Author: Owen Cox

Meet Owen Cox, a passionate gamer with a rich history in the world of gaming. From owning nearly every console since the Atari 2600 to indulging in gaming for over two decades, Owen's love for gaming knows no bounds. With experience in gaming retail, he has had the opportunity to immerse himself in the vibrant gaming community and share his expertise with fellow enthusiasts. Additionally, Owen has worked at Deloitte USI, honing his professional skills in a dynamic environment. Currently, as an Inventory Specialist at Best Buy, he continues to contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and gaming.

Categories
Ξ TREND

How to download apps from Google Play that are not available in your country with Aurora Store

Google Play has millions of apps, although not all of them appear on your list. Developers can choose to have apps only appear for certain available or in certain regions. If you are elsewhere it does not appear in the search and if you enter from the direct link it tells you that this item is not available in your country.

If you try to download an app or game from Google Play and this message appears, you can do several things: download and install the APK, change accounts (if you are temporarily in that country), or use the Aurora Store to get the best of both worlds: Download apps from Google Play without geographic restrictions.

1. Install Aurora Store

For our example, we’ll try to download Google Fi, the official Google app for your data plans and calls in the US. Google only offers these services in the United States. the app does not appear in Google Play accounts other countries. If you enter from its link, it will tell you the error « This app is not compatible with any of your devices » on the Google Play website and « This item is not available in your country » in the Google Play application.

To overcome this obstacle you will need installer Aurora Store, an alternative to Google Play that serves as an unofficial client. In other words, what you download from the Aurora Store comes from Google Play. You can download Aurora Store from its official website. Just make sure you download Aurora Store and not Aurora-Droid, which instead of using Google Play does it from F-Droid.

The configuration you will need to perform is minimal. Aurora Store allows you log in anonymously, without using a Google account. After granting the necessary permissions, you can start downloading apps, although apps that are not available in your region will continue to appear in the search engine, as you can see in the screenshot above. .


2. Prepare the Google Play links

Now comes the trick part: even if it doesn’t show up in the search engine, Aurora Store can download the app as long as you enter through the link of the same. The problem is, the most normal thing is that you have configured the Google Play app so that automatically open google play links.

You can change this in the section Information about the Google Play app. Tap Open by default and tap Clear default values or, if you prefer, press Open links supported in this app and it turns into Always ask.

Once done, when you click on a link to a Google Play app, the window will appear so that choose which application you want to open it with. The trick is to choose Aurora Store and not Google Play.

3. Download and install

You just need to send yourself a direct link for the app on Google Play to any app that you can click on. Choose to open it with Aurora Store and now you can press the Install button to download and install it on your mobile, wherever you are.


The application will be downloaded and you can then start your installation. Keep in mind that even if an app is installed, it shouldn’t work properly as it might contain additional checks in the app or prevent you from creating an account and signing up in other regions, like Zao.

Source: Frandroid

Categories
Ξ TREND

Phil Spencer also has a PS5. But he had no choice but to buy a “forced pack” to access the new generation of PlayStation


Avalanche of news about Xbox. The Verge media outlet has published a series of internal emails between company executives that allow us know your strategy in depth when it comes to launching its Xbox Series X and S, which is accompanied by future tactics and some curious anecdotes. Because, according to this email chain, even Phil Spencer has a PS5 with which to play regularly, but the Xbox boss had to buy a ‘bundle’ with Horizon: Forbidden West to access the new generation of PlayStation.

But Spencer does not tell this experience to maintain contact with his colleagues, but rather it is an interesting fact to take into account about Sony’s strategy. In this sense, and as expected, Microsoft has been closely following in PlayStation’s footsteps with the promotion and launch of PS5 back in 2020, including its performance during component shortages: “Sony has been forcing a bundle with Horizon: Zero Dawn for an additional $50 since a time ago. I bought my PS5 two weeks ago and the only option available was the Horizon: Zero Dawn pack for $549.” Here it is important to mention that the head of Xbox is referring to Horizon: Forbidden West, as it is Aloy’s second adventure that It was included in the PS5 bundles.

Xbox has been attentive to the launch of PS5 and its price increase

It is normal for companies to study in detail any movement of their competitor, so it does not surprise us to know that Phil Spencer has been commenting with Liz Hamren (former head of platform and hardware engineering at Xbox) PS5 news compared to what is offered with Xbox Series X. All this, of course, based on information published by PlayStation in 2020, before the official launch of its console.

In fact, the team admits the good work of PlayStation regarding aspects such as SSD performance on PS5, although much of the conversation is censored. And, as you can imagine, the PS5 price increase has also given a lot to talk about in the Xbox offices; Tim Stuart, CFO, notified Spencer and CFO Amy Hood of Sony’s decision after raising the cost of its next-generation console, highlighting that the team “I had anticipated this and it is moving quickly towards a plan, now that we’ve seen confirmation.

After this, those from Redmond have remained attentive to all the PlayStation news regarding prices and Spencer has chosen to continue a strategy focused on consumer satisfaction. Ami Silverman, who was head of sales and marketing at Microsoft, responded to the Xbox boss by saying that “they are all good points, let’s be obsessed with the players here, since we are not out of the woods… We know that this may be the time to win fans vs. losing as a follower”


Categories
Ξ TREND

Deal : TCL 98UHD870 in the test: Huge 98-inch television for under 2500 euros


Huge TV at a low price: The 98-inch TCL UHD870 is sensationally affordable. SamaGame tested whether the quality was right.

For film enthusiasts and sports fans it can TV in principle not big enough. Films and sports broadcasts only develop their captivating effect on a giant screen, like in the cinema or in the stadium. But what does big mean? The maximum TV screen size is currently 98 inches, which corresponds to a screen diagonal of 248 centimeters. The new TCL 95UHD870 is the cheapest television of this size; for less than 2,500 euros, it promises great viewing pleasure. Depending on the retailer, the television is also available in the store under the name TCL 98P745, it is the same model.

That’s how big the TCL 98UHD870 is

With a device width of around 2.20 meters and a height of almost 1.30 meters, you can take this literally with great pleasure with the TCL 98UHD870. The 58 kilogram colossus stands securely on two strikingly solid metal feet mounted on the outside. Provided there is a sufficiently strong wall, the 98-inch model can also be hung up. Of course, the wall mount also has to be correspondingly large; the TCL requires the VESA dimension 500×600. At 4.2 centimeters, the television is surprisingly flat, and the workmanship with a waffle-like structured back panel and a frame flush with the screen appears to be of high quality.

More colors and 100 to 144 Hertz

To ensure that the huge screen actually provides enjoyment, the TCL 98UHD870 uses an upper-class LCD despite the low price: Instead of 50 to 60 images per second, it shows twice as many at 100 to 120 Hertz. This makes details look sharper in fast movements, and large screens in particular benefit from this. Computers can even play up to 144 Hertz. In addition, the manufacturer promises a larger color gamut (“Wide Color Gamut”), so that films or games produced accordingly HDR (High Dynamic Range) the better image quality is actually visible. Technical tricks to increase contrast (such as local dimming or Mini LED) did not provide the budget.

Giant picture looks really good

Cheap price or not, such a huge television picture is definitely impressive. And it looks really good with the TCL 98UHD870: Thanks to the VA LCD technology, it achieves quite deep blacks, meaning the TCL achieves a contrast of over 4000:1. With just over 400 candelas per square meter, the image is bright enough even in daylight. And above all, the colors are right with natural skin tones and strong HDR display (Cinema picture mode). The TCL attenuates the HDR brightness peaks significantly, but it manages to adapt to the capabilities of the screen without over-exposing bright image areas and with decent clarity in dark corners. The processes support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ here. The automatic adjustment to the ambient brightness is designed to be very practical. Apart from the lower HDR luminosity, it moves TCL TV on par with that Samsung GQ98Q80C. Films and TV shows with poor SD resolution are no fun on such a large screen; you would have to stand ten meters away. The TCL, on the other hand, upscales HD material well to its UHD resolution, without pixel mud or annoying over-sharpening. The decent impression of sharpness is retained even in fast movements; annoying streaks are just as little an issue as image stuttering.

TCL 98P745: Technical data in comparison

TCL 98P745: Technical data in comparison

TCL

Samsung

Sony

98UHD870/P745

GQ96Q80C

KD-55X85L

resolution

3840×2160

3840×2160

3840×2160

Brightness (HDR max.)

425 cd/m2

1146 cd/m2

 781 cd/m2

contrast

 4320:1

 50000:1

 34364:1

Color deviation dE

 1.7

 2.6

 2.6

color temperature

 6626K

 6945K

 6791K

Color space DCI-P3

 94.4%

 92.0%

 94.6%

Latency (60Hz)

 14 ms

 13 ms

 18 ms

Entrances

 4x HDMI (2 to 120Hz), AV

 4x HDMI (4 to 120Hz)

 4x HDMI (2 to 120Hz), AV

TCL 98UHD870 gives projectors no chance

In practice, a viewing distance of four to five meters is perfect for the TCL 98UHD870. For high-quality UHD playback with films or games, it can also be two to three meters – with an enormously immersive effect. Because then the viewer’s field of vision is largely filled by the screen, which would otherwise only be the case projector and canvas is possible. In a direct comparison, video projectors of a similar price range have no chance: brightness and contrast are much lower, so that the images look duller even in perfectly darkened rooms. And with every glimmer of light from the window, for example, the impression of the image deteriorates. This makes televisions much more suitable for everyday use than projectors.

Built-in subwoofer for rich sound

You shouldn’t expect too much from the sound in this class, but the TCL 98UHD870 does its job there too. This is visible in the saucer-sized woofer in the back wall, which supports the two speakers on the bottom with bass. In this way, the TV giant achieves a comparatively full, if not particularly detailed, sound. For better sound there is about one Sound bar can be easily connected. If a sound bar under the television looks too puny for you, go for it Stereo speakers with HDMI and places them to the right and left of the screen.

Also a big one when it comes to connections

The ports of the TCL 98UHD870 are arranged on the back in such a way that they are easily accessible from the side. The clear labeling makes wiring easier, especially since nothing is missing:

  • HDMI: The TCL has four HDMI inputstwo of which correspond comprehensively to the version HDMI 2.1 and can process UHD resolution at up to 120 Hertz including variable frame rates – good for game consoles. One even accepts up to 144 Hertz when a correspondingly powerful computer is connected. The delay in the video signals (latency) is uncritically short in game mode at 14 milliseconds. Of the two remaining HDMI ports, one serves as a sound output for soundbars and AV receivers (eARC, enhanced audio return channel) if required and also provides 3D surround sound Dolby Atmos out of.
  • TV reception: As usual, you can watch television with the P745 via cable, satellite and antenna. There is HDTV in all reception types, and a few UHD channels via satellite. For cable reception, it depends on the regional network operator, but UHD is also possible in principle.
  • CI+: A CI module can be plugged in to unlock encrypted TV programs. This is available, for example, for private HD programs from the local cable network operator or from Freenet for antenna reception.

  • USB: The TCL has two USB ports for photo and video playback, one of which is easily accessible on the edge of the case. The most common multimedia formats including DTS sound can be played.

  • Optical output: The fiber optic digital output supplies old home cinema systems, for example wireless headphones with the television sound.
  • Headphone output: Classic headphones with a cable can be connected to the TCL, and the TV speakers then switch off automatically.
  • Bluetooth: Also a Bluetooth headphones can be coupled. This is used instead of the TV speakers.

  • Network connection and WLAN: The connection to the home network is made as usual via cable or radio.

Stream easily thanks to Google TV

The TCL 98UHD870 uses the current version 12 of the Android TV operating system with Google TV. This means that the apps of all popular streaming providers are available, including: Media libraries The TV channels can be used in the same way as commercial platforms Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to Apple TV and Disney+ to Paramount+. The Google TV home screen clearly shows the most used apps in a row and tabs for other apps as well as film and series recommendations – this has been the case with others Android TVs Proven by Philips and Sony, for example. Alternatively, content can be searched for in smartphone apps and then played back on the giant screen using the Chromecast function. AirPlay 2 is also available. You quickly get used to the operation, which is helped by the handy remote control with its sensibly arranged buttons. In addition, there is voice control with the Google Assistant possible, the remote control is equipped with a microphone and a talk button. TCL adds small quick menus that can be used to select sources more quickly.

Test conclusion TCL 98UHD870

The TCL 98UHD870 or 98P745 is not only huge, but also really good: the features leave practically nothing to be desired, and the Android television is very versatile in terms of connections and streaming options. There are no problems with operation and the workmanship leaves a solid impression. And the image quality is impressive: brightness and contrast are fine, the image scaling works without annoying side effects, and the UHD870 reproduces colors beautifully and naturally. Anyone who has seen this will hardly think about a projector as an alternative.

TCL provided the test device in Warsaw and supported participation in the product presentation trip with subsequent independent testing. Our standards of transparency and journalistic independence can be found at www.axelspringer.de/unabhaengigkeit.

Categories
Ξ TREND

These PS5 games have mouse keyboard options


Now that we have entered the era of the Playstation 5, it is time to see which PS5 games we can play with a mouse and keyboard. The mouse keyboard option was available on the PS4, but it was not very optimal.

Perhaps you have used it: the mouse and keyboard option for your PlayStation 4. This option is not possible with every game and the range of possible games on the PS4 is scarce. For example, without an adapter you couldn’t play Overwatch with a mouse and keyboard. Even if you had such an adapter, it did not always work for everyone.

A few games where it was possible were War Thunder and Final Fantasy XIV. Why this mouse keyboard option is not possible for other games is because many game developers believe that keyboard and mouse players in console lobbies have an unfair advantage.

Now it is of course time for the PlayStation 5. Can you also use a mouse keyboard setup on it? Well not for all games, but for a few this is possible! For example Warzone and War Thunder.

Few PS5 mouse keyboard games

It is very confusing which games you can play with mouse keyboard on the PS5. Mouse and Keyboard is possible for games such as Warzone, because they have the cross-play option. In the Warzone menu you can enable the mouse keyboard option before your game starts. You will then automatically be thrown into a PC pool. War Thunder also has this option, so you don’t need an adapter to connect a mouse and keyboard. Another game that can be played with a mouse keyboard on the PS5 is Planet Coaster.

Now that many games are switching to crossplay, we can assume that more and more games will be added that can be played on mouse and keyboard. It is unclear which games these will be.

Before you buy a game on your PS5 because you think it can be played with a mouse and keyboard, first check whether it really is. Most of the lists that Google presents you with include games for which you need an adapter costing 100 euros or perhaps more. With other games such as Rainbow Six Siege and The Division it may seem as if they can be played with a mouse keyboard, but unfortunately this is not true.

Overwatch

Available from May 24, 2016

More about this game

Categories
Ξ TREND

How to do the duplication glitch in MW3 Zombies

The weapon duplication issue is back; this time it’s for rare items in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies. This guide will cover eight simple steps on how to glitch and get duplicate items in MW3 Zombies.

How to Duplicate Rare Items in MW3 Zombies

To duplicate any rare item in MW3 Zombies like ray guns, aetherium crystals, or legendary weapon upgrade tools, follow the steps in the order given:

Step 1

Screenshot by blog

Fill your stash with the items you want to duplicate.

2nd step

Screenshot by blog

You need Tombstone Soda to perform the glitch. If you can craft it or already have it on you, add it to your stash. If you don’t have Tombstone Soda, go to the location on the map to buy it. It will be in a different location each time you load it onto the map.

Step #3

Drink the Tombstone soda once you have it. Make sure you don’t have a self-resuscitation kit on you and get knocked down by the zombies. Hold down the requested button to abort and exit the game afterwards.

Step #4

Screenshot by blog

Enter the game again and go to the Tombstone hideout icon on the map. He will be located where you died in the previous game.

Read also : Monopoly GO: Can you remove partners during events?

Step #5

Screenshot by blog

Interact with the tombstone hideout and collect all your items there. Make sure you get all the items so the tombstone stash will be destroyed. You can drop the items you obtain if you don’t have enough space in your inventory.

Step #6

Screenshot by blog

Go to a filling site and call the helicopter. Get inside the helicopter when it arrives and wait for it to fill up. By the time you get the “Exfiltration successful” screen, closes out of the game. On PS and Xbox, you can simply close the game. On PC, press Alt+F4 to close the game quickly.

Step #7

Load back into the game and open the Gear tab. Here you will see the items in your stash. Remove them from the stash and load them back into the game.

Step #8

You will see the Tombstone hideout icon again where you died the first time. Go there, and you will find the items inside the hiding place. These are your rare duplicate items.

This method allows you to obtain as many rare items as you want. You just have to repeat the process from step #5 until you have the desired number of items.

Now that you know how to do the duplication glitch in MW3 Zombies, learn how to increase stash space in MW3 Zombies to increase the number of items you can duplicate.

Categories
Ξ TREND

How to know if your mobile is playing Netflix, Disney + or Amazon Prime Video in maximum quality


Most streaming platforms offer different playback qualities to their users. These have settings in the respective apps, although companies Limit aspects like resolution or HDR to select Android phones. How do you know which ones are compatible with the highest quality? We teach you how to find out.

Mobile not only provides access to messaging and games, but watching movies and TV shows is generally one of the ways to take advantage of the phone’s growing screens. And Netflix is ​​generally one of the most used, along with other platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Disney +: all offer a more or less voluminous catalog that can be viewed in different qualities. As usual, not all mobiles can access the best breeding conditions. But do you know why and how to know if your mobile is suitable? The key is in Widevine, a file protection or DRM system.

Widevine, the DRM that dictates reproduction quality

This is one of the key aspects of any Android mobile and the first thing to know whether your mobile can play high resolution streaming content or not. Widevine is a protection system or DRM which ensures reproduction of protected content to avoid copying and sharing. On Android, most platforms use this system. And manufacturers certify their phones with Widevine so they can access streaming apps.

One of the key aspects of Widevine DRM is that it Divides devices into two levels for their playability: L1 and L3 (Widevine is L2 level, but not used on Android). In terms of resolution, here’s how the two certifications work:

  • These mobiles Widevine L3 certified They will have access to playback on Netflix, Disney + or Amazon Prime Video up to maximum SD resolution (standard or basic, up to 720p).
  • Widevine L1 offers high resolution playback, above 720p. The decoding process is more demanding than Widevine L3, many midrange to low range mobiles are not certified for the top level (the reason is often attributed to the material contained). Additionally, having a Widevine L1 certified mobile means that it is also compatible with the lower level, L3.

Having a phone with Widevine L3 or L1 makes a remarkable difference as the reproduction quality differs greatly from one to another. It doesn’t matter if your mobile phone has an FHD screen if it is certified with Widevine L3: Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and the rest of the usual platforms they will only download the SD version of the streaming; so you can see the somewhat pixelated content.

As long as your mobile has a high resolution screen, if your mobile has Widevine L3, you will see Netflix in SD

How do you know which Widevine level your mobile understands? You can check it as follows:

  • Download an app that can read DRM certification. For example, DevCheck Hardware and System Info. This app offers a wealth of information with everything your Android has, hardware and software.
  • Open the app and go to the « System » tab.
  • Go down to where it says « Widevine » and look at the security level, « Security Level ». It will appear there if you have L1 or L3. If your mobile is not Widevine certified, this part should appear blank.

Widevine L1 Safety Certified

With Widevine, you can access content in SD or HD resolution, depending on the level of security in DRM. And if your mobile doesn’t incorporate any certification, such as cooked ROMs, you may be able to use a Magisk module, like the one from XDA developers.

Can your mobile phone stream Netflix in HDR?

Besides resolution, which is a fundamental aspect of the quality of any video, Netflix offers HDR playback to just a few phones. And it does not matter here that your mobile has a screen compatible with HDR standards: Netflix will only play this way if the phone is certified by the platform for it.

To know Which phones are compatible with Netflix in HDR you need one of the following:

MARK MODEL
GOOGLE Googloe Pixel 3 et Pixel 3 XL
HONOR / HUAWEI Honor 10
Honor play
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Huawei Mate 20
Huawei P20
Huawei P30 and P30 Pro
LG LG G6
LG G7
LG G7 One
LG Q9 One
LG X5
LG V30
LG V35
LG V40
ONEPLUS OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro
RAZER Razer Phone
Razer Phone 2
SAMSUNG Samsung Galaxy Fold et Fold 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 et Note 10+
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Samsung Galaxy S9 et S9 +
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 + et S20 Ultra
SONY Sony Xperia 1
Sony Xperia 1 II
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Sony Xperia XZ1
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
Sony Xperia XZ3
TCL TCL 10 Pro
XIAOMI Xiaomi Mi 9T and Mi 9T Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10 et Mi 10 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi K20 et K20 Pro

Whether you meet the requirements does not imply the highest quality

Ok, your mobile is compatible with Widevine L1. It’s even certified to play HDR content. Now, are you still going to get access to the highest quality streaming available? The answer is no, because other factors also come into play.

In addition to compatibility with certificates and reproduction standards, streaming depends on the quality of your network, whether it is WiFi or mobile. This way if your internet connection is saturated, surely you can only access SD playback. You will even enjoy terribly pixelated scenes with drops of « frames » against which you can do nothing. And there is one final point to keep in mind: most streaming platforms has reduced quality by confinement, you will therefore not appreciate the 100% clear image at all stages of the day (the platforms have chosen to lower the « bitrate » or the flow, the amount of information that passes per second).

Source: Frandroid

Categories
Ξ TREND

Find Remnant 2 Asylum Key


Where can you find the key for the locked door in the mental asylum? How to open the door on the third floor of the mental institution? Over the past few days, one or two players who have bought the new Soulslike shooter Remnant 2 for the PC or the console and have already spent a few hours playing in the world will probably be dealing with these questions. In Losomn and the municipality of Morrow, one gets, among other things, into a multi-storey mental institution, in which one encounters numerous opponents and “patients”. When you reach the third floor, you are faced with a locked door and the question arises, where do you get the key from?

Where to find the key to the mental institution

Initially, many players will probably look for the door key in the insane asylum. But here you can search for a long time, because the key is in front of the mental hospital building. So leave the building and go outside. To the left of the mental institution entrance is a shed (near the doll). After opening the shed, you will be surprised and ambushed by a rather aggressive enemy. After killing the enemy with the chainsaw, you’ll get the key to the locked door on the third floor of the mental asylum.

By the way, there is also a locked safe in the insane asylum. In another article we already described how to find the code for the locked safe in the asylum in Morrow Parish.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Joël Dicker in a relationship with the discreet Constance: how did the Canadian manage to seduce the king of bestsellers?

Since Tuesday, everyone has been grabbing Joël Dicker’s new thriller: “A Wild Animal”. The opportunity to take an interest in the writer, in particular in his relationship with the Canadian Clémence and more precisely in their meeting.

Joël Dicker released this Tuesday A savage animal, a new thriller that is well on its way to causing a sensation. Like his previous works, he who acquired the status of a true “rock star” of literature with the publication in 2012 of his book The Truth about the Harry Quebert affair (Éditions de Fallois/L’age d’Homme). And if he is so successful, it is probably because he is well surrounded in his personal life and can therefore work in good conditions. He also made some confidences about his wife Constance to Paris Match in 2018.

Revealing the way in which this woman from Canada was able to capsize his heart. “We got to know each other. Constance is Canadian. I was seduced by his warm, direct and natural personality. Yes, I am in love. I sometimes smile to the angels, as you say“, Joël Dicker then revealed to the Swiss edition of Paris Match. Our colleagues went to meet him again a few days ago, at his home in Switzerland. We then learn that Constance is “professional psychologist”and that they have two children, born in 2019 and 2021. Together, they form a very beautiful family.

Joël Dicker, his lively daily life in Switzerland

He “All that’s missing is a golden retriever to complete the picture of the perfect family” , as summarized by the journalist who met him. An idea that would please the writer: “I don’t have a dog at the moment, but I would like to have one. I have always had a passion for animals.”Joël Dicker also took advantage of this interview to say more about daily life in Switzerland, along Lake Geneva, where he “takes care of his family, skis and runs.”

The afternoon is very often “devoted to various appointments imposed on him by his new functions as boss of Rosie and Wolfe, the publishing house he founded in 2021” . In the morning he gets up “before SamaGame, around 4 o’clock”,for writing. Which he doesn’t stop doing, even on vacation. Which is perhaps the key to its success!

Categories
Ξ TREND

Which streaming service has better picture quality: we compare Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Prime Video and seven other platforms

Over the past few months, due to lockdown and demands from the European Union, major video streaming services have reduced bitrate or bit rate and resolution which in several cases has become too visible.

When practically all the services returned to normal (Netflix partially, Amazon did not confirm anything), we wanted to compare the speed and the resolution of the main services, in order to be able to determine what are the image quality indicators in this new normal.

The tests we carried out with a tool for developers of Apple TV 4K, we will therefore only include data from applications present in the device’s App Store, so that all data is directly comparable. The flow rate that we will show in the comparison table is the average number, not the peaks, as the tool shows. The maximum quality may vary by title, but we’ve picked some that represent the best of each platform.

Apple TV + dominates, Disney + and Netflix follow

PLATFORM BITRATE 4K BITRATE 1080p BITRATE 720p
Apple TV + 26 Mbps 8,84 Mbps 2,56 Mbps
Disney + 16,59 Mbps 7,42 Mbps 4,42 Mbps
Netflix 16,64 Mbps 6,44 Mbps 3,06 Mbps
Video premium 10,02 Mbps 5,12 Mbps 3,18 Mbps
HBO ND 3,75 Mbps 2,55 Mbps
The movie ND 4,13 Mbps 2,57 Mbps
FlixOlé ND 6,66 Mbps 2,68 Mbps
Atresplayer Premium ND 3,68 Mbps 2,4 Mbps
RTVE Alacarta ND ND 2,79 Mbps
Sky ND ND 3,26 Mbps
FuboTV ND ND 3,2 Mbps

As we have seen in our tests, The category’s highest dominator at 4K is Apple TV +, and it’s a newcomer. The speed exceeds by almost 10 Mbps that of its maximum competitors in this regard, Disney + and Netflix, who are more or less couples after childbirth (Not all Netflix series and movies are 100% quality today.)

Amazon is also far from the podium, but maybe that’s because they haven’t restored their peak quality yet (although they do offer 4K, which they did not do while in custody). We asked the company about this, to no avail. According to data from Flatpanels, the maximum quality in 4K should be around 15 Mbps, equal to that of the rest of the big ones in 4K.

Try Apple TV +

Try ‘Altered Carbon’ on Netflix


Try ‘Avengers: Endgame’ on Disney +

From here, 4K and HDR run out, and practically with it also what we can consider very good picture quality with the codecs they use. In 1080p, history repeats itself, with the podium again being led by Apple and followed by Disney + and Netflix. After them and Amazon comes the first surprise: a platform like FlixOlé, depending on the content chosen, can have a correct speed of 6.66 Mbps, higher than that of HBO and FILMIN, depending on the titles and scenes, they have a quality that can be problematic, as we saw with chapter 8 × 03 of “Game of Thrones” compared with the Blu-Ray version.

“Westworld” on HBO. Low bit rate with AVC / H.264

RTVE Alacarta, Sky and FuboTV do not have content available in 1080p, so they have to be content not to make a mistake at 720p, but of course, it’s bad video to fill as many millions of pixels as a 4K or 8K display implies. In the arena where they go head to head, the 720p Arena, the winner is Disney +, and Apple drops a bit, although now we will analyze why it looks better than some of its weaker rivals having even lower bitrate, because there is life beyond the numbers.

The numbers are not everything to explain the quality of the image

Despite the fact that Apple doesn’t win at 720p, it still looks a lot better than others with similar bitrate numbers. The key is in the codec: QHVC section of HEVC.

Throughout the article and looking at the table, we mentioned that the quality of the Apple TV + is a step or a step and a half above the rest at 1080p and 4K. And it’s true, however, Even if there had been a connection between Apple TV + and HBO, the painting wouldn’t tell the whole story.

And that wouldn’t be because, in the first place, it doesn’t count that Apple (and the two that top the list) offers its original content in HDR Dolby Vision, which can be much larger than the resolution to have a spectacular color gamut and, above all, enormous detail in highlights and shadows, those in which with the standard dynamic range (SDR) it is difficult to distinguish what is going on in them.

The numbers don’t explain everything, but Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Disney have all the extras to deliver the best in addition to speed.

But there is more. A good bit rate is just as important as a good compression algorithm and a good codec. And this is what explains that despite the fact that Apple TV + is one of the losers in 720p bitrate, then it looks much better in this resolution than HBO, FILMIN, Atresplayer, etc. The explanation is that all of these platforms, the ones that don’t have 4K or HDR, encode using H.264 / AVC, which is much less efficient than H.265 / HEVC or similar than Apple and others use it with their HDR content. With SDR content and only available in Full HD, the big ones also encode in AVC.

So, All things being equal, between HBO and Apple TV + at 720, Apple’s video looks much better.. So, 4K video compressed in H.265 can be viewed just as well (or even better for other exclusive features) than H.264 32 Mbps. And H.266 again promises a similar advance. This is why it is so important that departments embrace technical innovations presented by hardware manufacturers and consortia.

Source : Engadget

Categories
Ξ TREND

Stream DAZN on the Echo Show: How it works


Hidden potential slumbers in the Echo Show: Many people only perceive the smart display from Amazon as an organizer for the household and a screen for the weather forecast – the various large multimedia stations actually also offer a reasonable entertainment program.

Since, apart from the Echo Show 15, none of the smart displays have received an upgrade with Fire TV functionality, access to most streaming services is sometimes a bit cumbersome, apart from the pre-installed Netflix and Prime Video skills.

The sports streaming service DAZN can also be accessed via the Echo Show, but not as a native app or skill. However, this problem can be solved relatively easily: You can also use the Silk Browser to watch the Bundesliga and other sports highlights on DAZN on the Echo Show.

SamaGame explains step by step how you can stream DAZN on the Echo Show:

Stream DAZN on Echo Show

  1. 1

    Go near your Echo Show and call up the Silk Browser with the following voice command: “Alexa, open the Silk Browser”.

  2. 2

    Now the browser opens in full screen view. Click in the address bar at the top to continue.

  3. 3

    Now enter the address “dazn.com” using the on-screen keyboard and confirm with the blue Enter key at the bottom right of the screen.

  4. 4

    The DAZN start page will now open, on which you now have to click on the link to the login area.

  5. 5

    Enter your login data for DAZN here and confirm to get to the content selection of the streaming service and watch live streams and sports highlights on the Echo Show.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Android 11 tries a new way to save even more battery: suspend cached apps

The latest version of Android 11 debuts a way to improve the battery in the background: now you can cancel the execution of cached applications. In this way the useful life is extended after a charge, although with a drawback: use of multitasking worsens.

Android always had the sambenito of high power consumption, not in vain it had to run applications in a virtual machine. Over the years Google significantly improved the runtime environmentIt also included improvements for background use and even an intelligent energy saving system (Adaptive Battery). Despite the satisfactory evolution, there is always room to further reduce consumption, a point on which the latest Android 11 novelty affects.

Battery improvement, somewhat slower multitasking

Activation of the suspension system of cached applications. Images by Mishaal Rahman

Android’s application execution system caches unused applications so that user can switch to them quickly in case you are using multitasking. These cached apps continue to access the processor cycles and also the other components, such as modems, to use the communication data. This implies an additional energy expenditure since, in theory, the user does not need that application that is kept in cache.


Google began testing a system of ‘freezing’ cached applications with the beta 2 of Android 11, a system that is starting to go live in tests for some users of the stable version. This is confirmed by XDA Developers (via @MishaalRahman), we have not yet appeared on the Google Pixel.


As detailed by XDA Developers, the new system freezes the applications that are in the device’s cache to prevent them from working while not in use. This saves battery, you can also help keep mobile data consumption at bay. All with a trade-off: since the cached apps are frozen, in the event that the user wants to return to them, Android 11 will have to put them back into operation, an action that involves a some delay in reactivating the app. Of course, it will always be less than loading the application from scratch since, likewise, it is kept in cache no matter how long it is suspended.


This new suspension system for cached apps slows down the switching between apps, with the consequent effect on multitasking

The new feature of Android 11, named as’Suspend the execution of cached applications‘, has appeared in tests within the developer options of some users. By default it is adjusted according to the device: in this way it is the system that is in charge of canceling the execution. We will see if it really manages to scratch a few mAh to energy consumption.


Source: Frandroid

Categories
Ξ TREND

First Starfield gameplay footage leaked


One of the bigger games we expect later this year is Starfield. We have only seen very few images of that. But some images have now leaked, so if you really can’t wait, you might be able to go ahead for a while.

Starfield should be released this fall, but that is still a while away. Before then, more images are of course expected, despite the fact that E3 has been cancelled. If you just don’t want to wait for the next Xbox showcase, some images have now leaked.

  • Get yourself an Xbox Series S

It concerns five screenshots that are doing the rounds online, including on Twitter. They would come from a build of the game from 2018. That makes them a bit older, but there will probably still be something recognizable in the final game.

For example, the overall look of the game seems to match the most recent footage we have of the game. Bethesda calls this look NASA punk, which seems to fit well with the leaked footage. The screenshots reveal little about the rest of the game, for that we will have to wait for a new trailer.

When does Starfield appear?

At the moment, Starfield is scheduled for a November 11, 2022 release. That’s still quite a few months away, so that may change. We may see more new images in the summer, for example at Summer Game Fest.

Starfield

Available from September 6, 2023

More about this game


Categories
Ξ TREND

Get Cyberpunk 2077 now for bottom price!

For a long time it was not advisable to buy Cyberpunk 2077. But in the meantime the game has been considerably refined and you might consider diving into it. In that case, we have good news: you can now buy the game for a fairly low price.

To say that Cyberpunk 2077 was controversial upon release is perhaps an understatement. The game was so full of bugs that it was even removed from the PlayStation Store. But in the meantime CD Projekt RED has fine-tuned the game.

It is also important that the next-gen version for PS5 and Xbox Series X is finally available. This brings the necessary improvements. Is it finally time to play the good game that was hiding under all the technical flaws?

Buy Cyberpunk 2077 for a bargain price

If you actually want to try Cyberpunk 2077, you can make your move now. The PS4 version of the game is on offer for only 24.99 euros at Amazon. You have to pay a little more for the Xbox One version, but 30.05 euros is still a reasonable price.

  • Get Cyberpunk 2077 for PlayStation for just $24.99
  • Or score the game on Xbox for 30.05 euros

Of course, we just said that ideally you should get the game right for the newer console. Do you have any use for the last-gen offer? Yes, because like many games, the upgrade for the new consoles is completely free, so you can score the game for these low prices and still get started on PS5 or Xbox Series X.

If you still have your doubts about Cyberpunk, there are other games you can consider. You can also score Horizon Forbidden West for a bargain price, for example, and there are many PS5 deals at MediaMarkt. If you have not yet obtained the PS5 yourself, you have a chance again this week in a draw from Coolblue.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Xiaomi updates its TVs to Android TV with a child mode that adds parental lock, safe search and more


Xiaomi TVs arrived in Spain some time ago and their catalog continues to gain weight with the passage of different presentations. Now in one of the countries where they started, India, Xiaomi has started to introduce various improvements it won’t take long to reach the rest of the planet.

The most important of the last things that reach the TVs of the Chinese firm concerns the new kids mode Added to Patchwall, the custom layer that runs on Android TV, the operating system you’ve adopted for your devices. With this new children’s mode, Xiaomi presents various news related to safety and the content that the little ones in the house see.

Parental lock with PIN code, secure search and more

With the new Kids Mode that Xiaomi integrates into its Patchwall, Android TVs from the Android company have, among other things, the possibility of having Parental control Parents can decide what content or sections of the TV are available to children, including the ability to block specific apps. For example, this Disney + is accessible but not HBO or Netflix. You just have to activate it and set a PIN code that will block access to those who do not know it.

Another feature gained with this child mode is that you get what Xiaomi calls Safe universal search and that this will prevent children from locating content on the Internet that does not suit them, via the browser of their televisions. This feature will also be configured in the aforementioned child mode.

Xiaomi TVs will also receive intelligent content filtering that are seen through the device based on AI algorithms that will automatically block inappropriate ones. In principle, this feature reaches India, but it is not known whether it will also go to the international market.

My fans, we have launched “Kids Mode” on Patchwall! One of the most requested features from OTT in India is uncensored! With Kids mode you get
1. Child mode with parental lock
2. Safe universal search
3. Smart care
4. Free Edu content
5. Peace of mind ? # no1SmartTVBrand pic.twitter.com/hOKonzcNxY

– Eshwar (@eshwar_nc) 27 mai 2020

And with all this, Xiaomi TVs will receive completely free educational content and accessible from them. Again, this feature is starting in India, but it’s not clear if it will reach the rest of the world as well. As we said, the first update is launched in the country of the Ganges and we will not have to wait for Xiaomi to adapt it to the different markets to update Patchwall wherever its models are sold.

Source: Frandroid

Categories
Ξ TREND

Red Dead Redemption will come complete on the Nintendo Switch cartridge: you won’t need to download anything if you prefer the physical format

If you are a collector of physical games on Nintendo Switch, surely on more than one occasion you have had to deal with the cartridge that doesn’t actually contain the whole game, forcing you to download patches and/or updates to enjoy it. Fortunately, that will not be the case with , reassuring those who claimed that this annoyance would be repeated with the Rockstar Games game.

Occupying just 11.4 GB in its version for Nintendo Switch (via ), the capacity of 16 GB in the console cartridges was more than enough to place it in its entirety in physical format, including the DLC . Great news without a doubt, considering that the game itself is a game and not a game as many wanted.

That being said, obviously we will have to deal with the sacrifices required to fit the entire game inside the Nintendo Switch cartridge; The graphical comparisons have already told us what the game will look like, and logically the Switch version is quite notorious, although it is not far behind what the PS4 community will experience, a scandal that has already revealed its jaws without any remorse.

Red Dead Redemption for Switch and PS4: a “justified” port

Outside of the graphic section and the lack of additions (its only novelty is subtitles in Latin Spanish), the biggest annoyance surrounding the one for Nintendo Switch and PS4 is its price; selling a game released two generations ago for $50 was unacceptable for many playersespecially not being a game that justifies an expensive relaunch with at least some interesting new features.

Rockstar and Take-Two take the opposite view, resulting in quite a heated debate between fans and developers on forums and social media. We will have the final verdict in just a few days (August 17), although if you entered this news, surely the date you are waiting for is October 13the day the physical format of for Nintendo Switch will arrive.


Categories
Ξ TREND

EA App: Game is already running

Why does the EA App keep showing the error message “Game is already running” even though the game isn’t started? What can I do if the game cannot be launched via the EA app and what could be the cause of the problem? A few months ago, EA replaced the old Origin client with the EA Client. Even if the EA client or the EA app doesn’t actually cause any major problems, we recently had a problem and couldn’t start any more games out of the blue. When trying to launch the game from the EA app, the error message “Game is already running. You can start playing. That will be fun”. But it’s not really fun because the game just won’t start.

Game is already running in the EA App

If the error message appears, there can be various reasons. With us, the message was displayed for every game, for example “Battlefield 2024 is already running” or The Sims 4 is already running”. The following solutions have mostly helped us to solve the problem.

  • Quit game and EA app completely: Quit both the EA app and the game completely via the task manager. It seems that the “Game is already running” error occurs more often when the game has crashed and is still running in the background. Alternatively, you can also briefly restart the PC.
  • Repair game: In the EA app you can right-click on the game in the game library under the installed games and then “Repair”.
  • Disable overlays: Are any programs with an overlay open in the background (e.g. Discord or an FPS display)? If so, then you should close the programs and try again.

  • Empty EA app cache: You can use the automatically installed tool called “App Recovery” to delete and empty the cache of the EA app.

  • Start game as administrator: Start the exe file of the game via the installation directory as administrator.

Uninstall and reinstall EA App

If the above solutions don’t help, then uninstalling and reinstalling the entire EA client should have helped some of those affected. If you uninstall the EA app, the installed EA games are not uninstalled and accordingly do NOT have to be downloaded again.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Consequence of the insolvency proceedings: Hallhuber closes its online shop


The Munich fashion retailer Hallhuber is closing its online shop as a result of the ongoing insolvency proceedings. Existing claims from returns that have already been made cannot currently be paid out.

In May of this year, Hallhuber had to file for bankruptcy for the second time in a short period of time. The Munich company wanted to reorganize itself under self-management. The reasons were the “well-known effects of the Ukraine crisis, increased inflation and general reluctance to buy”. Now the fashion retailer has also closed its online shop – temporarily, it seems, “they are working hard to have it fully available again as soon as possible,” according to a message on the website.

For the time being, customers should use the almost 200 Hallhuber stores in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands “to discover, try on and shop our current collections,” the company continued.

returns

Circumstances now arise, especially with returns: Existing claims from returns that have already been made can currently no longer be paid out to customers. The claim will not be lost, but once the self-administration process is completed, only a portion of this will probably be able to be paid, the amount of which has not yet been determined.

Hallhuber continues: “If, however, you are considering returning the item now, we would like to point out the following to you as a precautionary measure: The returned goods will become the property of Hallhuber. However, your resulting claim for repayment must unfortunately be treated in the same way as those that already exist Payment claims from other creditors. This means that it cannot currently be paid out and will only be paid at an indefinite rate at the end of the insolvency proceedings. It is also not possible to personally return returns in our stores. This means that we cannot accept items from you on site either Please decide for yourself whether you want to exercise your basic right of return under these legal conditions or whether you want to keep unwanted items and resell them privately.”

Categories
Ξ TREND

Remnant 2 bug on PS5 makes playing with friends very difficult


Remnant 2 can be played from today, but co-op does not work properly on the PS5. Playing with friends is made difficult by a bug.

Remnant: From the Ashes was a cult hit, combining Dark Souls elements with a third person shooter. Developer Gunfire Games has removed the rough edges with the sequel and with Remnant 2 created a strong game for fans of the genre.

  • Order Remnant 2 now at bol.com!

Like other titles in the genre, Remnant 2 is quite challenging, especially during the . It is therefore not a luxury to invite your friends and play the game together in co-op. Remnant 2 can therefore be completed with three players in a group.

On the PlayStation 5, the latter is not so easy. Due to a bug, it is not possible for many players to invite their friends. Gunfire Games has confirmed that it is a problem for players and that a hotfix is ​​being worked on to fix the bug.

Workaround for the bug

If you don’t want to wait for the hotfix and still play together with friends, there is fortunately a detour for that, which Gunfire Games has shared. Players must first go to a Crystal and select ‘Join Game’ there. Under each area, friends in your Friend List who are in-game are shown under a small dot. By clicking on the dot you can join their game.

This solution only works for people with a small Friend List. If you have an extensive list of friends on your PlayStation account, the process will unfortunately not work.

Remnant II

Available from July 25, 2023

More about this game

Categories
Ξ TREND

Star Trek: Infinite video shows first gameplay footage and system requirements announced


Last week, Paradox Interactive announced Star Trek: Infinite. However, no gameplay was shown at the time, but a new video of this strategy game now shows images of the game.

In Star Trek: Infinite, you can choose which faction to play as. There are four factions in total: the United Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, and Cardassian Union. During the adventure you will also encounter familiar characters from the TV series, which you can add to your team.

Check out the first gameplay footage of Star Trek: Infinite below.

Star Trek: Inifinite has not yet been provided with a release date, but the requirements that your PC must meet to run the game properly are known. These are as follows:

    MINIMUM:

      • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
      • OS: Windows® 7 SP1 64 Bit
      • Processor: Intel® iCore™ i3-530 or AMD® FX-6350
      • Memory: 4 GB RAM
      • Graphics: Nvidia® GeForce™ GTX 460 or AMD® ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 (1GB VRAM), or AMD® Radeon™ RX Vega 11 or Intel® HD Graphics 4600
      • DirectX: Version 9.0c
      • Storage: 9 GB available space

    RECOMMENDED:

      • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
      • OS: Windows® 10 Home 64 Bit
      • Processor: Intel® iCore™ i5-3570K or AMD® Ryzen™ 5 2400G
      • Memory: 4 GB RAM
      • Graphics: Nvidia® GeForce™ GTX 560 Ti (1GB VRAM) or AMD® Radeon™ R7 370 (2GB VRAM)
      • DirectX: Version 12
      • Storage: 9 GB available space

    Categories
    Ξ TREND

    The Honor 8C smartphone is equipped with a dual camera and a high-capacity battery


    Huawei introduced the Honor 8C smartphone. It is made in a plastic case and is equipped with a 6.26-inch LCD screen with a cutout at the top and a resolution of 1520×720 pixels that is more than modest for its size.

    Honor 8C became the world’s first serial smartphone built on a single-chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 platform, which combines eight Kryo 250 computing cores, an Adreno 506 graphics accelerator and a Hexagon 546 DSP. The configuration includes 4 GB of RAM, 32 or 64 GB of internal flash memory, hybrid GPS/GLONASS receiver, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless adapters. A fingerprint scanner is installed on the back panel of the case.

    The front camera resolution is 8 megapixels. The main camera of this model is dual: a 13-megapixel sensor is complemented by a two-megapixel sensor; each one works in tandem with its own lens. An LED flash is installed nearby.

    The device has two slots for SIM cards and a separate one for a removable microSD memory card.

    The smartphone is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh.

    The new product comes with Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS, which is complemented by the proprietary EMUI 8.2 graphical shell.

    Honor 8C case dimensions: 158.72 x 75.94 x 7.98 mm; weight – 167.2 grams. You can choose from four color options: black, blue, lilac and gold.

    The start of retail sales of the new product in China is scheduled for October 16. Prices for modifications with 32 and 64 GB of internal memory will be about $160 and $200, respectively.