & Olufsen phenomenon’. It’s my experience that Bang & Olufsen customers are well aware they’re paying a premium for design, and could achieve similar performance from a non-B&O alternative for quite a lot less money if they were prepared to forgo the ‘design’ element – but they’re not. Bang & Olufsen customers know they’re paying over the odds in pure performance terms, and they don’t care.
The Bearbrick Audio 400 is a similar proposition. I don’t think it’s any kind of coincidence that the only bricks-and-mortar retailer in the United Kingdom that’s stocking it is Selfridges – in the US, you can find it selling for a slight premium on MOMA's site. It’s a product that will sell to a very specific customer base that couldn’t give a toss whether or not they can get similar sound quality from a less dramatic-looking speaker costing quite a lot less money. They want the bear with the speakers in its ears.
I wanted to dislike the Bearbrick Audio 400. I wanted it to be a cynical exercise in marketing, and a ploy to fleece the credulous. But it isn’t – not entirely, anyway. I quite like it. Not enough to consider spending $500 / £595 / AU$760 on one, of course, but I’m certainly not about to put the boot in.
The hardware and software development company Singular Computing has received an undisclosed amount from Google in a settlement out of federal court in Massachusetts, bringing to an end the five-year long civil case brought by Singular’s founder Dr. Joseph Bates against the tech giant for patent infringement (PDF, hosted by The Register).
Said infringement pertains to computer architectures facilitating artificial intelligence (AI) tool development and the training of large language models (LLMs) invented by Bates, that he claims made its way into Google’s Tensor Processing Unit devices.
These initially powered the generative AI and smart chip features in Google Workspace, but have now gone on to become available for rent via its cloud hosting provider Google Cloud, as well as shoulder the workloads of the tech giant’s own data centers.
The facts were these
Of course, an out-of-court settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing in itself, precisely because such settlements are a means for both parties to avoid trial and, therefore, a ruling in either party’s favor. Google hasn’t made any statement to suggest wrongdoing on its part, so we know about as much as you.
Still, it’s clear Singular Computing has the advantage. As per the filing, Bates “pray[ed]” for the court to allow a jury trial and award damages” that were suggested in pre-trial filings (another Reg-hosted PDF, cheers mate) to be within the realm of $1.6 billion and $5.19 billion US dollars. That, ladies, gentlemen, and the self-described, is confidence, and it seems to have paid (!!) off.
From the case’s outset, Google denied knowledge of Bates’ three relevant US patents (8407273B2, 9218156B2 and 10416961B2) and the technology therein, which allows for many low-precision calculations per processor cycle, and “look[ed] forward to setting the record straight in court”.
Less cryptic, however, is one comment made by senior Google scientist Jeff Dean, who, in an internal e-mail brought to light by Singular’s complaint, wrote to colleagues that Bates’ inventions were “really well suited” for Google’s workloads. This, while definitely ‘rum’, to use the precise legal term, is still no admission: Google continued, and likely continues to maintain that no-one actually working on its TPUs had access to Bates’ designs.
Representatives for Singular have made no comment following the settlement. which truncated a trial expected to last weeks with prejudice, meaning that it’s extremely unlikely that the case can be filed again by either party for the foreseeable future.
As I’ve gotten older, I've developed an appreciation for simple and refined design that eschews flair for practicality. And the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a great example of that.
For years, Galaxy Ultra models and their Galaxy Edge predecessors have come with curved edges to their displays. Over the years, refinements on display panels have led to gentle curved edges that make for very usable bezel-less screens. And curved displays came to the likes of the Google Pixel phones and flagship OnePlus models.
But like the Google Pixel 8 Pro, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has dropped the curved edges of its predecessors and gone for flat screen edges. I’d normally consider this an off-putting downgrade; what can I say, I like curves.
There’s always been something pleasing about seeing a screen neatly bleed into the phone’s chassis, as to my eyes they've always felt a little sci-fi-esque – in the vein of Star Trek rather than the rugged aesthetic of Star Wars’ galaxy far, far away. And it generally makes a phone rather comfortable to grip, though you’ll need to grip indeed as curved screens lead to slippery phones, especially on the larger 6.7-inch plus screen sizes.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
So with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I was fully prepared to turn my nose up at its lack of curves. But I didn’t. Instead, I’m rather besotted by this change.
Samsung said it dropped the curved display to give the S Pen more practical screen space for people to scribble on. And I found that to be the case, with long sweeps of the stylus sticking to the screen rather than slipping off curved edges as was the case with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
I was thinking that a flat screen would make the Galaxy S24 Ultra uncomfortable to hold, but that isn’t the case.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
The curved sides made out of titanium with a somewhat soft-touch finish, means the large phone feels unexpectedly lovely in my hands, while also being less likely to suddenly leap out of grasp when I stretch my fingers to reach for a top corner one-handed.
I also reckon the use of Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Armor will work well on a flat screen rather than a curved one.
I’d have liked the adoption of titanium to make the Galaxy S24 Ultra notably lighter than its predecessor but that’s not the case, with it only shedding a gram overall. But in my hands, the Galaxy S24 Ultra just feels superior to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which is a phone I still think has a wonderful design.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
The matt back of the Galaxy S24 Ultra which has layers of paint to make for a smooth finish that also feels kinda deep (this might sound a little nonsensical, but I advise you go and see a Galaxy S24 Ultra for yourself), neatly compliments the flat screen and the curved edges.
All in all, these minor tweaks may seem iterative but add up to a phone that looks and feels like a step up from the Ultras that preceded it.
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
Of course, there’s a heck of a lot more to like about the phone as you’ll see in our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review. These range from a refined rear camera suite to AI features that have promise even if they aren’t perfect yet.
Other than tweaking the software experience, which I feel is still a weak point of Samsung phones due to the overabundance of menus and One UI-centric apps, and bolstering AI smarts, it’s hard to see how Samsung will improve upon the design of the Galaxy Ultra line. I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Samsung's now used the same overall design for three generations of Galaxy Ultras.
Seagate has unveiled a new, large capacity hard drive designed to cater to the ever-growing data demands of SMBs and NAS environments.
The latest Seagate IronWolf Pro drive offers a whopping 24TB of storage. With sustained transfer rates of 285MB/s, a user workload rating of up to 550TB per year, and 2.5 million hours mean time between failures (MTBF), Seagate says its new drive promises 24/7 performance, reliability, and dependability in multi-user collaborative environments and multi-bay systems.
The IronWolf Pro 24TB comes equipped with Seagate’s AgileArray technology, optimizing them for NAS systems. This technology uses dual-plane balancing and time-limited error recovery (TLER) to deliver top-tier performance in multi-bay systems.
Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services
A standout feature of the Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB is its IronWolf Health Management system. This system aids in data protection by providing prevention, intervention, and recovery recommendations to maintain optimal system health on compatible NAS systems.
However, the real game-changer here is unquestionably the provision of three years of free Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services. Data recovery can be a costly affair if you lose content, so this free inclusion is very welcome, especially as it's not something other HDD vendors like Western Digital and Toshiba provide.
While Amazon does offer this kind of service on certain data storage components, it charges extra for it.
Should disaster strike, the free Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services gives you access to a team of world-class data recovery experts, one in-lab data recovery attempt, and an encrypted storage device containing your data if recovery is successful.
The Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB is available now for $649 and it comes with a five-year limited warranty.
Want the TL;DR version? The EU's Digital Markets Act has forced Apple to make some big changes to how the App Store and iOS work on iPhones in the region. These changes will arrive in iOS 17.4 in March, but it could have global knock-on effects for apps, mobile payments, and more.
Apple's App Store and iPhone apps have remained largely unchanged since they arrived back in 2008. The process has been simple; you discover an app you like, tap the App Store icon on your phone or tablet, and download it.
But some new regulations mean that Apple has been forced to open up that system for the first time – in the EU, at least. From March with the release of iOS 17.4, Apple will let EU residents download and 'sideload' apps from alternative app stores. And that's just the start of some very significant changes for iOS and the App Store.
What does all of this mean for the iPhone and your favorite apps? Will Apple be bringing these changes to other regions? And does it really make iOS less secure? We've broken down everything you need to know about the many knock-on effects of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) below.
Apple clearly isn't happy about the changes it's been forced to make. In its official announcement, Apple said that the iOS changes "open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats", which it's attempting to mitigate with new protections and safeguards.
Of course, no one will be forced to use non-Apple app stores or sideload apps. But if you're interested in exploring the idea and wondering if there's any way you can try the new features from outside the EU, we've explained what it all means here.
1. The changes land in March – and only in the EU
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Third-party app stores and app sideloading will arrive on EU-based iPhones in March as part of iOS 17.4. The iOS 17.4 beta is available right now for developers, but the full version is still a couple of months away.
Those EU-specific changes will only be available in the region's 27 member countries, which doesn't include the UK. So if you live in the US, UK, or Australia, nothing has changed – for now.
However, a similar bill to the EU's Digital Markets Act is currently moving through UK parliament. The move will also likely spark debate in other regions, with the announcements giving all iPhone users a glimpse of some changes that could eventually become global, much like the introduction of USB-C on the iPhone 15.
2. It's the start of alternative app 'marketplaces'
(Image credit: AltStore)
Apple may be opening up the App Store in the EU, but it wants to keep the name to itself. It instead calls the incoming third-party app stores "alternative app marketplaces". But whatever the semantics, the reality is the same – from March, iPhone users in the EU will be able to download from new app stores and even set them as their default choice in Settings.
We've already seen the first of these app stores make their moves, with the AltStore confirming that it plans to become one of the early marketplaces. If it gets approved (Apple will still be authorizing new marketplaces), it'll be able to offer apps that don't adhere to Apple's own App Store guidelines.
Some examples include Delta (a Nintendo games console emulator) and UTM, which is a virtual machine that lets you run Linux, Windows, and more on iOS. Apple says these new options for developers "create new risks", but that it's including safeguards in iOS 17.4 – including a process of reviewing all apps (regardless of their app store origin) that'll be "a combination of automated checks and human review".
3. It's big news for gaming on the iPhone
(Image credit: Microsoft)
It isn't just iPhone users in the EU who'll immediately feel the impact of Apple's App Store changes. A big global repercussion is that Apple is now allowing game streaming services to become available in the App Store around the world. That's big news because previously you could only access these on iOS via a web browser.
The news opens the gates to services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now and Amazon Luna becoming available on your iPhone. And unlike most of the other changes in this list, that'll be the case from today wherever you live in the world.
An added bonus for EU dwellers is that the incoming support for third-party app stores means the Epic Games Store will be returning to iOS "this year". This means Fortnite, which hasn't been on the iPhone since 2020 when Apple booted it out of the App Store, could now return – although the historical frostiness between Epic and Apple could yet scupper that.
4. iPhone web browsers will change too
(Image credit: Shutterstock / BigTunaOnline)
Right now, Apple only allows web browsers that use Safari's WebKit engine on the iPhone. But that's now going to change in the EU – and it could have worldwide repercussions for iOS web browsers.
In iOS 17.4 from March, browser apps in the EU will be able to use engines other than Apple's WebKit. That means, for example, that Chrome and Firefox could soon offer revamped iPhone experiences that more closely mirror their desktop experiences, in terms of speed and extensions.
Even though this will only be the case in the EU initially, the increased competition could force Apple to innovate harder on Safari on a global level, particularly as iOS 17.4 will also offer EU users a splash page that lets them choose a different default browser (like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge). In theory, that's good news all around for iPhone web browsing.
5. There won't be a huge apps free-for-all
(Image credit: Apple)
The iPhone might be getting third-party app stores and sideloading in the EU, but Apple has clung onto a significant amount of control over apps and developers. In other words, don't expect to see apps become drastically cheaper or change wildly overnight.
For a start, alternative app stores and the apps they offer will still need to go through an approval process that's similar to the one for Mac apps. Also, Apple is introducing a new fee structure for apps that live in these non-Apple 'app marketplaces' – and it could dissuade many developers from making the leap.
While developers will sidestep Apple's traditional 30% cut (now down to 17%) by making their app available outside the App Store, there is a significant stinger for popular apps. Any app that gets more than one million installs a year has to pay Apple a €0.50 fee for every install over that million mark, every year.
Apple claims this will only affect 1% of EU app developers, but it could still convince many (particularly makers of freemium apps) to stay within the safe, predictable confines of the official App Store.
Another concession that Apple has had to make to the pesky EU is giving third-party banking and wallet apps access to the iPhone's NFC powers. Right now, only Apple Pay and its Wallet app can use NFC for payments on the iPhone. But from iOS 17.4 in March, there'll be other tap-to-pay options – in the EU, at least.
In that region, you'll be able to set a default app to activate when you hold your iPhone near an NFC terminal or double-tap its side button. While that sounds like a consumer win in theory, it could also spark a situation where banks remove their Apple Pay support in favor of pushing you toward an array of competing apps. This is one where it may be best to watch from the outside.
7. You can't pretend to be an EU-based iPhone owner
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
If you don't live in the EU but fancy trying out some of those alternative app stores, can't you just switch your iPhone region or use a VPN? Probably not, because Apple appears to have created a strict new system of checks to make sure you're actually in the EU.
As spotted by 9to5Mac, a new system (which has been laying dormant in the iPhone since iOS 16.2) will combine several checks to see if a device is eligible for new app 'marketplaces' and sideloading. These include your Apple ID billing address, your current location (the country, rather than your precise location), your current region set in Settings, and the type of device.
By cross-referencing all of these things against the list of eligible countries, Apple will seemingly prevent non-EU iPhone owners from getting a taste of the changes it's reluctantly introduced. Theoretically, the range of checks should also avoid issues that could be created by, for example, an EU iPhone owner traveling to the US.
The world of tech has shown no sign of slowing from its breakneck pace following CES 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 announcement. This week we saw Netflix announce major changes to its subscription tiers, and Denon has unveiled an impressive piece of home theatre gear.
To help you get caught up on the past week we've compiled a list of the seven biggest tech news stories you need to know about.
In the coming weeks look out for the Apple Vision Pro launch happening on February 2 (it's bound to be a big one with lines around the block), and the Super Bowl – which usually leads to a lot of great TV deals so you can watch the big game on a sweet new 4K screen.
7. Where did all those Apple Vision Pros go?
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Soon after, Apple launched Vision Pro orders on January 19, some reported that Apple sold out of what was probably a limited supply. Did every Spatial Reality headset sell to a legitimate buyer? We found a surprising number of Vision Pro pre-orders listed on eBay. And, yes, at a significant markup.
Unlike typical eBay offerings that show a real product and tell you it’s in “Good Condition,” these Vision Pro listings usually feature images from Apple’s Vision Pro site or simply a copy of the pre-order form. It’s not clear how buyers will get Zeiss lens inserts if they need them or if the light seal is the right size. What’s worse is that the prices on these promises of access to Vision Pro are currently skyrocketing. Maybe you’ll want to wait until Apple does its own restock.
Cue furious reactions all around. If, like us, you’re unhappy at the prospect of being forced to pay for the ad-supported tier or one of Netflix’s more expensive plans, you might consider canceling your Netflix account. Before you do, make sure you get your money’s worth by streaming some of the best Netflix movies or best Netflix shows around.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus(Image credit: Samsung)
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (along with the Plus, and Ultra) was announced last week with some pretty impressive AI features. These cool new camera and translation tools won’t be exclusive to the new phones though – we also learned that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will get Galaxy AI upgrades in the coming months.
The Fujifilm X100V has been out of stock for what feels like years, but this week brought some good news for fans of the retro compact camera series. An X100VI successor is now strongly rumored to be launching on February 20 – and it’s promising to be a major upgrade.
This week’s rumors suggest the X100VI will not only get a new 40MP sensor (the same as the one in the excellent X-T5) but also have in-body image stabilization. With dashing film camera looks also in the cards, could this be TikTok’s new favorite camera? It’s looking likely.
Apple will be looking forward to the end of January – not only has it been forced to remove a health feature from the Watch Series 9 in the US, it’s now had to make major changes to the App Store in the EU. The headline news is that third-party app stores and app sideloading will soon be available to iPhone users in the EU. But that’s just the start.
Those pesky new regulations mean Apple will also have to open up iOS in other ways in the EU, including allowing non-WebKit browsers, alternative payment systems, and gaming streaming services in the App Store. Apple clearly isn’t happy about it, but EU dwellers can look forward to seeing some big changes in iOS 17.4 from March.
Denon has unveiled a brand new 8K AV receiver that is the most impressive piece of home theatre gear we’ve ever seen. It boasts seven 8K-ready HDMI inputs (supporting HLG, HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dynamic HDR pass-through), two HDMI outputs, and 11.4 audio channels (with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro 3D) so you can hook up almost any conceivable immersive sound system.
The Denon AVC-X6800H is beyond flexible, though the powerful little gadget will set you back £3,000 in the UK – that’s around $3,850 / AU$5,795, though Denon has yet to confirm its price and availability outside of Europe, yet.
Following the newly announced Galaxy Ring, Samsung has said it hopes to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring and continuous blood pressure tracking within five years. This would be a major leap forward for consumer health tech, and far beyond anything offered by its rivals like Apple.
Non-invasive glucose monitors do already exist but they need to be replaced every week or two – something that isn’t possible for a smartwatch that costs you hundreds.
But Samsung seems confident it can work something out, we’ll just have to wait and see what it has up its sleeve and planned for your fingers and wrists.
The Sims 4 released the Goth Galore stuff pack on January 18 and fan reception has been fairly positive. However, as more players are starting to explore what the pack offers, a bug with one particular item is starting to circulate - and it's been giving characters huge eyes whenever worn.
A black strappy hoodie available exclusively as part of the Goth Galore stuff pack has been doubling the size of Sims' eyes when worn, which players have been sharing to social media in dismay. However, EA is aware of the issue and currently working on a fix to ensure that your characters' eyes remain the same size while wearing their new threads. EA's full post regarding the issue can be seen below:
Sul Sul 👋 Our team is aware of the hoodie in the Goth Galore Kit enlarging Sims eyes when worn. This occurs when the hoodie is worn & resolves once the hoodie is removed, but we appreciate your patience as we work towards releasing a fix as soon as possible.… pic.twitter.com/0aQAR658YxJanuary 24, 2024
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Interestingly the issue seems to be exclusively affecting female Sims, so if you're re-doing your male Sims' wardrobe with your newest kit - you shouldn't have to worry about any changes to their facial structure and appearance. Plus, the change isn't incredibly drastic, so it won't negatively affect your game. Instead, you might just notice that your characters look slightly more bewildered than usual.
With EA actively working on a fix for the bug, there's not much we can do but sit and wait and avoid using the one item of clothing that seems to be causing the issue for now. Fortunately, The Sims 4 Goth Galore is filled with new accessories and clothing to explore, so you've got plenty of opportunity to try out some entirely new outfits while you wait.
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A former Microsoft's HoloLens engineer, Sebastian Beetschen, has launched an augmented reality (AR) headset that is a stark contrast to...
Ex-Hololens engineer launches AR headset that's the antithesis of Apple Vision Pro — and bags remote assistance partnership with Manchester United's shirt sponsor
A former Microsoft's HoloLens engineer, Sebastian Beetschen, has launched an augmented reality (AR) headset that is a stark contrast to Apple's upcoming Vision Pro. The headset, Almer Arc 2, is the latest product from AR startup Almer, co-founded by Beetschen and ex-jet fighter pilot Timon Binder in 2021.
Weighing just 138 grams, the Almer Arc 2 is four times lighter than Apple's Vision Pro, which will come as welcome news considering many of the people who have so far tried the latter headset have complained about its weight.
The Arc 2 features a 25MP camera, beamforming microphones, built-in speakers, and a holographic see-through screen, and offers an 8-hour battery life. Its transparent display can be used in dynamic environments, unlike the Vision Pro, which is designed for static indoor settings.
TeamViewer remote support
Almer's announcement coincides with a strategic partnership with TeamViewer, the global leader in remote IT support and sponsor of Manchester United. This partnership aims to tap into the industrial market, allowing TeamViewer to provide remote support via the Arc 2 headset.
Percy Stocker, Senior VP Product Management AR at TeamViewer commented: "We see wide scale adoption for the product and immediately in industry. Remote support via smartphones or tablets has limitations with workers' hands occupied, information is not in their direct line of sight, and the camera doesn't follow the worker's view. As such the move to AR presents TeamViewer an opportunity to support this underserved market."
The Almer Arc headset allows remote collaboration as if the parties were physically present. It augments the wearer's environment with relevant information for pointing out objects in reality.
Sebastian Beetschen compared the Almer Arc to a jet fighter visor, saying, "The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts a remote expert, who can see and hear what the worker experiences. The expert identifies the issue, highlights objects, and displays documentation in the worker's view, simulating a collaborative, in-person experience."
The global AR market is projected to grow from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1.1 trillion in 2030, at a CAGR of 50.7%. Within this trend, the AR headset market is set to reach $120 billion in 2026.
Beetschen concluded, “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year, so the opportunity is very real."
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Final Fantasy 14 is putting a new twist on its classic Moogle Treasure Trove event, adding fresh challenges and bad puns.
The Treasure Trove event usually appears in the lull between major content patches to keep players occupied with the promise of rare items like mounts and cosmetics. In the past, players would run selected dungeons and encounters to get their hands on Irregular Tomestones - magical artifacts that could be offered to the Moogles in exchange for fabulous prizes. However, Square Enix has decided to do things a little differently this time.
Rather than simply running selected dungeons and events over and over, the latest Moogle Treasure Trove event introduces the Mogpendium - an in-game list of all the different ways you can acquire Irregular Tomestones. Though there are still repeatable challenges, the Mogpendium adds weekly objectives, which are tougher but award more Tomestones for your efforts.
The Mogpendium also adds Minimog Challenges; smaller self-contained weekly objectives which, judging from the images on the official website, seem to revolve around Final Fantasy 14's minigames. Like many of the best MMO games, Final Fantasy 14 is chocked full of mini-games including fishing, treasure hunts, and Triple Triad - a card game first seen in Final Fantasy 8.
Last come the Ultimog Challenges. These can only be completed once throughout the whole event. Though there's little information about these challenges, it seems like these won't be for the faint of heart.
The latest Moogle Treasure Trove will start on Tuesday, January 30, and finish on Monday, March 11 (early morning on March 12 if you're in Australia). This will give players plenty of time to tackle these new challenges.
With the game's next expansion, Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail, set to drop this summer (sometime between June and September we reckon) and, with the last major pre-expansion content patch now in the rear-view mirror, there's a risk of content drought on the horizon. With any luck, however, these new Treasure Trove challenges will keep players occupied in the coming months, offering new ways to earn sought-after items.
Final Fantasy 14 is one of thebest MMORPGsat the moment, as well as one of thebest JRPGs.
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The latest update for Gran Turismo 7 has arrived, and, while not hugely substantial, it does bring the usual round of new cars, events, an...
I can't believe it's taken Gran Turismo 7 this long to add the Suzuki Jimny, but here it is
Update 1.42 has been detailed over on the official PlayStation blog, where it's shown that three new cars have been added to the game. The first two are all-new Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) concepts: the BVLGARI Aluminum and the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta. Both of these are quite lovely, but expect to pay a significant amount of Credits for them as is usually the case with VGT cars.
The standout addition here, at least for me, has to be the Suzuki Jimny XC '18, a glorious off-roader that'll feel right at home on tracks with unconventional terrain like Colorado Springs and the recently added Lake Louise.
All these cars will be purchasable with in-game Credits at the Brand Central menu. Unfortunately, the BVLGARI Aluminum VGT car won't be widely available until late February. However, those who have purchased the BVLGARI Aluminum Gran Turismo Limited Model chronograph watch (which was revealed during last year's Gran Turismo World Finals) will receive early access to the car via a QR code.
A couple of new World Circuit events have been added to accommodate the release of these cars. The Jimny Cup will have players take their 4x4 across Windmills, Willow Springs, and Lake Louise. Meanwhile, the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy will put the souped-up concepts through their paces at the Tokyo Expressway and the Italian 'temple of speed:' Monza.
All in all, a fairly tidy update that certainly won't rock the boat; but one that may rock your skull if you jump into the Suzuki Jimny with a PSVR 2 headset strapped on.
For more games like Gran Turismo 7, consider checking out our guide to thebest racing games. And if you're looking to upgrade a racing setup, be sure to have a look at ourbest PS5 racing wheelsguide.
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Xbox has announced the launch of an entirely new program, designed to bring attention to indie games on its storefront. As announced in an ...
Xbox launches Indie Selects program to bring more attention to smaller budget games
Xbox has announced the launch of an entirely new program, designed to bring attention to indie games on its storefront. As announced in an Xbox Wire post, the program called 'Indie Selects' will change its displayed games to keep a consistent rotation of some of the best indie games available, so you'll never be short of new adventures.
Indie Selects offers a few channels, the first being a selection of 'Featured Indies' which are recent releases recommended by the ID@Xbox team. However, games featured within this channel will not coincide with any games already available through Xbox Game Pass, as these games already have a platform via the Game Pass hub.
We’re excited to announce a new way to bring attention to the best indie games on Xbox – our new “Indie Selects” program, which launches today! https://t.co/wjJafMgRjaJanuary 24, 2024
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In addition to this featured channel, a weekly theme will be implemented on the page, and a handful of indie games will be selected to match this. A few examples provided through the Xbox Wire post suggest categories like "games to play with your cat" and "games that need a laugh track," so generally, rather quirky and niche categories have the potential to generate some beautiful picks.
The remaining channels aim to feature 'indie games from around the world, games from new creators and voices, and select games for pre-order' so you're not in short supply of new games. This collection will also change every Wednesday, so there's always a mid-week treat to look forward to.
To add to this, at the end of each month, six games will be selected by the team and given the 'Indie Selects' stamp of approval. As expressed in the blog post, this will mark the six games that the ID@Xbox team is confident you will love, so even if sifting through the categories themselves is slightly overwhelming, you'll always have six games to guide you where to start on your indie endeavors.
If you're looking for more ways to make the most of your Xbox, we've got a guide to thebest Xbox Series X games, as well as thebest games on Xbox Game Passwhich are bound to offer you entirely new experiences.
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A former Microsoft's HoloLens engineer, Sebastian Beetschen, has launched an augmented reality (AR) headset that is a stark contrast to...
Ex-Hololens engineer launches AR headset that's the antithesis of Apple Vision Pro — and bags remote assistance partnership with Manchester United's shirt sponsor
A former Microsoft's HoloLens engineer, Sebastian Beetschen, has launched an augmented reality (AR) headset that is a stark contrast to Apple's upcoming Vision Pro. The headset, Almer Arc 2, is the latest product from AR startup Almer, co-founded by Beetschen and ex-jet fighter pilot Timon Binder in 2021.
Weighing just 138 grams, the Almer Arc 2 is four times lighter than Apple's Vision Pro, which will come as welcome news considering many of the people who have so far tried the latter headset have complained about its weight.
The Arc 2 features a 25MP camera, beamforming microphones, built-in speakers, and a holographic see-through screen, and offers an 8-hour battery life. Its transparent display can be used in dynamic environments, unlike the Vision Pro, which is designed for static indoor settings.
TeamViewer remote support
Almer's announcement coincides with a strategic partnership with TeamViewer, the global leader in remote IT support and sponsor of Manchester United. This partnership aims to tap into the industrial market, allowing TeamViewer to provide remote support via the Arc 2 headset.
Percy Stocker, Senior VP Product Management AR at TeamViewer commented: "We see wide scale adoption for the product and immediately in industry. Remote support via smartphones or tablets has limitations with workers' hands occupied, information is not in their direct line of sight, and the camera doesn't follow the worker's view. As such the move to AR presents TeamViewer an opportunity to support this underserved market."
The Almer Arc headset allows remote collaboration as if the parties were physically present. It augments the wearer's environment with relevant information for pointing out objects in reality.
Sebastian Beetschen compared the Almer Arc to a jet fighter visor, saying, "The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts a remote expert, who can see and hear what the worker experiences. The expert identifies the issue, highlights objects, and displays documentation in the worker's view, simulating a collaborative, in-person experience."
The global AR market is projected to grow from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1.1 trillion in 2030, at a CAGR of 50.7%. Within this trend, the AR headset market is set to reach $120 billion in 2026.
Beetschen concluded, “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year, so the opportunity is very real."
Data Privacy Week kicked off in the EU with a pledge from the industry to defend encryption in 2024.
Some of the companies using this technology to develop security software, including VPN services, and secure email and messaging apps, are now calling EU ministers to defend their citizens' privacy and withdraw a worrying proposed regulation.
Deemed by critics as Chat Control, the EU Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Scanning Proposal could allow authorities to scan people's private and encrypted chats for dangerous content as a way to halt child sexual abuse (CSA) online. Yet, experts argue that going down this route rather endangers users (children included) instead.
Encryption at risk
"We all agree that ensuring children are safe online is one of the most important duties of tech companies and for this reason, we find the European Commission’s proposed Regulation extremely worrying. If it were implemented as proposed, it would negatively impact children’s privacy and security online, while also having dramatic unforeseen consequences on the EU cybersecurity landscape, creating an ineffective administrative burden," wrote the experts in an open letter.
The group, composed of trade associations, and small and medium-sized tech companies, especially pointed out the risk of having a "backdoor" to allow authorities to scan messages in end-to-end encrypted environments.
So-called client-side scanning may help fight online crime, but, they argue, "it would also quickly be used by criminals themselves, putting citizens and businesses more at risk online by creating vulnerabilities for all users alike."
Among the signatories (22 in total) are popular VPN provider Surfshark, Swiss-based security software firm Proton, secure email service Tuta (formerly known as Tutanota), and encrypted messaging app developer Element.
Today, we call on all Interior, Justice & Economy ministers of EU countries, to choose the right side: #privacy or #surveillance.Together with other privacy-first companies we call on our ministers to defend encryption & protect privacy. 🔒Read the full text here:… pic.twitter.com/rGYGm6NS9yJanuary 22, 2024
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The recent attack on encryption and the concept of client-side scanning began filling the news last year as tech companies raised the alarm on similar proposed legislation in the UK. While the Online Safety Act is now law, the messaging scanning requirement has been postponed until "it's technically feasible to do so" without breaking encryption—a solution that delays the issue rather than solving it.
In October the EU Parliament reached a historical agreement, though, asking for the removal of the Chat Control clause in order to safeguard online security and encryption. Now, it's the time for each EU Member State to agree on their own position.
"We call on our ministers, specifically on Nancy Faeser (SPD, Germany), to choose the right side in this discussion: uphold strong encryption and protect the human right to privacy of millions of EU citizens and businesses," said Matthias Pfau, founder of German secure email provider Tuta Mail.
According to Pfau, Europe cannot pride itself on the progress made with GDPR legislation while simultaneously promoting client-side scanning. "Such a move would destroy any credibility the EU currently holds in matters of privacy and cybersecurity," he said.
Did you know?
(Image credit: Mullvad VPN)
One of the most secure VPN providers out there, Mullvad VPN got vocal last year to raise awareness of the risks of the EU Chat Control law. It sends hundreds of emails to both journalists and politicians, while even putting giant banners across airports and the streets of some European cities. "Mullvad is usually a very silent company. This is probably the first time we really got mad enough to speak out," Jan Jonsson, CEO at Mullvad, told me when the company began its campaign in March last year.
EU State members are expected to vote on the proposed CSA regulation in the next few weeks and they hope to reach an agreement by March. Romain Digneaux, Public Policy Specialist at Proton, explained that only after that trilogue negotiations will be able to start. With EU Parliament elections happening in June, though, time is everything.
"We hope that the Belgian Presidency will act as an honest broker and take inspiration from the European Parliament to make sure that children are adequately protected, as well as everyone's right to privacy and security online," Digneaux told me. "However it looks like deep divisions still remain between member states."
All in all, experts are calling for finding a balanced approach alongside technically feasible solutions that could enhance child protection rather than undermine it. Specific requests include preserving the confidentiality of correspondence, refraining from forcing tech companies to perform mass surveillance and minimizing the administrative burden of the proposal by finding alternatives to mass scanning.
Commenting on the latter point, Digneaux told me: "There are many methods for combating crime online, as has been proven time and time again, which don’t compromise privacy and security. While we can’t publish the exact methods that we use (as that would play into the hands of the bad actors), at Proton we have a large team who work 24/7 to identify and remove bad actors and we cooperate with law enforcement within the framework of Swiss law.
"To sound horribly pragmatic, there is zero benefit to us to turn a blind eye to this behavior. In fact, the opposite, criminal behavior presents a huge threat to our entire business."
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