This week, Devindra chats with TechCrunch's Anthony Ha about Quibi, the mobile video startup from Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg. Is it any good? (Spoiler: Not really.) And what does it mean for the future of mobile only video? Also, Devindra interviews Alex Garland, the director of Annihilation and Ex Machina, about his new FX series Devs, a trippy exploration of free will in the quantum computing era.
'Final Fantasy 7 Remake' is a gamble that paid off
The new story twists help change things up just enough.
Square Enix
Decades in the making, Square Enix's refreshed vision of Final Fantasy VII is here. Mat Smith had some doubts about the project, but now he says "it delivers." Continue reading.
LG V60 5G ThinQ review
'A compromised phone I like anyway.'
Engadget
LG is still trying to make its version of dual-screen mobile devices happen, with two screens linked by a case instead of one foldable display. The V60's software isn't exactly up to par with other flagships, but LG's hardware decisions make it easier to use than many other top of the line phones and -- perhaps most importantly -- a lot cheaper. Let Chris Velazco explain why this might be the two-screen device to choose right now. Continue reading.
ASUS Zephyrus G14 review: Ultraportable gaming done right
You don't really need a webcam.
Engadget
What do you need from a laptop other than 13 hours of battery life, NVIDIA RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics and a healthy selection of ports? The Zephyrus G14 has all of that and weighs just 3.5 pounds so you can truly take it anywhere.
The only downside? Showing your face for a Zoom session or Twitch broadcasting will require an add-on webcam -- this laptop doesn't come with one built-in. Our review unit had an AMD processor and 16GB of RAM for $1,450 for what Devindra Hardawar calls "a truly no-compromise ultraportable gaming laptop." Continue reading.
Apple and Google are collaborating on COVID-19 contact tracing
The first step will come with APIs that roll out next month.
Google / Apple
On Friday Apple and Google announced they're collaborating on Bluetooth technology that will enable easier contact tracing. The COVID-19 crisis is pushing previously unthinkable changes closer to reality, but it's still a bit shocking to see roll out. Continue reading.
The bad news? It's still got a relatively small battery capacity, the same high price tag and it's still Verizon exclusive. But if you can get over all that, at least it's fashionable. That's something, right?
-- Richard
Apple makes some of its TV+ originals available for free
Still looking for something to watch?
Apple
If you have access to the Apple TV app, you can stream some of the company's original content for free. Servant, For All Mankind, Little America and Snoopy in Space are just some of the items on offer, but The Morning Show and Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet will remain behind the paywall. Continue reading.
Microsoft set to push Windows 10X and Surface Neo releases back until 2021
New plan.
Engadget
According to ZDNet'sMary Jo Foley, Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay told some of his team members that the tech giant won't be delivering the new platform and the dual-screen devices it's meant for before the year ends.
The company is reportedly hoping to ship some of the platform's features before the OS itself becomes available, though, so we might get a taste of Windows 10X in an upcoming Windows 10 update for single-screen machines. Separately, Brad Sams reports that we could see 10X test builds next month, and that the Android-powered Duo device is still right on schedule. Continue reading.
'Saturday Night Live' returns to TV with a remote episode
Something else to watch while you're at home.
NBC
NBC's long-running series is planning a "remotely produced" episode that will air April 11th at 11:30 PM Eastern. It won't shock you to hear that the usual sketches and music breaks won't take place. You will get "Weekend Update," though, and there are promises of material from various cast members. Continue reading.
Gaming on your PC adds the benefits of (nearly always flawless) backward compatibility and console-beating graphical performance -- if you've got the coin for it. We've tried to be broad with our recommendations here on purpose. There are so many great games out there for your PC, consider these some starting points. Doom Eternal and two RPGs with very different styles are our latest additions. Continue reading.
'Valorant' is just the start of a massive year for Riot Games
Cards, auto chess and esports.
Riot Games
The League of Legend maker's new game is available in a limited beta, and even though most of us can't play Valorant yet, it's already breaking records on Twitch thanks to an inventive-laden streaming strategy. Its style falls somewhere between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch and could make it the next big thing in esports, but it's really just the start for Riot.
Nick Summers explains why you shouldn't sleep on the developer with everything it has planned for 2020 and beyond -- including the massive opportunity lined up for professional LoL action this spring. Continue reading.
The bad news? It's still got a relatively small battery capacity, the same high price tag and it's still Verizon exclusive. But if you can get over all that, at least it's fashionable. That's something, right?
-- Richard
Apple makes some of its TV+ originals available for free
Still looking for something to watch?
Apple
If you have access to the Apple TV app, you can stream some of the company's original content for free. Servant, For All Mankind, Little America and Snoopy in Space are just some of the items on offer, but The Morning Show and Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet will remain behind the paywall. Continue reading.
Microsoft set to push Windows 10X and Surface Neo releases back until 2021
New plan.
Engadget
According to ZDNet'sMary Jo Foley, Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay told some of his team members that the tech giant won't be delivering the new platform and the dual-screen devices it's meant for before the year ends.
The company is reportedly hoping to ship some of the platform's features before the OS itself becomes available, though, so we might get a taste of Windows 10X in an upcoming Windows 10 update for single-screen machines. Separately, Brad Sams reports that we could see 10X test builds next month, and that the Android-powered Duo device is still right on schedule. Continue reading.
'Saturday Night Live' returns to TV with a remote episode
Something else to watch while you're at home.
NBC
NBC's long-running series is planning a "remotely produced" episode that will air April 11th at 11:30 PM Eastern. It won't shock you to hear that the usual sketches and music breaks won't take place. You will get "Weekend Update," though, and there are promises of material from various cast members. Continue reading.
Gaming on your PC adds the benefits of (nearly always flawless) backward compatibility and console-beating graphical performance -- if you've got the coin for it. We've tried to be broad with our recommendations here on purpose. There are so many great games out there for your PC, consider these some starting points. Doom Eternal and two RPGs with very different styles are our latest additions. Continue reading.
'Valorant' is just the start of a massive year for Riot Games
Cards, auto chess and esports.
Riot Games
The League of Legend maker's new game is available in a limited beta, and even though most of us can't play Valorant yet, it's already breaking records on Twitch thanks to an inventive-laden streaming strategy. Its style falls somewhere between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch and could make it the next big thing in esports, but it's really just the start for Riot.
Nick Summers explains why you shouldn't sleep on the developer with everything it has planned for 2020 and beyond -- including the massive opportunity lined up for professional LoL action this spring. Continue reading.
Google offers free Stadia Pro game streaming for two months
Current subscribers also get two free months.
Engadget
Starting today, people in 14 countries will be able to sign up for two free months of Stadia Pro. This includes the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. You'll get access to nine games, including Destiny 2, and if you're already a Stadia Pro subscriber, Google won't charge you for the next two months.
With the signup offer, you no longer need to buy one of Google's hardware bundles to get access to the platform. Instead, all you need to do is visit the Stadia website, sign up and download the companion Android or iOS app — though you'll need to provide a USB-compatible controller or keyboard and mouse. Continue reading.
Rocket Lab proves it can recover a rocket in mid-air
There's more than one way to reuse a rocket.
Engadget
SpaceX manages to reuse rocket boosters by flying them back to pads at sea or on the ground. Rocket Lab plans to pull off the same money-saving stunt a different way: by catching them with a helicopter. It hasn't achieved the full feat yet, but a Mid-Air Recovery demo clip taken in August shows one helicopter dropping an Electron test stage before another catches the stage's parachute with a grappling hook. Are you a believer yet? Continue reading.
The best games on Nintendo Switch
Refreshed for 2020
Engadget
There's probably no better console for lockdown and those keeping themselves indoors. You don't need the TV to play (though that would be nice every once in a while), and there's a headphone socket for any kids playing on it as you work from home. There are also plenty of fantastic games -- here are our highlights. Continue reading.
That's a lot of people waiting for 'The Mandalorian' season two.
Engadget
Disney's streaming service has only been around for five months and despite a lack of hit original content, it's already amassed an impressive number of paying subscribers. On Wednesday afternoon, the company announced it's up to 50 million, 21 million more than the last numbers it reported, two months ago. That's also well ahead of the pace it pitched to investors, which projected between 60 to 90 million customers in 2024.
How'd it get there so fast? The relatively low price helps, along with bundle deals in the US and the addition of eight million subscribers in India, where it's offered along with the existing Hotstar service. Continue reading.
Foxconn's contentious Wisconsin plant will be used to make ventilators
The Taiwanese company has partnered with healthcare company Medtronic.
Foxconn's dubious Wisconsin factory — the subject of billions of dollars of tax subsidy scrutiny — will produce ventilators to aid in COVID-19 treatment in the US. The company, best known for assembling Apple's iPhones at factories in China, has entered into a partnership with healthcare firm Medtronic for the project, which will see ventilators produced "as soon as possible," according to a statement provided to Reuters.
The factory was first announced back in 2017 and has been the focus of controversy ever since. While its arrival promised new job opportunities for the state and was initially earmarked for use as an LCD factory, plans have repeatedly changed. Those ample job opportunities never materialized. Meanwhile, the plant has picked up more than $4.5 billion in government incentives. Continue reading.
Huawei made a credit card
Anything Apple can do…
Huawei boss, Richard Yu, unveiled the Huawei Card during the company's Chinese P40 launch event yesterday, and to the shock of none, it borrows a lot of the Apple Card's best features. Yes, it's both a physical and virtual card, and there are some benefits to signing up. After spending a certain amount of money, users can get lounge access at train stations and airports.
There's no first-year annual fee, and the company will waive the second-year fee for those who spend a certain amount through Huawei Pay. Continue reading.
