Das nur für Nintendo Switch (und später für PC) verfügbare Monster Hunter Rise schickt Spieler ins alte Japan. Neben der stellenweise tristen und ruckeligen Grafik hat uns auch die nicht sehr spaßige Steuerung gestört. Von Peter Steinlechner (Nintendo …
Das nur für Nintendo Switch (und später für PC) verfügbare Monster Hunter Rise schickt Spieler ins alte Japan. Neben der stellenweise tristen und ruckeligen Grafik hat uns auch die nicht sehr spaßige Steuerung gestört. Von Peter Steinlechner (Nintendo Switch, Spieletest)
Microsoft is reportedly in the late stages of $10 billion acquisition talks with Discord, a gaming-focused community chat platform, according to unnamed "people familiar with the matter" who spoke to Bloomberg.
Epic Games and Amazon were also involved in acquisition talks previously, according to Bloomberg's sources. VentureBeat also reported this week that Discord is exploring sale options with "multiple parties."
First launched in 2015, Discord lets individual users create public or private servers that allow members to chat with others in that server via text, images, voice, and video livestreaming. The service now reportedly has 6.7 million such servers, which serve as centralized communication hubs for everything from official news and discussion from game publishers and multiplayer match organization among small groups of friends to a chaotic gathering place for people betting on the stock market—and everything in between.
Modular computers and mobile devices haven’t really taken off in a big way, but it’s not for lack of trying. Google may have scrapped its Project Ara modular smartphone project years ago, but niche laptops with modular ports like the Framework Laptop and GPD Pocket 3 are now available, and smaller companies like Fairphone and Pine64 […]
Modular computers and mobile devices haven’t really taken off in a big way, but it’s not for lack of trying. Google may have scrapped its Project Ara modular smartphone project years ago, but niche laptops with modular ports like the Framework Laptop and GPD Pocket 3 are now available, and smaller companies like Fairphone and Pine64 sell phones with upgradeable and replaceable components.
Pockit is a different kind of modular platform. It’s a system that lets you snap together a series of blocks to add or remove hardware to a compact computer system. It’s been under development since 2019, but developer Anil Reddy says the hardware designs have been finalized, an initial batch will be produced soon, and a new demo video shows what’s possible with the Pockit ecosystem.
For example, a kit powered by a Raspberry Pi 4 Compute Module can be configured for use as a handheld computer with a small screen and a QWERTY keyboard, or as a phone or tablet-like device with a larger touchscreen display simply by snapping the appropriate modules onto the backplane.
Attach a battery block and you’ve got a mobile device for use on the go. Or if you don’t need a standalone computer, you could use the Pockit system as an IoT device by attaching a set of blocks including sensors, cameras, microphones, speakers, or other gear.
For example, the demo video shows a Pockit system being used to control smart lights and a fan via voice controls simply by swapping out blocks.
Some other blocks let you add things like HDMI or USB ports, an SD card reader or even an SSD. Each block snaps into place magnetically, and they’re able to communicate with each other.
PocKit isn’t just a Raspberry Pi-powered computer that can switch between desktop and mobile use. It’s the system that allows you to mix and match modules that can alter the functionality of hardware, enabling “fast hardware prototyping.”
As enticing as it is to think about a future where you could add or remove smartphone cameras, sensors, or other gear by simply replacing a block, this sort of system seems to be more clearly aimed at developers, makers, educators, and students.
Each module is a 3D printed enclosure that houses the appropriate circuitry and a system of magnets that allow you to snap hardware into place to design and test your own hardware. At this stage I wouldn’t expect the resulting creations to hold up well in your pocket or to survive a fall onto concrete. But I highly recommend giving the video a watch, because it’s mesmerizing to see just how versatile the latest prototype is.
When Anil Reddy first showed off the Pockit ecosystem last year, it was powered by a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, but since then he’s upgraded the system to feature a more powerful Raspberry Pi CM4.
He’s also made a new user-friendly, web-based Dashboard for monitoring and configuring the system. Accessible on the device itself or from another computer connected to the same network, the Dashboard shows which blocks are connected and lets you set applications that can be used with the available hardware.
You can use the dashboard to detect which blocks are connected and configure applications that work with each.
Der IT-Branchenverband Bitkom stört sich an der Freiwilligkeit digitaler Maßnahmen gegen Corona. Der Widerspruch lässt nicht lange auf sich warten. (Corona-App, Datenschutz)
Der IT-Branchenverband Bitkom stört sich an der Freiwilligkeit digitaler Maßnahmen gegen Corona. Der Widerspruch lässt nicht lange auf sich warten. (Corona-App, Datenschutz)
Mozilla released Firefox 87.0 this morning, the latest version of its open source web browser. Following on the heels of December's Firefox 85 and February's Firefox 86, the new version's most important features—Smart Block and improved referrer trimming—are privacy related.
Firefox has been blocking third-party tracking scripts by default for quite a while now. For the most part, this works pretty seamlessly—but in some cases, missing tracking scripts can interfere with a page's rendering, either delaying it (as seen in the animated image above, on the left) or permanently breaking it.
Smart Block takes an additional step to improve the rendering on pages that embed third-party trackers—instead of just pulling the script and leaving a "hole" where it used to be, Smart Block replaces it with what Mozilla describes as "stand-in" scripts. These stand-in scripts function just enough like the original trackers to restore the intended page-rendering sequence and results without actually leaking data to third parties.
Researchers saw listings increase 300% in the last three months.
Dark web vendors are selling falsified COVID-19 vaccination records. (credit: Check Point Research)
Tired of waiting to get your vaccine appointment? For just $500, you could get a COVID-19 vaccine dose tomorrow (overnight shipping not included). Too rich for your blood? How about a vaccination card for just $150?
Security researchers have seen a spike in listings on dark web marketplaces in recent weeks. The sites are advertising everything from vaccine doses to falsified vaccine certifications and negative test results. Currently, more than 1,200 listings are offering a variety of vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, and Sinopharm.
Investigations by researchers at security firm Check Point have been monitoring the sites for COVID-19-related activity since January, and they report a three-fold increase in such activity over the last three months. It’s unclear if the doses are legitimate, and even if they were, there’s no guarantee that the vials have been stored at the correct temperature, potentially rendering them useless.
Oneplus bringt seine erste Smartwatch nach Europa: Das Wearable kommt mit einem runden Display und soll eine lange Akkulaufzeit haben. (Oneplus, Smartwatch)
Oneplus bringt seine erste Smartwatch nach Europa: Das Wearable kommt mit einem runden Display und soll eine lange Akkulaufzeit haben. (Oneplus, Smartwatch)
OnePlus’ $969 price is only $30 cheaper than a Galaxy S21 Plus.
The OnePlus 9 Pro's new camera block. [credit:
Ron Amadeo ]
The new OnePlus flagship phones have arrived—the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro.
Both phones feature the Snapdragon 888, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4500mAh battery. The big news is that both devices are 120Hz with a 6.55-inch, 2400×1080 OLED on the OnePlus 9 and a 6.7-inch, 3168×1440 OLED on the OnePlus 9 Pro. Both phones get OnePlus' excellent "Warp Charging," now at 65W, just like the OnePlus 8T.
As for differences, the OnePlus 9 Pro gets a bigger, higher-res display with slightly curved sides, 50W wireless Warp Charging, IP68 water resistance, mmWave support, and a better main camera alongside an extra 3x telephoto camera. The OnePlus 9 has a completely flat display, only gets 15W wireless Qi charging, and isn't water-resistant unless you buy the T-Mobile version.
In Frankreich soll Ikea unter anderem das eigene Personal ausspioniert haben und hat sich das viele 100.000 Euro kosten lassen. (Ikea, Politik/Recht) 
Das nur für Nintendo Switch (und später für PC) verfügbare Monster Hunter Rise schickt Spieler ins alte Japan. Neben der stellenweise tristen und ruckeligen Grafik hat uns auch die nicht sehr spaßige Steuerung gestört. Von Peter Steinlechner (
Auf der neuen Fernbedienung für den Fire TV Stick gibt es Tasten für Disney+, Netflix und Prime Video. (
Der IT-Branchenverband Bitkom stört sich an der Freiwilligkeit digitaler Maßnahmen gegen Corona. Der Widerspruch lässt nicht lange auf sich warten. (
Oneplus bringt seine erste Smartwatch nach Europa: Das Wearable kommt mit einem runden Display und soll eine lange Akkulaufzeit haben. (
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