Diana Coker, Author at Technowize Wise Word on Technology and Innovations Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:39:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.technowize.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/favicon-32x32-1.png Diana Coker, Author at Technowize 32 32 Android 16 Release Date Revealed – Coming Sooner than Expected https://www.technowize.com/android-16-release-date-revealed-coming-sooner-than-expected/ https://www.technowize.com/android-16-release-date-revealed-coming-sooner-than-expected/#respond Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:39:48 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42955 Google has no plans of making its users wait for long, the Android 16 release date has been announced and it is much earlier than expected.

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Is Android 16 released? Unfortunately, no but Google has decided to release the Android 16 much earlier than expected. The Android 16 launch date was planned for the second quarter of the next fiscal year which is now said to be changed to June 3, 2025. While Google hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, rumors are swirling that June 3, 2025, is the highly anticipated Android 16 release date!

Even if we believe the release date to be true, there is still a lot to uncover. In September 2024, Google released the Android 15 which became available for updates in Pixel phones almost after a month in October. Although it’s not something we can be sure about there is a possibility that the Android 16 will be released in June, and its availability for updates may take more time.

Android 16 features

What New Features are Coming to Android 16?

Along with the rumored release date, we also got our hands on Android 16 features leaks. Users can expect to see an update of the Do Not Disturb feature, providing more options to restrict your accessibility for others and must include more options to customize it as per your preference.

The update will also provide easy access to the Android’s highest level of security protection, through the Quick Settings panel. Additionally, Google may also be planning an easier way to use Quick Settings.

One of the major updates will include a Dynamic-Island style notification system, which will expand the notification bar to show all the persistent notifications. Google may have picked this feature from recent models of Apple’s smartphones. On the latest iPhone models, there’s a little notification bar that pops up to show things like sports scores, music you’re playing, or even when your ride is arriving.

We can also expect Google to add new AI features to Android 16 as AI has ruled out all the recent software updates of smartphone companies. Recently, Google also revealed that Android will have more frequent SDK releases from now on.

Which Phone will get Android 16?

There is no clear information on Android 16 eligible devices, so it is hard to confirm which device will get the Android 16 update. Although, we are expecting Google Pixel 10 to be released with pre-installed Android 16. Since Xiaomi and Samsung are Google’s Android buddies, you can bet Android 16 will be rocking their next smartphones too!

Can Android 16 Fix Android 15’s Issues?

Since the release of Android 15, Pixel users have faced several issues from dodgy Fingerprint Sensors to missing Notifications. While many users have claimed that after installing Android 15, Fingerprint Sensors don’t recognize their fingerprints and it takes 3-4 attempts to unlock their phone, others are facing issues with the longer duration of the system response. 

Also, the users have claimed to have reduced battery life after the update. One user commented, “I’ve experienced significant battery drain. My usage habits have not changed, but the battery now discharges much faster than it did on Android 14.”

Android 16 is still a few months away, but the early release rumors and potential new features have certainly got users excited. With enhancements like a revamped Do Not Disturb, improved security features, and a Dynamic-Island-style notification system, Android 16 looks set to bring some fresh innovations. However, Google will need to address the ongoing issues from Android 15, such as fingerprint sensor bugs and battery drain, to ensure a smoother experience for users. Only time will tell how well Android 16 lives up to its promises!

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Unveiling the Specs of the Special Edition Samsung Galaxy Z Fold https://www.technowize.com/unveiling-the-specs-of-the-special-edition-samsung-galaxy-z-fold/ https://www.technowize.com/unveiling-the-specs-of-the-special-edition-samsung-galaxy-z-fold/#respond Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:43:34 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42808 On October 21st, Samsung unveiled its slimmest foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition in South Korea.

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Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold special edition on October 21st. It is a thinner and more enhanced version of the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung’s global flagship model. The Z Fold special edition has a larger display on the inside and additional memory available for Galaxy AI. The new variant has an upgraded 200 mega-pixel camera and weighs 236 grams, making it lighter than Galaxy Z Fold 6. Unfortunately for US customers, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition has launched exclusively in South Korea, with China as the only other market set to receive this limited variant.

On the release of the latest smartphone, Sung-Taek Lim, executive vice president of South Korea said, “The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is a gesture of gratitude to domestic consumers who are leading the foldable market.”

Z Fold special edition features

Image – Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition Specs Revealed

The Special Edition of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold is a slimmer and lighter version of the Z Fold 6 model. The device is priced at 2,789,600 KRW or $2,024, which is slightly more expensive than the company’s flagship variant. It has a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch foldable screen, making it the largest foldable mobile by Samsung.

The memory capacity of the Galaxy Z Fold SE is set at the standard 16 GB RAM. It measures 10.6mm when folded, making it much thinner than other foldable smartphones. It is still based on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and comes with 512 GB of storage. Despite being a special edition device, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold SE doesn’t resolve many of the issues with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, except for being a lighter and slimmer option.

Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition Vs Pixel 9 Pro Fold – Which is Better?

The Galaxy Z Fold SE has been limited to only two markets and it will not be available in the US. As a result, US consumers need to have an alternative that can fill the void of Samsung’s special edition. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available in the US market but there are other options available as well, providing better features at lower cost.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available in the global market for $1,749 and has a Tensor G4 processor. Its cover display is 6.3 inches, making it almost similar to the Z Fold SE display cover size. While the special edition weighs around 236 gm, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold weighs 257 gm, making it 20 gm heavier. When folded, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 10.5 mm, which is similar to Samsung’s special edition smartphone.

While the size, weight, and display cover may feel similar for both smartphones, the Google phone doesn’t provide a tablet experience like Samsung. According to Google, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers users the experience of two phones in one, allowing for multitasking and enhanced productivity. Its foldable design enables users to operate two apps side by side or enjoy a larger display for media and gaming, making it a versatile device for various tasks.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is not available for the US market and if you don’t want a flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can be a good alternative for you. 

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Amazon Launches Its First-Ever Color Kindle to Join its Family https://www.technowize.com/amazon-launches-its-first-ever-color-kindle-to-join-its-family/ https://www.technowize.com/amazon-launches-its-first-ever-color-kindle-to-join-its-family/#respond Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:43:52 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42795 On October 16, Amazon launched its color Kindle as a part of its latest lineup of reading devices.

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On October 16, Amazon launched the Kindle ColorSoft Signature Edition as a part of its extended family. The new edition includes Kindle’s Scribe note-taker, a faster version of its popular Paperwhite, ColorSoft Signature, and an entry-level Kindle. The new color Kindle is available for preorder for $279.99 and it will be available for direct purchase from October 30th. 

Since the release of the first Kindle 17 years ago, Amazon has been continuously improving the reading experience on its e-readers through user-friendly updates. This time, Amazon has decided to add colors and make the reading experience more vibrant. 

Kindle ColorSoft 2024

Image Credit: Amazon Kindle

Exploring Kindle ColorSoft: Features and Benefits

The ColorSoft has a 7-inch display specifically designed for reading, with no harsh or intense lights. It includes storage for thousands of books and access to millions of titles from the world’s best e-book store. The Kindle ColorSoft has custom-formulated coatings between the display layers to improve the color, a light guide featuring micro-deflectors to reduce stray light, and a thin coating to improve the optical performance.

With all the updates, Kindle ColorSoft provides an ideal color reading experience. Additionally, readers can now highlight the text in yellow, orange, blue, or pink, and search for the highlights through the color option. It also has a waterproof design, USB-C port, wireless charging that provides up to 8 weeks of battery life, and an auto-adjusting front light.

Unveiling the Details of Kindle’s New Devices

In addition to ColorSoft, the new edition features three additional Kindle models: the Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite, and the entry-level Kindle. The Scribe is an e-reading and note-taking Kindle. The active canvas of the model allows users to add notes directly to the pages of a book and the text flows around them. The integrated notebook uses AI to summarize pages into concise points. Preorders for the device have begun for $399.99, with deliveries expected to start on December 4th.

According to Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite is the fastest Kindle yet. This model is waterproof and has 16GB of storage. The Paperwhite is now available for $159.99 and the Paperwhite Signature edition is available for $199.99 with 32GB of storage and an auto-adjusting front light. The entry-level Kindle is available for $109.99 and weighs 5.6 ounces. It has a smooth, non-reflective 300 ppi screen for quick page turns and 16GB of storage, all compact enough to hold in one hand or fit in your back pocket!

Amazon keeps transforming Kindle for a better reading experience. However, many users still have concerns that Amazon hasn’t addressed yet. Users want the feature to add multiple Google accounts on a single device and share books between accounts. One Quora user wrote, “Buying books on Kindle is expensive, it will be great if Amazon adds the feature of sharing books to other accounts that way I will be able to read books bought by my friends.” We can only hope that Amazon will work on such features in the future, but it does seem unlikely considering it will reduce the number of buyers on the store.

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Analogue’s 4K Nintendo 64 Releases in Early 2025, Priced at $249 https://www.technowize.com/analogues-4k-nintendo-64-release-in-early-2025-priced-at-249/ https://www.technowize.com/analogues-4k-nintendo-64-release-in-early-2025-priced-at-249/#respond Sat, 19 Oct 2024 09:00:25 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42780 Analogue 4K Nintendo 64 to be released in Q1 2025 and preorder starts from October 21st.

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After a previous delay in the launch, Analogue has finally shared the details on the release of Nintendo 64. The company released the console details along with the images. Analogue plans to launch the console in the first quarter of 2025 at $249, and it will be available in two colors – black and white. Preorders for the 4K Nintendo 64 will kick off on October 21st at 11 AM ET.

The Analogue 3D is a modern take on the N64, just like previous consoles like the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy. The console has new features for upgrading the classic games to 4K and includes several display modes to mimic the look of a CRT display. Analogue said, “It’s designed with a bespoke, purpose-built 4K upscaler.”

Analogue 3D preorder

Image Credit: Analogue

Inside the Details of the 4K Nintendo 64 Console

The company claims that the Analogue 3D is fully compatible with the entire N64 cartridge library and is region-free. The console uses FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) technology to work just like the original console. This is great news for N64 fans, as imitating its games has been quite tricky.

The console supports Bluetooth and has four controller ports, including two USB ports and an SD card port. It also has a new operating system dubbed 3D OS. It will not come with a controller, but it has the updated version of the N64 gamepad without the third prong which will be sold separately for $39.99.

Users can connect the console with the best TV through HDMI. From there, the processing system inside the console boosts the game’s resolution up to 10X. There are several exceptions as some of the games have higher resolution and some can’t be upscaled to 4K. The Analogue 3D guarantees it will capture the “depth, texture, and warmth” through ultra-fine scanlines and a stimulated phosphor glow, which tube TVs are known for.

The announcement comes at an exciting time for new video game hardware. Sony is set to launch the PS5 Pro, and Nintendo is gearing up to unveil a new console, along with a $99 alarm clock.

What’s New in the 4K remake of the Nintendo 64 Console?

The Analogue 3D is the only third-party console in the market which is compatible with real game cartridges. Analogue has said, “The creation of 3D was particularly challenging because of the designs of the N64 games developed at that time.” The company also said that 100% compatibility has not been achieved by any emulation. Even the Nintendo Switch ran into graphical bugs and issues after the re-release of N64 games.

Similar to the Nintendo Switch, Analogue Pocket is a docking station that can run games on television via HDMI. The Analogue Pocket often sells out quickly, and its limited edition colorways occasionally appear on eBay at high prices. Some fans have criticized the company’s strategy of releasing limited editions and using it as a tactic to encourage repeat purchases. 

Despite the criticism, the Analogue 3D is an exciting step forward for cartridge-based gaming, and a even better step backward towards nostalgia of days spent gaming in the past.

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Silent Hill 2 Remake Has Sold Over 1M Copies in its First Week https://www.technowize.com/silent-hill-2-remake-has-sold-over-1m-copies-in-its-first-week/ https://www.technowize.com/silent-hill-2-remake-has-sold-over-1m-copies-in-its-first-week/#respond Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:40:14 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42774 Silent Hills 2 is a remake of a classic horror game and fans can't get enough of this iconic revival.

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On October 11, Konami tweeted, “Silent Hill 2 remake has sold more than 1 million copies today,” just four days after the global release of the game. The remake is expected to be the fastest-selling Silent Hill game ever, but there is still a long way ahead for creating a potential record.

The Silent Hill 2 remake was released on PC and PlayStation 5 and received critical acclaim. On IGN, a review of the Silent Hill 2 remake returned a rating of 8/10. According to the team, Silent Hill 2 is one of the best ways to enter the dread-inducing destinations of horror survival.

Silent Hill 2 remake 1 million copies

Image: Silent Hill Remake on Steam

Silent Hill 2 Remake Sales Success

The Silent Hill 2 remake sales success must be credited to Konami’s plans for the franchise, which have improved significantly in recent years. The horror classic surpassed the expectations of many fans, with its story and graphics helping to sell over 1 million copies within a week. The timing of the remake’s release near Halloween likely contributed to its increased sales.

With the success of the remake, the once-critiqued studio could be entering a new phase of popularity for its horror survival. Konami is working on Silent Hill f and Silent Hill: Townfall, but it will still continue making remakes of the past Silent Hill games. We can also expect a film adaptation of Silent Hill 2 to come out soon.

Silent Hill 2 Remake: The Story Behind the Horror

The Silent Hill 2 remake is dark and scary, even with its creepy, but sexualized monsters, and it still manages to keep you hooked. If you’re playing on PS 5, you will experience a wild journey through one of the most scary and quirky towns in gaming. This remake is a modern take that will both enchant and challenge you with its tricky puzzles.

James Sunderland, the lead in the game, gets a letter from his dead wife three years after she has passed away and left him traumatized. Sunderland tries to understand what’s going on and whether his wife is alive. As the game proceeds, different characters are introduced. During his journey in a gloomy town, he meets Maria who looks just like his wife Mary, and she teams up with Sunderland during various combat scenes.

Silent Hill 2 sales hit

Image Credit: Silent Hill 2 on Steam

Silent Hill 2 pays tribute to the classic PS2 horror game in many ways. It’s always unsettling, with a clever “Twin Peaks” vibe that gives a suspenseful nod while also trying to scare you to your core.

Criticism Surrounding the Silent Hill 2 Remake

While the Silent Hill 2 remake sales reflected significant success, many players are facing issues while playing the game on PC. One of the users commented, “You won’t be able to brute force your way through its shader compilation stutter. That’s a real bummer because, without that distracting defect, I would have considered giving Silent Hill 2 a higher score.”

Players enjoying the game on PS 5 don’t have any such issues. Fans are hoping that the issues with the PC will also be fixed soon. 

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SpaceX Successfully Catches Starship Booster with “Chopsticks” https://www.technowize.com/spacex-successfully-catches-starship-booster-with-chopsticks/ https://www.technowize.com/spacex-successfully-catches-starship-booster-with-chopsticks/#respond Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:00:52 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42758 On October 13, SpaceX brought the Starship booster back to its launchpad in Texas and caught it with mechanical arms.

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SpaceX has reached another milestone as it caught the Starship Booster with metal arms in the fifth flight test. On October 13, the astronautics company launched its Starship vehicle for the fifth time from its Starbase site in South Texas at 8:25 am. 

In a bold move, SpaceX planned to bring back Starship’s large first-stage booster, Super Heavy, to its launching platform, by using the “Chopstick” arms of the launch tower. This mission was aimed at making new developments for space travel and the mission was successfully completed. Just seven minutes after the launch, SpaceX’s Super Heavy executed the plan as it hovered near the Mechazilla Launch Tower, where the structure captured it with the mechanical arms. 

Along with the booster catch, SpaceX planned to send a 165-foot-tall upper stage of the Starship to space, bring it back to Earth, and splash it down in the Indian Ocean. After 65 minutes of the launch, the Ship fired three of its six engines to hover over the ocean and explode. Kate Tice, Space X Manager of Quality Systems Engineering said, “We don’t have any intentions of recovering the Starship, that was the best ending we hoped for.”

SpaceX Starship Flight 5

Image – SpaceX’s Starship Booster

SpaceX Starship Flight 5: A New Era in Space Exploration

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is developing the Starship to help humanity settle on the Moon and Mars. The vehicle is built to be fully and rapidly reusable as successfully attempted by the Starship booster on the fifth flight test. NASA has placed its trust in the vehicle, choosing it as the first crewed lander for its Artemis moon exploration program.

If all the flight tests are successful, Starship will land NASA astronauts on the Artemis 3 for the first time. The Starship is expected to launch for the mission in September 2026. SpaceX is trying to meet the deadlines through its regular development strategy of altering the vehicles and testing them for those alterations. The Starship Flight 5 had some significant improvements compared to its predecessors.

Four tests of the Starship occurred in April and November 2023, and from March to June of this year. The rocket has shown improvement with each flight test. For instance, the first mission lasted only four minutes and Space X triggered the detonation high in the Texas sky when the two stages failed to separate. On the other hand, Flight 4, which was launched on June 6, was successful with the ship achieving orbital velocity. Both Flight 4 and Super Heavy safely returned to Earth, exploding at their designated areas. 

On October 13, Starship Flight 5 made another development by successfully bringing back the booster to the launch tower in Texas. After the Mission’s success, Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder wrote on X, “Big step towards making life multi-planetary was made today.” 

NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission

Just a day after the fifth flight test of Starship, SpaceX’s ET Falcon Heavy launched NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Europa Clipper is one of the largest spacecraft ever designed for a planetary mission by NASA. Scientists predict that there is a salty ocean beneath the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. 

They believe that it has more water than Earth’s oceans combined. NASA’s spacecraft will take five years to reach Europa, and the arrival is expected by 2030.

SpaceX plans to launch another Starship mission as several Starships are in the queue. Last month, the test was conducted with a Flight 6 ship vehicle making it clear that Elon Musk doesn’t want to delay his vision of human settlement on the Moon and Mars.

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Game Freak Hacked, Pokemon and Switch 2 Details Leaked https://www.technowize.com/game-freak-hacked-pokemon-and-switch-2-details-leaked/ https://www.technowize.com/game-freak-hacked-pokemon-and-switch-2-details-leaked/#respond Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:08:27 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42744 Pokemon developer Game Freak is struggling with a massive hack, and the new Pokemon game, along with the Switch 2 codename, have been leaked.

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Codenames for the upcoming Pokemon games and the Nintendo 2 have surfaced all over the internet, marking tough times for the developer of Pokemon. Game Freak has confirmed that the company suffered a data breach in August 2024. 

The studio reported that the server was accessed illegally, compromising the email addresses and mobile numbers of 2,606 current, former, and contract employees. The organization has apologized to all the people affected by the data breach and reassured them that all the channels will be rebuilt with proper security.

Game Freak Pokémon leak

Image: Pexels

Game Freak Pokemon Source Code Leak – What Do We Know?

Pokemon developer Game Freak faced a massive hack resulting in the source code of Pokemon games and the codenames for Nintendo Switch 2 to leak online. Nintendo Life has confirmed that leaked data includes the codenames of Nintendo’s next-gen console, the codename of the unannounced 10-generation Pokemon games, and also the codename of the announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Nintendo has not made any official comments on the leaks. However, the Pokemon developer has apologized to its customers and released a statement regarding the new Pokemon leaks.

Pokémon Leak Unveils Game Codenames, New Projects, and Movie Plans

The codenames of the Nintendo Switch 2 have been leaked which includes the codenames for the next-gen console. The leak reveals that the codenames for the two versions of the tenth generation Pokémon game are “K” and “N.” This suggests that Nintendo plans to release the game for both the Switch and its next console. Nintendo Life notes that “Ounce” is mentioned as the target platform.

Synapse, an unannounced Pokemon game is also reportedly mentioned. This game is expected to be co-developed with another studio and reports suggest the team is developing a type of Pokémon MMO. Also, the source code for DS games like Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, and White 2 has reportedly been leaked. This has resulted in unused assets and game music being shared online.

Apart from games, there is plot information relating to an unreleased sequel of the 2019 Detective Pikachu movie, reportedly named The Great Detective Pikachu. The movie was set to be released in 2024 and directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, but the reason for its cancellation is still unclear. The leaked Pokemon details suggest that a Pikachu live-action trilogy release was being considered.

Insights from the Pokémon-Switch 2 Leak

In 2020, there was an infamous Nintendo “Gigaleak” which released the previously unknown canceled games, prototypes, source code, development tools, and samples of internal communications. This was the largest leak of internal video game information at that time. The current leak has refreshed memories of Gigaleak for the organization as well as users.

Officially, Nintendo has not announced its next-gen console which is reportedly named Switch 2. Last month, unofficial prototype images of the new console surfaced, but the company didn’t comment on them. Developers are waiting to launch their upcoming games on the Switch 2 and gamers are eager to experience the releases on the handheld, but the glimpse of the codename will have to suffice for now. 

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Metaphor: ReFantazio Review—Into the Dystopian Kingdom https://www.technowize.com/metaphor-refantazio-review-into-the-dystopian-kingdom/ https://www.technowize.com/metaphor-refantazio-review-into-the-dystopian-kingdom/#respond Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:00:46 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42729 Metaphor: ReFantazio is an adventurous travel game that showcases varied aspects of society and unravels complex social issues.

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Metaphor: Refantazio is a unique game that not only represents superficial powers but also shows society’s realities. This politically charged RPG allows players to participate in the reality of life. The game represents a dystopian society where a small kind gesture makes a large impact on society. Metaphor has also introduced a new territory which shows the value of empathy in the harsh world.

The game has made a loud and clear statement that the worst and best of humanity both exist together in the real world. Metaphor is a story game that starts with a young man living in the brutal Kingdom of Euchronia. The reigning King is soon murdered and his only son is stuck in a curse-bound coma. Suddenly, an election is conducted to compete for the throne and players are put in the shoes of a young man who competes for the open seat.

As the boy understands the inner workings of elections, his role evolves within the 80-hour story. The whole election proceedings and later setups take players through the land of racism, inequality, poverty, exploitation, and religious extremism.

Metaphor ReFantazio gameplay

Metaphor: ReFantazio—Discovering the Dark Reality of Society

As the player sets a base for the election, they make allies, interact with citizens who are suffering, and travel across the territory to get support from the miserable societies. With these interactions, players develop an understanding of the system that caused such an unbalanced world. 

The player navigates daily life according to a calendar system, with time advancing them towards the reign of a new king. As this pivotal moment draws near, it becomes essential for players to dedicate their days and nights to the main objective of the story. Hence, players have to make a tight schedule to make bonds, pass through monster-driven dungeons, and complete the main quest within the deadline. 

It is easy for players to understand how they level up in the game, as the requirements for improving bonds are simple. The progress of the players is displayed by the virtue stat to keep them updated. This feature makes the Metaphor systems work even better. The game offers bonus points to help players grasp the overall message through their changing stats, as they connect with individuals from various backgrounds who have been impacted by an unjust society in different ways.

As the story is centered on earning the trust and support of people, it makes sense to invest time in helping the needy people who have been treated unfairly.

Metaphor ReFantazio combat

Metaphor ReFantazio Combat – Side Quests And Fights

Side quests fill the gap between the main events, and they take players to various optional dungeons across the kingdom, either by hunting for bounties or helping an NPC. These quests add flavor to some tough combat in the story game as enemies populate these dungeons. After a few dungeons, players will start seeing repetitive patterns but the game still has a lot to offer to keep the combat engaging. Additionally, players earn rewards including money, better gear, boosts for social status, and plenty of XP to level up.

Metaphor is incomplete without its challenging turn-based combat. It follows the SMT press-turn system, where both the player’s and enemy teams have turn icons, and destroying elemental weaknesses gives bonus action. These are the familiar mechanics for the players but Metaphor also add twists. A big part of this innovation comes from the Archetypes, a class-based job system that gives your party four fun tools for various roles. 

In the late game, players will unlock the advanced archetypes that have creative mechanics especially considering synthesis attacks. Each archetype has its own set of moves, and when you combine them for synthesis attacks, it makes the gameplay easier and allows for strong combination attacks. This creates a bigger impact on enemies and adds fun strategy to battles, so players can enjoy how it encourages teamwork and planning.

Metaphor ReFantazio design

Metaphor ReFantazio Design – Inventive Grotesque Style

This time, the studio has done something different compared to its earlier RPGs, by giving gothic-inspired menus and UI elements that extend to the kingdom and character design. Metaphor may not have the most impressive graphics, but when you zoom in on its environment, the game proves a solid point on why art direction matters more than a few high-quality visuals.

Additionally, the music composed by Shoji Meguro adds excellence to the fantastic vibe of the game. The soundtrack is filled with powerful orchestral music and dramatic opera-style vocals, adding weight to every moment, whether you’re entering a new city or facing off against an enemy mob for the hundredth time. Unlike his earlier works, Metaphor features a more cohesive classical score rather than a collection of standalone songs. The music has become a crucial part of the Metaphor’s identity for the players.

Metaphor:ReFantazio is a perfect blend of the gameplay, design, music, story, and style. Developer Studio Zero has got all the things right to highlight the underlying circumstances behind an unfair world. The game has perfectly referred to the real world as a utopia for the characters.

Metaphor ReFantazio Review

Metaphor is a perfectly refined version of the earlier RPGs released by Atlus. This game is a beautiful yet miserable depiction of a world of fantasy where characters are striving to win against societal injustices. Metaphor provides a balanced amount of combat fights, friendship, empathy, kindness, struggle, and injustice. Metaphor: ReFantazio is both poetic and idealistic, as it recognizes the complexities of life, showing that real change requires action. Maybe its fantastical story can inspire us to make our world a better place.

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Google Introduces a New AI Image Generator for Gemini https://www.technowize.com/google-introduces-a-new-ai-image-generator-for-gemini/ https://www.technowize.com/google-introduces-a-new-ai-image-generator-for-gemini/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:16:26 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42734 Google has introduced an AI image generator on Gemini, which will now serve as the default image generator for the platform. 

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Google’s new AI Image Generator is now available for Gemini. Imagen 3 is available on both mobile and desktop and users can access it for free. Gemini will now only use Imagen 3 to create images when commanded to do so. 

While Google claims Imagen 3 to be its highest-quality image generation model, the image generator produces fewer artifacts than previous versions of the tool. The AI has a range of new features, capable of generating images of people to detailed sketch drawings.

Google Imagen 3 AI tool

Imagen 3: Gemini AI Image Generator

Google has introduced its new and most efficient AI image generator yet, which promises to create the highest quality images. Imagen 3 only generates one image from each prompt, and users can refine or make changes in the images, but the new image will only be generated after another prompt. This feature is added so the image generator can remember your last request.

Users can generate as many images as they want in a day without any limitation on the number. The one limitation is that images of actual people cannot be created without upgrading to Gemini Advanced. Users with the Advanced plan can create as many images of people as they like. Imagen 3 has a wide range of features to be explored by users like creating realistic photos, sketch images, oil paintings, and claymation scenes.

As per Google, Imagen 3 has great text rendering abilities and can even create a comic book for its users. However, improvements can be still made to the text rendered as there are still a number of mistakes in the prompt response of the AI.

Limitations of Google AI Image Generator

Imagen 3 creates the highest quality images and with new and improved features, it has a long way to go. Still, there are some limitations of the image generator as the free tier version cannot create images of people. Users who want to create images of people can purchase the advanced version of Gemini.

The Advanced plan costs $19.99 (£18.99, AU$ 32.99) per month and is included in the Google One AI Premium Plan, which also offers 2TB of storage and access to Gemini in Google Docs. Dedicated users of Google Gemini can consider upgrading, but for a causal user, Google’s free plan works quite efficiently. AI image generation is problematic in many ways, and but the overarching problems with AI sometimes take precedent. 

Earlier, Google Gemini also received criticism because of its ad released during the Paris Olympics 2024. The ad was released depicting a father who asks Gemini to write a letter on behalf of his daughter for her favorite athlete, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Later, the ad was taken down by the company because of the backlash it was receiving. People didn’t like the idea of the father finding a shortcut for his daughter to show her admiration for the Olympic athlete. Google made a mistake with this ad by suggesting that AI can express emotions better than humans.

Google Gemini has tried to redeem itself repeatedly ever since. Depending on how users respond to the new tool, we’ll get a more complete idea of how successful it has been in shifting attention away from its past issues.

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Vessel of Hatred Receives a Record-High Welcome from Steam Players https://www.technowize.com/vessel-of-hatred-receives-a-record-high-welcome-from-steam-players/ https://www.technowize.com/vessel-of-hatred-receives-a-record-high-welcome-from-steam-players/#respond Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:32:33 +0000 https://www.technowize.com/?p=42716 On Wednesday, Blizzard released Diablo 4’s expansion Vessel of Hatred DLC, which hit an all-time high Steam player record.

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Vessel of Hatred was released on October 9 and received an unpredictable welcome as a record-high number of Steam players joined the game in one sitting. A total of 45,231 players were counted during the sitting. Diablo 4’s expansion Vessel of Hatred has created a buzz on its release day even after having a rocky start. A total of 45,231 players were recorded on Steam, creating the highest of all time players peak on the platform.

In June 2023, Diablo 4 was originally launched on consoles and PC through Battle.net. Later in October, the game was released on Steam, and since then, 12 million users have played it on the platform.

Even after having a rocky debut, Vessel of Hatred received a positive reception. The launch of the video game was delayed due to technical issues, but these were fixed later on. Despite the resolution, however, Blizzard received a bundle of negative reviews for the expansion. There are a total of 269 reviews for Vessel of Hatred on Steam, out of which 69 are positive reviews and the remaining 200 are negative.

Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred Steam boost

Image Credit: Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Gameplay Launch Trailer

Issues with Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred 

After the huge release of Vessel of Hatred, many reports suggest that players are facing several issues during the game. Adam Fletcher, a representative of Blizzard, said that players are randomly losing their access to the game because of a technical issue.

He claims that issues have been identified and tests are under process to fix the problem. Fletcher published a blog titled “Vessel of Hatred License Revoked,” offering a temporary solution for the issue, which is to log out and back in or swap with a non-Spiritborn character and then get back in again.

The players were also facing the issue while creating the Spirit-born characters. As per the Blizzard forum, the character creation problems were rising from several key sources. There were also upgrade issues where some players purchased the Standard to Ultimate upgrade without having the Standard version of the Vessel of Hatred. However, purchasing the Standard edition is supposed to fix the issues.

Players are hopeful that Blizzard will sort out all the technical issues to make the experience smoother for them.

What’s Ahead for Diablo 4 Players?

Recently, Blizzard announced that Diablo 4 will be getting its own PS 5 Pro enhanced label with the release of Sony’s console. Hence, Diablo 4 players who own the PS 5 Pro can take full advantage of the improved features like advanced ray tracing and a GPU that will enable rendering up to 45 percent faster.

Each platform (PC, Xbox, and PlayStation) requires a copy of the Vessel of Hatred expansion. This means players need to purchase separate copies to play on multiple platforms.

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