Bloober Team’s remake of Silent Hill 2 is due to hit PlayStation 5 and PC on October 8, and it’s looking nice and spooky. It’s available to pre-order on Steam and through Sony.
It’s been less than two years since Konami and Bloober Team announced the Silent Hill 2 remake, though news of its existence leaked a few months beforehand, giving fans plenty of time to catastrophize the entire situation. Today we got the first gameplay trailer for the remake, showcasing familiar hallways lined with bloody nurses, low-light environments crawling with bugs, and a few other nasty surprises that have always been lurking in the sleepy town of Silent Hill.
Bloober Team is the studio behind the Layers of Fear franchise, Observer, Blair Witch and The Medium — all perfectly serviceable psychological horror experiences. Still, there’s a lot to live up to here: Silent Hill 2 is a beloved, classic horror game. It hit the PlayStation 2 in 2001 and, more than 20 years on, plenty of fans are anxious to see how the remake will hold up.
Bloober Team co-founder Piotr Babieno told Engadget in June 2023 that the studio shifted its entire game-making ethos for the Silent Hill 2 remake. Instead of leading with mood and set dressing, they made mechanics and player input the foundation of the on-screen terror, using these tools to generate disquiet. The Layers of Fear collection that came out last summer marked the end of Bloober Team’s psychological-horror era.
“This year is like closing the era of making psychological horror games,” Babieno said last June. “Right now we are going into Bloober Team 3.0, making mass-market horror.” He continued, “We decided that our next titles should be much more mass-market oriented. We’d like to talk with more people. We’d like to deliver our ideas, with our DNA, not by environment or storytelling, but by action. So all of our future titles will have a lot of gameplay mechanics. They will be much bigger.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/silent-hill-2-remake-hits-ps5-and-pc-on-october-8-230731258.html?src=rss
Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Palo Alto, LA, Taiwan, and Singapore, Sightful has announced the Spacetop G1, the first commercially available augmented reality laptop that offers a 100-inch virtual workspace within a portable form factor. This innovative device enhances productivity and privacy in a “work from anywhere” environment.
The Spacetop G1 can be reserved for $100 on Sightful’s website. Shipping is set for October 2024 at a price of $1900.
The Spacetop G1 is a product of the Spacetop EA program, which aims to demonstrate the viability of an AR laptop. The G1 builds on this foundation with improved design and features, including portability, stylish and comfortable AR glasses, and advanced performance capabilities.
Key Tech Specifications
Laptop
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550
Operating System: SpaceOS
RAM:16 GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128 GB SSD UFS3.1
Connectivity: Includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3
Ports: 2x USB-C ports for connectivity and charging (up to 10Gb/s, Up to 63W, 110V/220V)
Weight: The laptop weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), which includes the AR glasses.
Battery Life: The device offers around 5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Keyboard: Full-sized keyboard with a touchpad.
Glasses
Display: 2x OLED displays (1920 x 1080 pixels per eye), 90 Hz
Field of view (diagonal): 50°
Pixels per degree (PPD): 42 pixels
Custom prescription lenses: -8.00D to +6.00D
Audio: 2x open-ear speakers (6w stereo)
According to the brand, the AR glasses are lightweight and were designed for long-term wear, and automatically dim in bright environments, ensuring clear text legibility. The device offers up to 8 hours of battery life, a 70% faster Qualcomm chipset, and a 90Hz optics refresh rate, providing a significant productivity boost over traditional laptops.
The G1 is also built for spatial AI, featuring onboard AI functionality and extensive workspace for web-based AI tools. It leverages a robust partner network, including Qualcomm, Wistron, and XREAL, for hardware and manufacturing support.
Sightful’s CEO and co-founder, Tamir Berliner, highlights the company’s commitment to seamlessly integrating AR into daily life and overcoming the limitations of bulky headsets and limited battery life. Sightful, founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan, has a rapidly growing team and has raised $61 million in venture funding from investors like Corner Ventures and Aleph Capital.
Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have forged a labor neutrality agreement for all ZeniMax workers. The CWA says the deal is similar to the one from 2022 covering Activision Blizzard’s workforce, which went into effect in April of this year.
“Thousands of our ZeniMax co-workers now have a free and fair path to organize together for better working conditions,” Page Branson, a Senior Quality Assurance (QA) Tester, wrote in a CWA press release.
In 2022, the Xbox maker signed a formal agreement with CWA to respect Activision Blizzard employees’ right to organize. Set to take effect 60 days after Microsoft’s acquisition closed, it didn’t become official until earlier this year. It also extends Microsoft’s early 2023 recognition of ZeniMax QA workers’ right to unionize, and it now includes every eligible employee at ZeniMax.
The CWA says the new agreement means Microsoft will take a neutral approach when employees express interest in joining the union. The workers can communicate with their peers and union reps about membership “in a way that encourages information sharing and avoids business disruptions.”
According to the CWA, workers will have access to a decision-making process that respects their privacy if they wish. In addition, it includes a dispute resolution and arbitration process in the case of any disagreements between the union and Microsoft.
“When we organized our union under a similar legal agreement the process was clear and management did not try to influence anyone’s decision and the company did not try to interfere with the voting process,” Branson wrote. “There is strength in numbers, and as our numbers grow at ZeniMax, at Microsoft, and in the video game industry, we will gain the respect we deserve and raise the standards of working conditions for everyone across the video gaming industry. When we benefit, the consumer and the company will ultimately benefit with us and help keep this industry stable for current and future workers.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-and-cwa-forge-labor-neutrality-agreement-covering-all-zenimax-workers-212643324.html?src=rss
Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Palo Alto, LA, Taiwan, and Singapore, Sightful has announced the Spacetop G1, the first commercially available augmented reality laptop that offers a 100-inch virtual workspace within a portable form factor. This innovative device enhances productivity and privacy in a “work from anywhere” environment.
The Spacetop G1 can be reserved for $100 on Sightful’s website. Shipping is set for October 2024 at a price of $1900.
The Spacetop G1 is a product of the Spacetop EA program, which aims to demonstrate the viability of an AR laptop. The G1 builds on this foundation with improved design and features, including portability, stylish and comfortable AR glasses, and advanced performance capabilities.
Key Tech Specifications
Laptop
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550
Operating System: SpaceOS
RAM:16 GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128 GB SSD UFS3.1
Connectivity: Includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3
Ports: 2x USB-C ports for connectivity and charging (up to 10Gb/s, Up to 63W, 110V/220V)
Weight: The laptop weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), which includes the AR glasses.
Battery Life: The device offers around 5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Keyboard: Full-sized keyboard with a touchpad.
Glasses
Display: 2x OLED displays (1920 x 1080 pixels per eye), 90 Hz
Field of view (diagonal): 50°
Pixels per degree (PPD): 42 pixels
Custom prescription lenses: -8.00D to +6.00D
Audio: 2x open-ear speakers (6w stereo)
According to the brand, the AR glasses are lightweight and were designed for long-term wear, and automatically dim in bright environments, ensuring clear text legibility. The device offers up to 8 hours of battery life, a 70% faster Qualcomm chipset, and a 90Hz optics refresh rate, providing a significant productivity boost over traditional laptops.
The G1 is also built for spatial AI, featuring onboard AI functionality and extensive workspace for web-based AI tools. It leverages a robust partner network, including Qualcomm, Wistron, and XREAL, for hardware and manufacturing support.
Sightful’s CEO and co-founder, Tamir Berliner, highlights the company’s commitment to seamlessly integrating AR into daily life and overcoming the limitations of bulky headsets and limited battery life. Sightful, founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan, has a rapidly growing team and has raised $61 million in venture funding from investors like Corner Ventures and Aleph Capital.
Jurors found Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts in the former President’s hush money trial in New York on Thursday, according to The New York Times. He is the first American president to become a felon. The 12 Manhattan residents who sit on the jury reached a verdict after their second day of deliberations.
It’ll soon be Apple’s turn to talk about its next major operating system updates, giving developers a chance to get their apps ready ahead of a broad rollout this fall. The company’s Worldwide Developers Conference is right around the corner. Apple is sure to reveal some of the main features of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, as well as what’s ahead for the likes of watchOS, macOS and visionOS at WWDC 2024.
Given the current tech climate, though, it seems likely that Apple is about to follow its rivals by making a big leap into the realm of generative AI. That could be a major focus of the keynote, since those are the only two letters investors seem to give a hoot about hearing these days.
The Apple rumor mill never stops churning, so we’ve heard some bits and pieces about what WWDC will perhaps entail. It seems unlikely that we’ll get any major hardware announcements at the event, but you never truly know until Tim Cook wraps things up. After all, we did see the Apple Vision Pro make its first appearance at the last WWDC.
In any case, here’s what to expect from Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote:
When is WWDC 2024?
WWDC 2024 starts on June 10 and runs through June 14. There will be a variety of events throughout the week, but the bulk of the attention will be on Apple’s keynote which is set for 1PM ET on June 10. You’ll be able to watch the keynote on apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app and Apple’s YouTube channel.
The keynote is where Apple tends to reveal many of the key features for the next major versions of its main operating systems: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and most likely visionOS. Apple has also used the WWDC keynote to unveil new hardware over the years, though we expect that to be less of a concern this time around.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AI
Even though Apple has largely shied away from uttering “AI” too often during its events, there’s no getting away from the big tech buzzword of the last two years. Generative AI is quickly seeping into more aspects of our lives and Apple seems primed to grab a piece of that pie.
It’s believed that Apple doesn’t yet have its own AI chatbot that’s ready for primetime. While it continues to beaver away on that, the company has reportedly reached a deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18. According toBloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is still interested in reaching an agreement with Google to offer that company’s Gemini AI assistant on iPhones too, but that may not happen until further down the line. Siri, meanwhile, is expected to get an upgrade across compatible devices using Apple’s own large language models.
Apple’s approach to generative AI in both iOS 18 and macOS 15 is said to be a practical one that’s based on helping regular folk in their everyday lives rather than letting them, say, quickly generate long reams of text they can sell as ebooks for a quick buck. Instead, you’re more likely to see GAI features like suggested email and message replies, TL;DR text summaries, voice memo transcriptions (finally!) and improved photo touchup tools in core apps.
Apple is expected to handle as much of the AI processing on-device as it can, with the remainder being sent to data centers. That raises questions about how Apple will ensure user privacy, one of the company’s core tenets. It will have to spell out how it’s keeping user information secure as it moves between the device and a data center.
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
iOS 18 / iPadOS 18
As ever, new features are coming to a swathe of iOS and iPadOS apps. Arguably the most notable is the expected introduction of RCS to Messages.
GMSA’s RCS, or Rich Communications Service, is a more advanced messaging protocol than the three-decade-old SMS. RCS is more secure than old-school SMS, since it offers end-to-end encryption. It allows for improved media sharing, with high-resolution images, video and audio clips. RCS allows for proper group chats and it supports Wi-Fi messaging too.
And yet for years, Apple refused to bring RCS to its platform — something Google had long been needling it to do — to keep iMessage more of a walled garden. Of course, iMessage itself has many of the same features as RCS. At one point, Apple CEO Tim Cook’s response to someone who asked for improved Android texting compatibility so they could share videos with their mother was to “buy your mom an iPhone.”
Apple eventually relented on its RCS stance last year, possibly to ensure it complies with strict EU regulations. The company said it would enable RCS support in 2024, so it makes sense that this feature would debut in iOS 18. That means messaging between iOS and Android should be much better in the near future (even if texts from Android devices will still appear as green bubbles on an iPhone). Meanwhile, Google just started allowing Android users to edit RCS messages within a 15-minute window of sending them.
Gurman also noted that Apple is likely to support custom emoji generation based on what you’re writing in text messages. It seems that you’ll also be able to change the colors of app icons on your home screen and no longer have to keep apps locked to a rigid grid system.
Apple Music may gain an auto-generated playlist feature, following an OpenAI-powered tool that Spotify rolled out in 2023. Custom routes and topographic maps (which debuted on Apple Watch last year) are said to be on the way to Apple Maps. In addition, Apple is rumored to be adding a voice-recording tool to Notes, which would dovetail nicely with the expected transcription function, as well as the option to display mathematical notation.
Other core apps are reportedly in line for some changes, such as generative AI functions in productivity apps like Keynote and Pages. Others like Mail, Fitness and Health are also expected to get new features, but the details haven’t been leaked as yet.
Calculator
This long-expected update deserves its own section. That’s right, the Calculator app is said to be getting a major overhaul on iPhone and Mac. Snarkiness aside, the revamp actually sounds like it’ll be useful, with Notes app integration, improved unit conversions and a sidebar listing recent activity. The app is also said to be coming to iPadOS.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
macOS 15
Let’s take a wild guess out of the gate here and declare that Apple will name the next version of macOS after a notable location in California. In all seriousness, that would be the least shocking thing Apple could possibly do on the keynote stage.
Many of the iOS app updates are expected to be replicated in macOS 15, such as the Apple Music, Notes and productivity changes. Rumors suggest that Apple is reorganizing the System Settings app based on importance and priority of the various categories, so the General tab is likely to be bumped up while Sound and Notifications are expected to drop down the list.
Elsewhere, Siri’s menu bar icon may get a new look with a flat monochrome design expected to supplant the current colorful version. There may be some welcome accessibility upgrades too, such as a Shortcuts option that allows users to trigger a certain setting or action using a custom spoken phrase.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Apple hardware
Last year’s WWDC was a hardware bonanza, with Apple finally announcing the Vision Pro along with the 15-inch MacBook Air and the M2 Ultra-powered Mac Pro and Mac Studio. We’re not expecting much from Apple on the hardware front this time around, though.
The company just updated its iPad lineup and it’s likely a little too early for any new laptops given the MacBook Pro and iMac updates in October and MacBook Air refreshes in March. Of course, iPhones will remain under wraps until September, as will the next Apple Watches. However, Apple may take the opportunity to slot its M3 or even M4 chips into its other desktop systems, which remain mired in the M2 generation.
We could see some refreshed peripherals and other devices too. There’s always the possibility that Apple will unveil an (official) version of the AirPods Max with a USB-C charging port.
Back in January 2023, Gurman reported that a new Apple TV box would arrive in the first half of 2024. There’s still just enough time for that to happen. There’s a possibility that Apple may add a camera to the Apple TV as well. In that case, there’d be no need to use an iPhone or iPad for FaceTime chats on the biggest screen in your home.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Apple Vision Pro
One thing we are expecting on the hardware side is for Apple to reveal where the Vision Pro is going next. Until now, the headset has only been available in the US. That’s probably going to change in the coming weeks and months. Multiple reports have suggested that the next phase of the rollout will include Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the UK. However, there hasn’t been much in terms of visionOS 2 leaks so far, so it’s unclear what kind of updates the mixed reality operating system will get.
Everything else
The rumor mill has been quiet about watchOS updates too. There will surely be some notable changes to Apple’s wearable operating system, but we could be in for a relatively minor iteration of watchOS after last year’s massive overhaul.
It’s rare that tvOS gets much love during an Apple keynote, but it’s bound to get an update that we’ll learn about at some point during WWDC. You might have to wait until the Platforms State of the Union event at 4PM ET for the scoop. The same goes for CarPlay and HomePod.
Bear in mind, none of this is certain until the likes of Cook, Craig Federighi et al hit the WWDC keynote stage and start discussing what’s next for Apple’s products and services. But based on the reporting of several Apple-focused journalists with a strong track record of getting things right, we do expect to hear about many of the above updates and announcements.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-wwdc-2024-what-to-expect-including-ios-18-ai-and-more-195802569.html?src=rss
Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Palo Alto, LA, Taiwan, and Singapore, Sightful has announced the Spacetop G1, the first commercially available augmented reality laptop that offers a 100-inch virtual workspace within a portable form factor. This innovative device enhances productivity and privacy in a “work from anywhere” environment.
The Spacetop G1 can be reserved for $100 on Sightful’s website. Shipping is set for October 2024 at a price of $1900.
The Spacetop G1 is a product of the Spacetop EA program, which aims to demonstrate the viability of an AR laptop. The G1 builds on this foundation with improved design and features, including portability, stylish and comfortable AR glasses, and advanced performance capabilities.
Key Tech Specifications
Laptop
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550
Operating System: SpaceOS
RAM:16 GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128 GB SSD UFS3.1
Connectivity: Includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3
Ports: 2x USB-C ports for connectivity and charging (up to 10Gb/s, Up to 63W, 110V/220V)
Weight: The laptop weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), which includes the AR glasses.
Battery Life: The device offers around 5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Keyboard: Full-sized keyboard with a touchpad.
Glasses
Display: 2x OLED displays (1920 x 1080 pixels per eye), 90 Hz
Field of view (diagonal): 50°
Pixels per degree (PPD): 42 pixels
Custom prescription lenses: -8.00D to +6.00D
Audio: 2x open-ear speakers (6w stereo)
According to the brand, the AR glasses are lightweight and were designed for long-term wear, and automatically dim in bright environments, ensuring clear text legibility. The device offers up to 8 hours of battery life, a 70% faster Qualcomm chipset, and a 90Hz optics refresh rate, providing a significant productivity boost over traditional laptops.
The G1 is also built for spatial AI, featuring onboard AI functionality and extensive workspace for web-based AI tools. It leverages a robust partner network, including Qualcomm, Wistron, and XREAL, for hardware and manufacturing support.
Sightful’s CEO and co-founder, Tamir Berliner, highlights the company’s commitment to seamlessly integrating AR into daily life and overcoming the limitations of bulky headsets and limited battery life. Sightful, founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan, has a rapidly growing team and has raised $61 million in venture funding from investors like Corner Ventures and Aleph Capital.
Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Palo Alto, LA, Taiwan, and Singapore, Sightful has announced the Spacetop G1, the first commercially available augmented reality laptop that offers a 100-inch virtual workspace within a portable form factor. This innovative device enhances productivity and privacy in a “work from anywhere” environment.
The Spacetop G1 can be reserved for $100 on Sightful’s website. Shipping is set for October 2024 at a price of $1900.
The Spacetop G1 is a product of the Spacetop EA program, which aims to demonstrate the viability of an AR laptop. The G1 builds on this foundation with improved design and features, including portability, stylish and comfortable AR glasses, and advanced performance capabilities.
Key Tech Specifications
Laptop
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550
Operating System: SpaceOS
RAM:16 GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128 GB SSD UFS3.1
Connectivity: Includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3
Ports: 2x USB-C ports for connectivity and charging (up to 10Gb/s, Up to 63W, 110V/220V)
Weight: The laptop weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), which includes the AR glasses.
Battery Life: The device offers around 5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Keyboard: Full-sized keyboard with a touchpad.
Glasses
Display: 2x OLED displays (1920 x 1080 pixels per eye), 90 Hz
Field of view (diagonal): 50°
Pixels per degree (PPD): 42 pixels
Custom prescription lenses: -8.00D to +6.00D
Audio: 2x open-ear speakers (6w stereo)
According to the brand, the AR glasses are lightweight and were designed for long-term wear, and automatically dim in bright environments, ensuring clear text legibility. The device offers up to 8 hours of battery life, a 70% faster Qualcomm chipset, and a 90Hz optics refresh rate, providing a significant productivity boost over traditional laptops.
The G1 is also built for spatial AI, featuring onboard AI functionality and extensive workspace for web-based AI tools. It leverages a robust partner network, including Qualcomm, Wistron, and XREAL, for hardware and manufacturing support.
Sightful’s CEO and co-founder, Tamir Berliner, highlights the company’s commitment to seamlessly integrating AR into daily life and overcoming the limitations of bulky headsets and limited battery life. Sightful, founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan, has a rapidly growing team and has raised $61 million in venture funding from investors like Corner Ventures and Aleph Capital.
Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Palo Alto, LA, Taiwan, and Singapore, Sightful has announced the Spacetop G1, the first commercially available augmented reality laptop that offers a 100-inch virtual workspace within a portable form factor. This innovative device enhances productivity and privacy in a “work from anywhere” environment.
The Spacetop G1 can be reserved for $100 on Sightful’s website. Shipping is set for October 2024 at a price of $1900.
The Spacetop G1 is a product of the Spacetop EA program, which aims to demonstrate the viability of an AR laptop. The G1 builds on this foundation with improved design and features, including portability, stylish and comfortable AR glasses, and advanced performance capabilities.
Key Tech Specifications
Laptop
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550
Operating System: SpaceOS
RAM:16 GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128 GB SSD UFS3.1
Connectivity: Includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3
Ports: 2x USB-C ports for connectivity and charging (up to 10Gb/s, Up to 63W, 110V/220V)
Weight: The laptop weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), which includes the AR glasses.
Battery Life: The device offers around 5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Keyboard: Full-sized keyboard with a touchpad.
Glasses
Display: 2x OLED displays (1920 x 1080 pixels per eye), 90 Hz
Field of view (diagonal): 50°
Pixels per degree (PPD): 42 pixels
Custom prescription lenses: -8.00D to +6.00D
Audio: 2x open-ear speakers (6w stereo)
According to the brand, the AR glasses are lightweight and were designed for long-term wear, and automatically dim in bright environments, ensuring clear text legibility. The device offers up to 8 hours of battery life, a 70% faster Qualcomm chipset, and a 90Hz optics refresh rate, providing a significant productivity boost over traditional laptops.
The G1 is also built for spatial AI, featuring onboard AI functionality and extensive workspace for web-based AI tools. It leverages a robust partner network, including Qualcomm, Wistron, and XREAL, for hardware and manufacturing support.
Sightful’s CEO and co-founder, Tamir Berliner, highlights the company’s commitment to seamlessly integrating AR into daily life and overcoming the limitations of bulky headsets and limited battery life. Sightful, founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan, has a rapidly growing team and has raised $61 million in venture funding from investors like Corner Ventures and Aleph Capital.
In a matter of two months, hopes for the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI devices crashed and burned. They presented radical new form factors and promised to break our addiction to screens but when we finally got our hands on them, they were totally busted. Some people, however, aren’t ready to let go of the idea of a gadget…
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
