Game Tech News

For better or worse, Android users are frequently treated to the bleeding edge of mobile technology. Whether it's improved charging, new camera tech or sharing audio with multiple Bluetooth headphones, you usually see it on Android first. The greatest single example of this right now is foldable displays, and with the new Pixel Fold offering what looks like an appealing new option, Google is hoping it can lure in curious iPhone owners by offering much larger payouts than usual if you trade in.

more...

Microsoft has begun building an AI chat interface straight into its single most important software product, the company said Tuesday. The tool will perform tasks like summarizing documents, suggesting music, offering tech support for your PC and answering questions you might ask a search engine or AI chatbot.

more...

Nothing Phone 2, the next version of Nothing's phone, will launch July 11, the company said in a teaser posted Tuesday on Twitter. The teaser invites people to "come to the bright side" and points to Nothing's website.

more...

Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct online event Wednesday, announcing a mix of new games and remakes featuring its mascot Mario that are coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a new 2D game starring Mario and other characters from the long-running franchise, including Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Toad and Daisy. Wonder features a changing world and new power-ups, including one that turns Mario into an elephant. Super Mario Bros. Wonder comes out on the Nintendo Switch on Oct. 20.

more...

Meta has a new reason for you to create an avatar: answering "video" calls when you don't want to show your own face to someone.
You can use now your Meta avatar to answer calls on Messenger and Instagram on both Android phones and iOS devices.

more...

Apple has created its own generative artificial intelligence tools to compete with ChatGPT, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday.
Apple built its own framework that can create large language models, called "Ajax," as well as a chatbot service that internal engineers are calling Apple GPT, according to Bloomberg citing unnamed sources.

more...

Zoom announced updates Tuesday to its generative artificial intelligence tool, which it's now calling Zoom AI Companion, that will "significantly expand" its capabilities beginning this fall. AI Companion will be available at no additional cost if you already pay for the video-meeting service.
The company said that customers can expect to see the AI tool throughout Zoom, including in Team Chat, Meetings, Phone, Email, Whiteboard and "additional features on the roadmap." Some features will be available immediately, while others will launch over the coming months, according to Zoom's announcement.

more...

Baldur's Gate 3 is the RPG to play on the Steam Deck. I've spent time playing the game on both desktop and the portable PC gaming device and what makes Baldur's Gate 3 a great game for Steam Deck is the option to play an hour here and there wherever you are, whether you're on the go or just away from your desk, as the game is so vast and time-consuming.

more...

Pulling out a board game is always a great way to bring loved ones together, especially if you have kids who are often glued to their devices. And playing games in real life doesn't have to be boring. Over the last decade, board games have evolved beyond Monopoly and Clue. The best board games offer something for everyone in the family, including games with epic fantasy scenarios.

A few of these qualify as "high fantasy," with knights and wizards and the like, but we've picked a variety of subgenres of the best fantasy board games, as well as different styles of gameplay. Some even work well for a solo game night. If you're in need of some analog entertainment, gather around the table and dive into one of these fantastical worlds.

more...

We are still a couple of months away from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference where the next major version of the iPhone's software, likely called iOS 18, will debut. We have a few ideas for features and fixes that Apple should include in its next major update to the iPhone.
For seven months, most of us have lived with iOS 17. There have been high points like the introduction of StandBy Mode, Check-In and iMessage stickers. There have also been low points like the overheating software bug that hit iPhones running iOS 17, which has since been resolved. For months we've Journaled, NameDropped and casually sworn in Messages without the fear of being Autocorrected.

more...