Workers are increasingly prioritizing workplace flexibility when it comes to their job search, even placing it above holiday allowance, new research has found.
A report from SD Worx indicated that a growing number of businesses are now looking into workplace absences and working times to monitor efficiency and productivity.
It found that around one-third of European countries use employee self-service tools which allow staff to log their own working data, opening up the option of putting them in charge of their working hours and how they use their time. They’re also a center for logging absence requests, submitting expenses, and consulting remuneration.
Companies that offer flexible working
The survey of more than 4,000 UK and European companies found that 47% of workers rate working hours and flexible forms of working especially highly in their search for a career change.
“At a time when businesses face a myriad of challenges – from winning the war on talent, to tackling rising costs and ensuring smooth employee relationships in a hybrid world – workforce management tools offer essential solutions to often complex business challenges,” noted UK Country Lead at SD Worx, Rachel Clough.
However, not all countries are equal, and France is highlighted a number of times in the study as a country that ranks less faovrably than other European countries, particularly for its takeup of time management systems and other self-service tools for workers.
If a career change is too tame and a country change is more your style, the Nordic regions and Ireland scores are most desirable.
SD Worx reckons that by providing the right tools it can enable companies to offer a more flexible working environment, helping them to retain existing staff and attract new talent.
A Nintendo Switch Pro has been rumored for some time, and after Nintendo released the Switch OLED, fans have waited with bated breath for the next upgrade to compete with current-gen consoles. However, despite the OLED’s sizeable upgrades over the original console with a bigger screen, redesigned kickstand, more internal storage, better speakers, and a striking OLED display, it’s not quite what players had in mind of the newest release.
The Nintendo Switch OLED‘s Achilles heel was power. It’s exactly the same as the originalNintendo Switch, released in March 2017. The console displays at 1080p when docked and 720p in handheld mode. Implementing a fancier screen made the OLED a non-essential update for anyone using their Switch when docked.
This disappointed many fans. Especially after the PS5 and Xbox Series X releases, highlighted the performance gap between Nintendo’s consoles.4K TVs are also now the standard in many homes, which makes the Switch’s 1080p output look noticeably soft on most modern displays.
What is it? A souped-up Nintendo Switch capable of outputting at 4K
How much will it cost? TBA
When will it release? TBA
Nintendo Switch Pro: release date
Image credit: Nintendo
The Nintendo Switch Pro was rumored to launch instead of the Nintendo Switch OLED, which landed on October 8, 2021. The existence of a Pro console has come into question, as the Nintendo Switch OLED includes many of the leaked specs that were said to be included in the Switch Pro.
Bloomberg predicted a Nintendo Switch Pro console would release around September or October 2021, which surprised many at the time. Instead, that release date belongs to the OLED model. A release date of March 2022 was hinted at, too, though this has now come and gone.
According to Tokyo-based analyst Serkan Toto, Switch Pro could still happen. Toto suggests that the Switch OLED might be a “dummy upgrade” before a real upgrade arrives next year. Speaking to Bloomberg (opens in new tab), Toto said: “This new Switch looks more like an interim model than a real upgrade to me. This might be a dummy upgrade until Breath Of The Wild 2 is ready, and the component shortage is over next year.”
Nintendo Switch Pro: price
Image credit: Nintendo
Redesigns cost money, more so when it involves improved hardware. The Nintendo Switch Pro, with its updated and more powerful hardware, will almost definitely cost more than the current Switch’s £279 / $299 / AU$449 pricing.
The Nintendo Switch OLED is already a more premium model and launched at $349.99 / £309 / AU$539. Thankfully this isn’t a huge step up from the original Switch’s asking price and is less than the $399 price tag that was predicted by some. For comparison, the PS4 Pro was $100 more than the PS4.
As a family-focused company, we’d be surprised if the Nintendo Switch Pro came in at the same price as PS5 and Xbox Series X, $499 / £449 / $AU749. Still, we know it’ll be more expensive than the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Nintendo Switch Pro: rumored specifications
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Tinxi)
There’s been no end of rumors about what a Nintendo Switch Pro could offer, and most suggest it’ll support 4K resolutions. A report by Bloomberg alleged that Nintendo is asking developers to make their Nintendo Switch games 4K-ready, adding weight to previous rumors that Nintendo has a resolution upgrade up its sleeve with a 4K-ready upgraded Switch console.
Bloomberg also claimed that 11 game studios had access to an official development kit that featured 4K support. Reportedly, the console was apparently shelved due to supply issues caused by the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, though it could still be released.
Nintendo, however, moved swiftly to deny these claims. In a post on Twitter, Nintendo said that Bloomberg’s report “falsely claims that Nintendo is supply tools to drive game developers for a Nintendo Switch with 4K support” the company went on to say, “we have no plans for any new model other than Nintendo Switch OLED Model.”
It’s worth noting, though, that Bloomberg’s report most notably corresponds with a recent report from the Economic Daily News (opens in new tab), which cited various hardware manufacturers responsible for the Switch’s flash storage and Joy-Con controllers and claimed that a more powerful Nintendo Switch console with upgraded interactivity and improved display quality could go into production.
Some rumors suggested we may see a mini-LED display replace the current LCD screen. According to a report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News (opens in new tab), the still-rumoured Switch Pro model could sport mini-LED screens supplied by Innolux, a well-known manufacturer in the field. The original Switch and Switch Lite consoles use an HD (720p) LCD screen, though the Switch OLED naturally uses an OLED option. If a new Switch console did have 4K capability, we imagine it’d be in docked mode, with handheld mode offering a slightly-boosted Full HD (1080p) display.
Elsewhere, a data miner known as SciresM has claimed (via Wccftech (opens in new tab)) that they have found a reference to a new Nintendo Switch model within the Switch’s latest firmware update, codenamed ‘Aula’. Reportedly, this hardware uses the same chip as the Nintendo Switch Lite and 2019 Switch model, the Mariko (Tegra X1+) SoC. However, SciresM also claims that there are references to support a Realtek chip, a “4K UHD multimedia SoC”.
Rather than being within the Switch tablet, they think it “might be inside a new dock and not inside the tablet, though there’s no way to tell from the firmware code yet.” They also say that the tablet will have an improved OLED screen, though its resolution is still unclear. The claims of some 4K support do line up with the many other reports from the past year, which claim that an upgraded Switch capable of 4K is on the horizon.
More recently, we’ve seen further Nintendo Switch Pro rumours thanks to Nvidia. A leak posted to the r/GamingLeaksandRumours (opens in new tab) subreddit “confirms” the existence of the Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Reportedly, that’s being designed specifically for an upcoming Nintendo Switch model, which could be a Pro or full-on successor.
Of course, there’s been no confirmation from Nintendo itself that a new Switch is on the cards, and, in fact, Doug Bowser has made comments very recently that suggest there might not be for some time. With that in mind, we’re still taking all this with a pinch of salt.
Nintendo Switch Pro: news and rumors
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Don’t expect new Nintendo hardware this fiscal year
Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei has reported that Nintendo will not release any new hardware this fiscal year. Spotted by Bloomberg journalist Takashi Mochizuki on Twitter (opens in new tab), he advised that it’s unclear if Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa was being interviewed or Nikkei’s own reporting. If true, that means we shouldn’t expect a Nintendo Switch Pro or a Nintendo Switch 2 before March 2023.
Nintendo Switch OLED holds 4K secrets
With the Switch OLED’s launch, some of the previous consoles’ changes have started speculation that 4K capability could be hidden under our noses. For one, the console ships with an HDMI 2.0 cable – instead of the 1.4 standard used by the regular Switch – which should enable 4K passthrough from the dock or even HDR.
The Switch OLED dock contains a Realtek chip that could be 4K capable, which is new to this console – though it could be tied to other features like improved audio or Ethernet capability instead. While this isn’t a 4K console just yet, it’s possible that the dock could be used in some minimal upscaling capacity down the line or for a 4K Switch Pro when it eventually launches.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Standalone Joy-Con patent A newly discovered patent (via VGC) suggests that Nintendo has considered some standalone Joy-Con controllers.
A newly-discovered Nintendo patent suggests that the company may be planning to release a new form of Joy-Con style controller.
Initially filed in May 2018 and registered in April 2020, the patent shows a highly similar controller shape, and layout to the existing Joy-Con found on the original Switch. However, it is slightly updated, and rather than being designed to slide onto a screen like the current Joy-Con, this controller appears to be a standalone device with no rails for sliding in sight.
While there isn’t much need for a standalone Joy-Con on the original Switch, they could be helpful with the more recent Nintendo Switch Lite, which has its controls permanently attached, as it would allow for more accessible multiplayer gaming. Given the recent rumors around the Nintendo Switch Pro, it’s also worth considering that the standalone Joy-Con has been designed with this new console in mind.
Codenames Dataminers have been coursing through Nintendo’s firmware version 10.0.0 for information on new Switch consoles and have apparently identified codenames for the upcoming devices.
According to JershJopstin on Resetera (opens in new tab), there are five identified codenames for Nintendo Switch models: Icosa, Copper, Hoag, Iowa, and Calcio. Here’s a breakdown of what we know about their codenames so far (thanks, TweakTown (opens in new tab)):
Icosa – Switch released at launch – nx-abca2 – 20nm Tegra X1 –
Hoag – the Switch Lite – nx-abcc – 16nm Tegra X1 and Mariko chip
Copper – unconfirmed- nx-abcb
Calcio – unconfirmed – nx-abcb – 16nm Tegra X1 and Mariko chip
While Iow, Hoag and Icosa have already released, Copper and Calcio have not been confirmed to be in development.
According to JershJopstin, Copper appears to be a non-mobile device due to its lack of battery and charging services and the HDMI services it seems to have, which would typically be handled by a Switch docking station. Meanwhile, according to another rumor, Calcio will apparently be a docked-only, more traditional console.
Nah, and official devs don’t know anything yet (at least indies). Nintendo has these archives that contain a bunch of settings for specific hardware types + there’s some configuration in various sysmodules. Nintendo often adds some or all of that before the hardware releases heh.March 2, 2020
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In addition, JershJopstin has suggested that this Calcio console could be digital-only due to its apparent lack of support for game cards and the new naming form factor. However, these rumors should be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism until we get confirmation from Nintendo.
Nintendo isn’t worried about the next console generation 2020 wasn’t the year of a new Nintendo Switch console, but it was the year that Sony and Microsoft launched the next generation of consoles: the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Nintendo, however, isn’t worried about catching up.
Talking to investors during a Japanese Q&A (via VGC), Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa said that while the gaming landscape will change, the company doesn’t think the release of these next-gen consoles will have a significant impact on its own fortunes.
“We do not believe that the business trends of other companies will have a significant impact on our business,” Furukawa told investors, explaining that the reason Nintendo is so confident that the PS5 and Xbox Series X won’t pose huge competition is that the Nintendo Switch targets a different audience.
While this doesn’t tell us much about any specific new console plans Nintendo has, it does suggest that the company isn’t feeling any hurry or pressure from its supposed competitors to release, or even announce, a Nintendo Switch Pro in the immediate future.
Image credit: Nintendo (Image credit: Nintendo)
AR and VR support VR and AR support for the Switch never looked likely, with the MD of Nintendo France (opens in new tab) citing a lack of mainstream appeal for the technology back in 2018, but the Labo VR Kit shows Nintendo has changed its mind about the viability of VR.
The Switch doesn’t have the high resolution of most VR gaming rigs, so we could see an advanced model with 2K or 4K resolution to improve those close-up VR experiences. However, given the VR Kit is still focused mainly on children, we’d be surprised to see a visual overhaul simply for this one peripheral.
Could it support 4K? While Sony and Microsoft push at the 4K market, there isn’t really any big reason for Nintendo, the company that staunchly sets itself apart from other hardware producers, to follow suit.
In the same interview (opens in new tab) where he dismissed VR, Nintendo France General Manager Philippe Lavoué also brushed off 4K saying that the technology has “not been adopted by the majority” and it would, therefore, be too early for Nintendo to jump in.
Nintendo didn’t enter the HD console market until 2012 when it released the Wii U. This was around four years after Sony and Microsoft and when more than 75% of US households had HD displays in their home. However, Miyamoto (opens in new tab) had said he wished Nintendo had jumped to HD sooner than this, saying that the display technology became popular around three years before Nintendo expected it to.
Forza Motorsport is on track to be the most immersive entry in the racing sim series yet.
Built to take full advantage of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, Forza Motorsport will feature over 500 real-life cars, more than 800 customizations and upgrades, and 20 environments at launch, as well as five new locations, that include South Africa for the first time.
Turn 10 is aiming for Forza Motorsport to look, feel and sound more realistic than its predecessors. By utilizing tech that focuses on the finer details, the developer claims that tracks are now 10 times more detailed, while each upgrade will create a different sound profile for your car. Even dirt accumulation will be more realistic than ever before.
It certainly looks like Forza Motorsport will be a technical showcase of what the latest Xbox hardware can really do and we can’t wait to see how it compares to Gran Turismo 7 on PS5. Want to know more? Read on for everything we know about Forza Motorsport so far.
Forza Motorsport: cut to the chase
What is it? The eighth entry in the Forza Motorsport racing series
When can I play it? TBC 2023
What can I play it on? Xbox Series X|S and PC
Forza Motorsport: release date and platforms
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Forza Motorsport is set to release in “Spring 2023” (likely between March and June), and will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’ll also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
During the Xbox and Bethesda Developer Direct showcase on January 25, however, it was stated that Forza Motorsport is “coming 2023” rather than “Spring 2023”, suggesting the racing sim may have been delayed. This hasn’t been confirmed by developer Turn 10 but TRG has contacted Xbox for confirmation.
As Forza Motorsport is being built to take advantage of the latest Xbox hardware, the racing sim will not be available on Xbox One consoles.
Forza Motorsport trailers
Latest trailer
The latest Forza Motorsport trailer premiered at the Xbox and Bethesda Developer Direct (opens in new tab) showcase and gave us a closer look at how Turn 10 is building the next entry in its racing sim series to take advantage of the Xbox Series X|S. Check it out below:
More trailers
We’ve included some key Forza Motorsport trailers throughout this article but you can find all the Forza Motorsport trailers that have been released to date on the official Forza YouTube channel (opens in new tab).
Forza Motorsport: gameplay
Forza Motorsport looks like a racing sim as pure as they come, providing a big update on what Forza Motorsport 7 offered. For starters, it’ll be a “huge generational leap” over previous games. Chris Esaki, the game’s creative director, shared details on how Forza Motorsport’s physics have evolved from Forza Motorsport 7 during a Forza Monthly stream (opens in new tab) in May 2021.
“To put the physics work into perspective… the changes we made from Forza Motorsport 7 till now, is more than the changes we made from [Forza Motorsport] 4 through [Forza Motorsport] 7,” Esaki said during the stream. “It’s basically a huge generational leap coming to the game.”
According to Esaki, the tire collision model has also been overhauled. From the first game to Forza Motorsport 7, tires have always had a single point of contact with the track surface, and have refreshed at 60 cycles per second (60Hz).
In Forza Motorsport, there are now eight points of contact with the track surface, and the engine will refresh at 360 cycles per second (360Hz). That’s a 48x fidelity jump for a single-tire collision. Multiple tire compounds have been confirmed too, a series first. Tire compounds such as hard, medium, and soft will deepen the gameplay and racing strategy, and Esaki said it will lead to “exciting new gameplay decisions during a race”.
In addition, Forza Motorsport is set to feature the most realistic and immersive sound of any series entry to date as the game’s audio has been mixed natively for Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic. There will also be new features, such as regional track announcers and installed upgrades creating different sound profiles for your car, reflecting the parts you’ve fitted.
For more details on improvements to Forza Motorsport’s cars and environments, read below.
Forza Motorsport: car list
(Image credit: Microsoft)
What kind of cars can we expect to see in Forza Motorsport, and more importantly, which vehicle will grace the game’s cover? While it’s hard for us to guess the whole roster currently, we do know that Forza Motorsport will feature 500 real-world cars at launch alongside over 800 upgrades. Turn 10 has said (opens in new tab) this roster will feature the most modern cars the series has seen to date.
What’s more, these cars will look and sound more realistic than ever. Turn 10 has used a spectrophotometer, which “captures multiple data points of light behavior on a surface”, to make the paint on Forza Motorsport’s cars look more realistic. Cars will also accumulate dirt more realistically and damage will be more authentic – with both affecting each vehicle uniquely.
In addition, the advances made to Forza Motorsport’s physics simulation are “greater than Forza Motorsport 5, 6, and 7 combined”, according to Turn 10.
Turn 10 has said it will reveal its full launch day car list closer to release but, for now, the developer has confirmed (opens in new tab) the following cars:
1971 AMC Javelin AMX
1989 Aston Martin #18 Aston Martin AMR1
2016 Aston Martin Vulcan
2014 Audi #2 Audi Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro
2016 Audi #17 Rotek Racing TT RS
2016 Audi R8 V10 plus
2018 Audi #44 R8 LMS GT3
2018 Audi TT RS
1991 BMW M3
2017 BMW #24 BMW Team RLL M6 GTLM
2018 BMW #1 BMW M Motorsport M8 GTE
2019 Brabham BT62
2018 Bugatti Chiron
1970 Buick GSX
2021 Cadillac #31 Whelen Racing DPi-V.R
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport Coupe
1969 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport 396
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 454
2015 Chevrolet #10 Konica Minolta Corvette Daytona Prototype
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
2020 Chevrolet #3 Corvette Racing C8.R
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
1965 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
2005 Ford GT
2015 Ford #02 Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk XXVI Daytona Prototype
2016 Ford #66 Ford Racing GT Le Mans
2017 Ford GT
2019 Ginetta #6 Team LNT Ginetta G60-LT-P1
2020 Hyundai #98 Bryan Herta Autosport Veloster N
1983 Jaguar #44 Group 44 XJR-5
1988 Jaguar #1 Jaguar Racing XJR-9
1993 Jaguar XJ220
2015 Jaguar XKR-S GT
1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV
1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV
2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4
2020 Lamborghini Huracán EVO
1969 Lola #10 Simoniz Special T163
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1991 Mazda #55 Mazda 787B
2010 Mazda #16 Mazda Racing B09/86
2014 Mazda #70 SpeedSource Lola B12/80
1969 McLaren #4 McLaren Cars M8B
2013 McLaren P1
2018 McLaren Senna
1989 Mercedes-Benz #63 Sauber-Mercedes C 9
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
1985 Nissan #83 GTP ZX-Turbo
1991 Nissan #23 Nissan R91CP
2015 Nissan #23 GT-R LM NISMO
2019 Nissan 370Z Nismo
2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO (R35)
1969 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 442
2017 Oreca #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07
1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1993 Peugeot #3 Peugeot Talbot Sport 905 EVO 1C
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455
1970 Porsche #3 917 LH
1983 Porsche #11 John Fitzpatrick Racing 956
1987 Porsche #17 Porsche AG 962C
2014 Porsche 918 Spyder
2017 Porsche #2 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid
2017 Porsche #92 Porsche GT Team 911 RSR
2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
2019 Porsche #70 Porsche Motorsport 935
2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2021 Porsche 911 GT3
2021 Porsche Mission R
2015 Radical RXC Turbo
2004 Saleen S7
2014 Toyota #8 Toyota Racing TS040 HYBRID
As more cars are confirmed, they’ll be added to this section.
Forza Motorsport track list
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Forza Motorsport will launch with 20 environments, each featuring multiple track layouts. In addition to returning fan favorites, the next entry in the series will feature five new locations, including one in South Africa for the first time.
These environments will have 10 times more detail than previous Forza Motorsport games, according to Turn 10, and will feature fully animated 3D spectators and detailed vegetation. What’s more, Forza Motorsport will feature ray-traced environments, which aims to make environments look even more realistic.
These environments will also boast dynamic time of day, weather, and track temperature mechanics, which will affect your racing experience.
So far, Turn 10 has confirmed the following track locations for Forza Motorsport:
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Hakone
Kyalami
Laguna Seca
Maple Valley
Silverstone Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
Forza Motorsport: playtests
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Turn 10 revealed that the Forza Feedback Panel (opens in new tab) will be how players can get their hands on the next Forza Motorsport, so the game can be shaped by the community. Signing up is simple: you must be over 18 years old and agree to a confidentiality statement, which you can opt out of at any time if you decide to leave the program.
The first playtest took place on May 8, 2021, and resulted in a “ton of great feedback” from the community, according to creative director Chris Esaki. Esaki said that after the playtest, the team was pretty sure that everyone is “super hyped and energized” by what was shown. He also explained that the reason why only small parts of the game are being tested is so Turn 10 gets “critical feedback” on “focused areas”.
But if you happened to miss out on the first playtest, fear not. More playtests are expected to take place in the future, though we’re waiting for an exact date on when these will take place.
Forza Motorsport: news and rumors
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Taking the spotlight at the next Forza Monthly Forza Motorsport will take center stage during the next Forza Monthly live stream.
The official Twitter account (opens in new tab) for Forza Motorsport has announced that Turn 10 will reveal more information about the upcoming racing game during the Forza Monthly live stream on January 26. Starting at 12pm ET / 9am PT / 5pm GMT (or January 27 at 4am AEDT), the live stream is expected to last 90 minutes before switching to a Forza Horizon 5 stream.
This upcoming Thursday (January 26) at 9am PST, Tune in to Forza Monthly, which features the all new Forza Motorsport! pic.twitter.com/fnQxbgyq33January 23, 2023
Samsung has seemingly leaked a key detail about its soon-to-be-released 77-inch OLED TV, revealing that it may beat LG in one key area – but not in a good way.
In the US the largest variant of the Samsung S95C OLED TV – one of the many Samsung TVs unveiled at CES 2023 – will reportedly set you back $4,499.99. For comparison, LG’s priciest 77-inch OLED TV – the LG G2 OLED that launched last year – launched at $4,199 / £4,499 (around AU$6,100).
That Samsung price converts to around £3,630 / AU$6,335, which would make the TV a little more expensive than LG’s in Australia, but considerably cheaper in the UK; however, those are unlikely to be the official prices for those regions. Based on previous Samsung pricing strategies in the UK we expect the TV to have a similar if not greater numerical value than its US price – i.e. the $4,500 TV would cost around £4,500 or more despite the exchange rate meaning it ‘should’ cost £900 less. As for Australia, we wouldn’t be shocked if the final price sat closer to AU$7,000, but we’ll have to wait and see what Samsung decides.
This price info is based on a store page spotted and shared by FlatPanelsHD (opens in new tab); however, it appears the page has now been made unavailable. This price certainly fits with what we’d expect from Samsung’s new batch of OLED TVs, although as with all leaks we should take this with a pinch of salt until the company makes an official announcement.
There’s no word yet on how much the smaller models will cost, but based on last year’s Samsung S95B OLED TV we’d be surprised if Samsung’s 55-inch TV cost less than $1,799 / £1,999 / around AU$2,700, or if its 65-inch TV cost less than $2,799 / £2,999 / around AU$4,200.
If you do decide to shell out on one of these Samsung TVs it looks like it’ll be money well spent. For gamers, the S95C boasts a 0.1ms response time and a top-tier 144Hz refresh rate (better than the S95B’s mere 120Hz), as well as VRR/ALLM support. You’ll also be able to access a suite of 4K cloud gaming apps like Nvidia GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and Utomik.
The audio setup is getting a boost too. Samsung’s new TV uses a 4.2.2 channel speaker system – a step up over both the S95B’s 2.2.2 and even the 3.1.2 system relied upon by the LG C3 OLED.
And let’s not forget about the screen itself.
Is this the best QD-OLED screen of 2023?
While Samsung refers to its S95C lineup as OLED TVs, that’s selling its screens a tad short as these displays use QD-OLED panels – a hybrid of typical OLED and QLED panels.
OLED panels are self-emissive – read they don’t have a backlight – so it’s possible to turn off individual pixels completely. This allows OLED TVs to excel at displaying well-defined dark scenes – they can create deep blacks, and display an ‘infinite’ contrast ratio between light and dark areas of the screen.
The S95B (left and right) next to the more vivid looking S85C TV (middle) (Image credit: Future)
QLED panels, on the other hand, are excellent when it comes to bright and colorful pictures. While its dark contrast isn’t quite as impressive, its Quantum dot filters help to ensure that its colors almost never look washed out.
QD-OLED looks to combine the strengths of both panel types into one, with Samsung saying its latest S95C lineup takes things up a notch with “unrivaled brightness, vivid color mapping, and smart 4K upscaling with AI detail restoration.” To that end, the latest Samsung OLED boasts a brightness that’s 30% higher than 2022’s Samsung S95B; thanks to its new Quantum HDR OLED Plus algorithm, the S95C can apparently reach a whopping 2,000 nits peak brightness.
It’s not all good news, though; unlike some competitors, this TV offers no DTS:X support, and the lineup continues to lack Dolby Vision HDR.
We’ll have to test out the latest Samsung TV to know if it’s worth its apparently heavy price tag, but considering that the Samsung S95B was one of the best TVs of 2022 we’re expecting the S95C to be yet another stand-out device.
If you can’t wait for Samsung’s S95C to launch and need a new display today, check out our picks for the best 4K TV you can buy right now.
Computing giant IBM has announced plans to cut thousands of its workers, but it’s a different story to what we’ve seen at other tech firms such as Intel and Microsoft.
A rise in the adoption of hybrid working technology and online transactions saw many companies hire rapidly to keep up with demand, only for demand to later drop off, leaving businesses to face tough financial challenges, like cutbacks and layoffs.
While business has slowed across the board, IBM’s reason for job cuts is a little bit different to some other firms.
IBM job cuts 2023
According to a Bloomberg (opens in new tab) report, the cuts will focus on workers who previously held positions in the Kyndryl and Watson Health units, which have both been detached from IBM’s operations.
The “ballpark” figure for redundancies currently sits at 3,900, which equates to around 1.5% of the company’s headcount.
While it’s a substantial number, and a move expected to cost the company in the region of $300 million, it’s nowhere near as drastic a move as other companies which have been cutting between 5% and 10% of their workforces.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for IBM, which posted a healthy outlook for the year ahead. Free cash flow for the company is forecasted to be up over $1 billion year-on-year, to the tune of $10.5 billion.
The company has also been slowly shifting it attention away from infrastructure as it gears up to provide cloud computing solutions in a growing market, and it seems so far so good, with hybrid cloud revenue accounting for $22.4 billion last year, more than a third of the company’s total revenue and a figure that’s up 11% compared with the year before.
While many companies are struggling against tough economic headwinds, it’s clear that IBM is grounding itself to withstand a challenging year and focus on what customers really want.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max isn’t much better than the iPhone 14 Pro, with the main differences just being the size of the screen and capacity of the battery, but Apple could be looking to differentiate the top two entries in the expected iPhone 15 line later this year, based on new revelations from iOS 17.
That’s according to information from LeaksApplePro, posting on HowToiSolve (opens in new tab). They claim to have seen iOS 17 code, and it reveals that the iPhone 15 Ultra – which is likely to be what Apple launches instead of an iPhone 15 Pro Max – will apparently have more advanced image processing software than the iPhone 15 Pro, as well as the rest of the iPhone 15 series.
So even if the camera hardware is the same across the 15 Ultra and Pro, the iPhone 15 Ultra sounds as though it’ll have an edge in the photography department.
It might be able to get more out of its chipset too, with the source adding that the Ultra’s performance won’t be as limited by software as on the Pro model. Those performance limits are in place to stop the phones overheating, so if this is true then the iPhone 15 Ultra will presumably must have a better cooling system too.
There are also details that we’ve heard before, including that the entire iPhone 15 line will apparently have a Dynamic Island rather than a notch, and that while they’ll all apparently use USB-C, the top two models will offer higher data transfer speeds (similar to USB 3.2 technology).
As for iOS 17 itself, there’s not actually much about that here, despite this information apparently coming from iOS 17 code, but the gist is that there will apparently be few visual changes, with the focus instead being on stability and efficiency.
A number of apps will apparently be getting small tweaks though, and the Home app is supposedly in for major changes.
In other iPhone 15 news, some or all models will apparently support Wi-Fi 6E, according to a research note from Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley, seen by MacRumors (opens in new tab). This would add support for 6GHz Wi-Fi, which is faster – but only when connected to a router that also supports it.
Analysis: the Ultra sounds like the phone to go for
With the iPhone 14 line, it was the Pro and the Pro Max that stood out as the phones to buy – if you could afford them.
The iPhone 14 itself was barely an upgrade on the iPhone 13, and while the iPhone 14 Plus offered a screen size upgrade without shelling out for a pricey Pro Max, it was otherwise a slightly dated-feeling handset, with a notch and a year-old chipset.
That division looks set to somewhat continue with 2023’s lineup, but with the iPhone 15 Ultra standing out above even the iPhone 15 Pro.
At least this time the cheapest two models might get a Dynamic Island and USB-C, which is nice, although leaks suggest they’ll still be stuck with a dated chipset.
The Ultra meanwhile might have things like a titanium frame and a dual-lens selfie camera, on top of the developments from this latest leak; none of which might be offered by the iPhone 15 Pro. So while this is sure to be a very expensive phone, it will also probably be one of the very best phones – and undoubtedly the best iPhone.
Dolby Atmos support has been on the block since Xbox One debuted back in 2017, and it’s now arrived on Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. A licence is required to use the spatial audio tech on headphones, but it’s free to use on soundbars and speakers.
Dolby Vision gaming requires a compatible display but is also accessible to those who can enable it. Currently, however, not every TV that supports Dolby Vision gaming can output at 120Hz, but Microsoft and Dolby are working closely with TV manufacturers to update more displays.
If you’re looking to make the most out of this, make sure you check how to enable 120Hz on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S first. Otherwise, check out the full list below for every Xbox Series X|S game with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. We’ve also compiled a complete list of PS5 and Xbox Series X games with 120fps support, if you’re interested.
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Xbox Series X: Supported games
(Image credit: Microsoft)
More than 100 next-gen HDR-capable titles will support Dolby Vision soon, including games available today and in the future. Not all of them will support both Dolby Vision gaming and Atmos, though, but these are the titles that do.
We’ll keep this page updated should more games with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support appear in the future.
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Xbox Series X: FAQs
(Image credit: Dolby)
What is Dolby Vision gaming?
Dolby Vision is a HDR format that promises to deliver greater highlights, contrast, and vibrant colors over other HDR technologies. Dolby Vision automatically tone maps compatible games, too, which means players won’t have to manually calibrate every game to get the best possible HDR experience.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos provides convincing spatial audio that lets you hear sound with 360-degree pinpoint accuracy. It works on any headphones, and a number of Xbox Series X|S games already include native Dolby Atmos support and sound fantastic.
Does PS5 support Dolby Vision gaming and Dolby Atmos?
No, the PS5 does not support Dolby Vision gaming or Dolby Atmos. Instead, Sony’s console uses HDR10 when it comes to high dynamic range and its proprietary Tempest 3D audio tech for spatial audio. You’ll need an HDR display to experience HDR10, and 3D audio works with any headphones and can also be played through your TV speakers.
The original Garena Free Fire was updated with high-resolution graphics and released as Garena Free Fire Max last year. The popular battle royale game Garena Free Fire is among the apps and games that the Indian government has forbidden. Fans were disappointed by the game’s inaccessibility in India. The good news for fans of multiplayer battle royale is that there is still a suitable alternative to the banned game available on app stores. How to play Garena Free Fire Max The Garena Free Fire Max game has 50 players competing in the battle royale mode. As a multiplayer battle royale game, it gained popularity in the country. In addition to being able to pick their starting positions in this game, players can also gather suppliers and weaponry to help them survive on the battlefield. But in a battle royale action-adventure game, there can only be one winner. Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes The developers of the game are always incorporating new alphanumeric codes into it. Players can win complimentary prizes by using these codes. These codes can also be used to unlock different steps and acquire various reward points.
Check out the Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes for today (January 26): 3IBBMSL7AK8G X99TK56XDJ4X FF7MUY4ME6SC FFICJGW9NKYT XUW3FNK7AV8N 8F3QZKNTLWBZ WEYVGQC3CT8Q GCNVA2PDRGRZ 4ST1ZTBE2RP9 J3ZKQ57Z2P2P B3G7A22TWDR7X Follow the below steps to redeem Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes for today (January 26): Step 1: Go to the official redemption page: https://reward.ff.garena.com/en/ Step 2: Log in with your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, or VK IDs. Step 3: Players can now copy and paste the redeem codes into the text field and confirm their actions by clicking the “confirm” button. Step 4: After the confirmation, a dialogue box will appear for cross-referencing. To redeem the codes, hit the OK button. Note:
Players should go to the in-game mail section to claim their prize.
These codes will not work on guest accounts. In order to receive the rewards, you can connect your account to Facebook or VK.
Digital solutions firm LTIMindtree has announced a partnership with tech giant Microsoft and intelligent solutions provider Duck Creek, as part of which it will deliver an integral product for insurers. Their project involves building a solution to help insurers with the cloud migration of their on-premises core systems. With this project, LTIMindtree plans to “help insurers gain competitive advantage by delivering superior customer experience, innovation, cost-efficiency, and revenue growth.”
Microsoft and Duck Creek lend their platforms for the project As per LTIMindtree, this migration solution will make use of their migration tools, Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, and Duck Creek’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform ‘Duck Creek OnDemand.’ According to the firm, the end-to-end cloud migration framework and remediation bots will enable insurers to “fully harness the agility and power of Duck Creek OnDemand to achieve predictable outcomes and transform their businesses.”
LTIMindtree aims to help insurers ‘thrive’ in the ‘marketplace of the future’ Regarding this announcement LTIMindtree’s chief business officer for banking, financial services, and insurance Mukund Rao said, “Insurers of all sizes are increasingly looking to tap into SaaS-based core systems to boost their ability to launch new products, reach new customers, and provide differentiated experiences … Our solution will help them take a holistic approach to ‘core-to-experience’ transformation for thriving in the marketplace of the future.” Duck Creek’s chief revenue officer Rohit Bedi also opined on the same. He said, “As customer demands and digital technologies evolve, insurers must drive continuous product innovation, accelerated speed-to-market, higher responsiveness, and personalized omnichannel experiences to stay relevant and resilient.” He emphasized the potential of the project saying, “This solution will make it faster and easier for insurers to achieve their strategic goals by realizing future-ready, cloud-based core systems.” Highlighting the importance of the coming together of the three firms, Microsoft’s GM insurance sales Kim Vogel said, “By combining capabilities of Microsoft, Duck Creek, and LTIMindtree, this solution will enable new ways for insurers to boost agility, delight customers, drive new business models, enhance partner collaboration, and achieve better business outcomes. It will help insurers leapfrog operational challenges and complexities to deliver higher availability, scalability, security, and resiliency of their core systems.”
Coin Master is a single-player mobile game that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. This game has become increasingly popular in recent years, with over 100 million downloads. Coin Master was created by the Israel-based studio Moon Active and was released in 2015. The goal of the game is to construct your own village. The Coin Master also has a time slot machine that can help you get additional coins and other sundries to help you enhance your community. Players must spin the slot machine and collect free gifts in order to fully build their hamlet. Unfortunately, the game only allows five spins per hour, and if you run out, you’ll have to wait an hour. Fortunately, players can gather coins in this game in a variety of ways. Players can raid and attack the towns of other players in order to steal cash. You can even get free extra spins in this game. Coin Master offers free spins that can be used to gather coins and other prizes. To obtain Coin Master Free Spins and Coins today, simply follow the procedures outlined here.
How to get Coin Master Free Spins and Coins for today (January 26): Step 1: To get the rewards, first log in to your Facebook account in the game. Step 2: Go to this link for a free spin: Link 1, Link 2 and Link 3. Step 3: After being routed, you will be prompted to log in to your Facebook account in order to link the spins to your account.
