Independent benchmarking has dispelled the theory that Apple deliberately slows down existing iPhones when a new model is released. While it’s normally preceded by phrases like “I’m sure I’m imagining it, but…”, it’s certainly not uncommon to see people mentioning their handset feels like it’s running slower when a new release is imminent. Indeed, Google […]
Netflix is raising its US monthly prices by up to two dollars. Unlike previous hikes, there won’t be any grandfathering. In the US, the basic plan, which covers one simultaneous stream only and no HD, remains at $7.99. The standard plan, covering two screens and HD, is going from $9.99 to $10.99. The premium plan, […]
AAA says on-board technology such as touchscreens could be distracting drivers and risking safety. It wants car makers to disable some features such as programming a navigation route while the vehicle is moving. The organisation’s Foundation for Traffic Safety ran a study of thirty 2017 model cars in which drivers carried out three hours of […]
There’s now a Stranger Things video game and it’s appropriately retro in look. Available on Android and iOS, it’s a touchscreen controlled over-head view action game with 80s-style pixelly graphics. The gameplay itself is a combination of puzzle solving and combat, with a storyline that’s loosely based on the TV show. Players start out controlling […]
A court says the FBI won’t have to reveal how it broke into an encrypted iPhone belonging to the San Bernadino shooter. The US district court rejected a freedom of information request to find out who got paid – and how much – to access the phone. The phone belonged to Syed Farook, the man […]
Microsoft is ditching its Groove Music subscription service. And if you’d never heard of it, that probably tells you all you need to know. Groove launched in July 2015 as a combination of a rebrand of the Xbox Music service and a replacement of the Zune service (which itself was tied to a largely failed […]
A new official Skyrim mode challenges you to battle the elements with more realistic health effects. Survival Mode is those who like a challenge rather than those who prefer the escapism of the game. The mode means your character will be affected by hunger, fatigue and cold. Specifically: Going a long period without food will […]
Amazon has unveiled a batch of new Echo gadgets along with a new edition of the original device. It’s also releasing a 4K 60fps version of the Fire TV stick. The new 2nd generation Echo isn’t overwhelmingly different to the original, though it’s got a slightly different shape and more options for casing design. The […]
The maker of the new Atari console says it will be closer to a mid-range gaming PC than a retro emulator. The first publicity shots of the Ataribox revealed only that it was in the style of the wooden-look Atari 2600, leading many to assume it was simply the latest in a line of retro […]
A strike by video game voice actors has ended after 11 months. The union has reached a deal with 11 games companies that sees both sides compromise. The strike, by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, was the longest in SAG history, covering both voiceover and on-screen actors. It led to […]