For nearly eight years, Joe Tung was responsible for leading development on Riot’s hit MOBA, League of Legends. At the end of 2020, he left the company to cofound Theorycraft Games. Since then, the studio, which employs people who contributed to League, Valorant, Overwatch, the Halo series, Destiny and Apex Legends, has been quietly working away on its first project, a game codenamed Project Loki. Before today, only a handful of content creators and pro-gamers have had the chance to play Loki. That’s about to change, with Theorycraft announcing a two-day PC playtest that will start tomorrow, June 29th.
Theorycraft describes Project Loki as a squad-based hero battleground. Imagine a game that has MOBA-like heroes who need to nail skill shots to perform their best. Now, instead of pitting those characters against one another on a map with minion lanes and towers, you force them to fight on a large, Fortnite-inspired battleground. That’s the pitch of Project Loki, andthe studio hopes it turns out to be the next game you decide to spend 10,000 hours playing with your friends. One thing Tung, whose past credits also include Halo: Reach, says is a core part of Project Loki is player creativity. Each session starts with you and your teammates choosing a group of heroes you think will win you the match, and will need to adapt your strategies on the fly.
Tung says Theorycraft Games is a “small and very independent game studio,” but it has the backing of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which took part in the company’s $50 million series B fundraising round last year. In other words, there’s a lot of money riding on the bet that Theorycraft can create the next LoL or Apex Legends. Expect to hear more about the game in the weeks and months ahead. You can sign up to playtest Project Loki on Theorycraft's website.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/project-loki-looks-like-a-rad-mix-of-league-of-legends-and-fortnite-130053005.html?src=rss
Lanebreak Tread is getting a global launch, with availability for all Peloton Tread members. Peloton says the gameplay involves users matching and sustaining a pre-set inclines and speeds to rack up high scores. Animations help the users along and the whole thing is set to a “beat pumping soundtrack.”
The software makes full use of the Tread hardware, as it automatically adjusts the speed and incline to match what is happening in the game. There’s a new mechanic specifically for interval workouts, updated visuals for runners, new avatars and an array of pace-based difficulty options.
Levels vary according to the chosen playlist and workout type, with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert. Each game level lasts anywhere from five to 30 minutes, to suit workouts of varying lengths. You also have plenty of music genres to choose from here, including pop, electronic, hip hop, rock, metal, country and, well, just about everything else. There’s no classical music though, as running to Bach would feel weird. Peloton’s new Lanebreak Tread software releases today for the entire line of branded treadmills.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/peloton-expands-its-gamified-exercise-experience-to-treadmills-130040617.html?src=rss
If you're always coming home to an overheated house or find your jaw on the floor every time the energy bill arrives, it might be time to consider expanding your smart home. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat third-generation is currently available for $179, down from $279 on Wellbots. All you need to do is enter the code 70THERMGDT at checkout to get $70 off your order. We've only seen the thermostat at a lower price on Wellbots once, and it has never dropped below $193 on Amazon, so this is quite a good deal.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat gets to know your routine and temperature preferences and creates a schedule based on them. Google designed it to constantly consider energy-saving measures, such as changing the temperature when you're away. The smart thermostat also provides you with a report detailing how you use and can save energy in your heating and cooling systems. It also includes a safety feature for fires, sending you a notification if it detects an unusual change in temperature.
On the device itself, you can get information about the weather, the time or your energy usage. Plus, if you're heading home early or feeling extra cold one day, you can control the Learning Thermostat right from the Nest app on your phone.
DoorDash says it will offer couriers a guaranteed hourly rate for "active delivery time" as part of a raft of changes to its platform. The company says that this rate will be in addition to tips — couriers keep 100 percent of tips from customers.
The Earn by Time option will sit alongside the existing model that sees Dashers receiving a payment for each order they carry out. Currently, they receive a base payment that depends on the estimated duration, distance and "desirability" of the order, along with tips and potentially promotional payments. Couriers can choose whether they want to be paid by time or per order for each delivery, and they'll see the minimum payment they'll get for both options before selecting.
The hourly rate will differ depending on the market, and it's prorated. Dashers will only be paid for the time between picking up an order and delivering it, but not while they're on their way to pick up the items. So if the Earn by Time rate is $15 per hour and it takes 20 minutes to carry out a delivery, the dasher will receive $5 plus any tips. Meanwhile, consumers will have the option to add or increase their tip after the delivery. They'll have up to 30 days to do so.
DoorDash
The minimum rate is coming into play ahead of New York City starting to enforce a minimum wage for food delivery workers. By July 12th, delivery apps will need to start paying their couriers in the city a minimum of $17.96 per hour plus tips. Engadget has asked DoorDash for details on how Earn by Time aligns with this minimum wage and the rollout plans for this option.
Elsewhere, a new initiative for Dashers aims to reduce downtime by allowing them to take on orders while they're on the way to the area they prefer to work in. DoorDash is introducing a new safety feature for couriers as well. They'll be able to share their real-time location with trusted contacts.
Along with new features for Dashers and merchants, DoorDash is revamping things for customers with its biggest app update so far. DoorDash will support online SNAP and EBT payments, making it easier for those who are enrolled in those programs to place orders through the app. You'll be able to order from more than 4,000 grocery locations across the US, including participating Aldi, Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer and 7-Eleven stores. DoorDash is also offering SNAP recipients two months of free DashPass access.
DoorDash will roll out the update to all users over the next few months. The new features include universal search, so you can look for a specific item, retailer or restaurant from almost anywhere in the app. There will be new tabs at the bottom of the screen called Browse, Grocery and Retail (the latter of which DoorDash describes as "a modern-day mall directory"). There will also be multiple carts as well. When you get peckish while filling out a grocery order, you can save your progress, order something for dinner and then continue where you left off.
DoorDash
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/doordash-will-start-offering-couriers-an-hourly-rate-while-theyre-fulfilling-orders-120032368.html?src=rss
TikTok says it's discontinuing TikTok Now, its attempt to replicate last year's social media sensation BeReal. According to screenshots posted by several users, parent ByteDance is "updating the TikTok experience and discontinuing TikTok Now." TikTok Now had a nearly identical approach to viral hit BeReal, requiring users to take front and rear photos simultaneously. It added the ability to take 10-second TikTok-like videos instead of photos, obviously making it completely different. Snapchat and Instagram have both attempted to copy (or tested) their own BeReal-ish features.
The feature was part of the main TikTok app in the US, but is also available as a standalone TikTok Now app in other regions. The message sent to TikTok users in the US indicated that the feature was being killed in the main app, but there's no word on the separate TikTok Now app.
BeReal, meanwhile, might be contending with a drop-off in interest, according to a report from The New York Times in April. BeReal refuted an analytics report behind the story, though, saying it still had 20 million daily active users.
– Mat Smith
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A lot of domestic WiFi setups suck for countless reasons. Maybe the hardware your ISP gave you isn’t great, or your walls aren’t friendly to wireless signals. Perhaps the signals from your all-in-one wireless modem and router can’t reach everywhere from its spot in a far corner of your house. It’s these problems that mesh WiFi systems are designed to tackle, with a set of smaller WiFi nodes that are spread around your home, pushing internet into every corner. But which one to pick? And do you really have to spend a fortune? We can answer both of those questions in our new buying guide.
The new Insta360 Go 3 has a larger, more rectangular "Action Pod" detachable body, making it look more like a conventional action cam than its predecessor. The Action Pod body also doubles as a 2.2-inch flip touchscreen. The Go 3's camera itself has some significant upgrades as well. Video resolution has been bumped up from 1440p to 2.7k (2,720 x 1,536), meaning you'll get more out of Insta360's renowned "FlowState" video stabilization trick, while a second microphone has also been added to improve audio. The Insta360 Go 3 is now available via the official online store or Amazon, with prices starting at $379.99 for the 32GB model.
The Moray is meant for comfort as much as quality.
In-ear monitors (IEMs) are normally aimed at musicians and audio engineers, but Razer reckons it can tap into the disposable income of gamers and streamers with its first in-ear monitor, the Moray. At $130, it's not meant to compete with higher-end IEMs from the likes of Audio Technica, Sennheiser or Shure, but Razer has paid attention to comfort: the ergonomic design and braided cables are meant to stay snugly in place for hours and it comes with three different ear tip varieties (each with three different sizes) to optimize fit.
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) is one step closer to becoming the de-facto electric vehicle charging system in the US. On Tuesday, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International, one of the automotive industry’s most important standards bodies, shared it is working to support the plug, a move that will make it easier for manufacturers to add NACS connectors to their vehicles and charging stations.
“Standardizing the NACS connector will provide certainty, expanded choice, reliability and convenience to manufacturers and suppliers and, most of all, increase access to charging for consumers,” the SAE said in a statement. In the last month alone, Ford, General Motors and Rivian announced they plan to adopt NACS.
SoftBank, major tech investor and Japanese phone carrier, led a little-known social media app called IRL to unicorn status and an overall valuation of $1.17 billion by investing over $170 million. It turned out that the app completely made up its user numbers, admitting that 95 percent of its purported 20 million user base was fake. Employees became suspicious of the company’s claim of 20 million monthly active users. Eventually, the SEC stepped in, issuing a probe as to whether or not IRL misled investors. In April of this year, the company’s board of directors suspended CEO Abraham Shafi and appointed a new acting CEO. Due to those incredibly inflated numbers (and half-baked concept), IRL is shutting down and taking its 19 million bots with it. The company says it’s returning capital to shareholders, but nobody knows how much money is left in the coffers.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-tiktok-is-killing-off-its-bereal-clone-111553066.html?src=rss
You can grab Amazon's third-generation Echo Buds for $35 right now if you're a Prime member. That's a substantial price drop for a $50 product that launched in May and only started shipping on June 7th. The wireless earbuds are already cheaper than their predecessors, but this makes them an even more attractive option if you're looking for an affordable pair. Amazon gave the new Echo Buds a completely different design from earlier versions and adopted an AirPods-like stickbud aesthetic. The company describes the new earbuds as "semi in-ear," most likely because their silicone buds don't form a tight seal to keep ambient sounds out.
Amazon says the earbuds can reduce outside noise, but they let in enough sounds to keep you connected to your surroundings. They can play up to five hours of music non-stop and can last for up to 20 hours with the charging case before you need to plug them in. If you run out battery and need to use them ASAP, they can last up to two hours with a 15-minute quick charge.
The earbuds can seamlessly switch their connection, so you can quickly move between two different devices. They have customizable tap controls, but they also have Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant support, allowing you to issue voice commands to cue music, listen to audiobooks, make calls and set reminders, among other things. In addition, they feature dual connect, which means you can use just one earbud if you want.
If you'd prefer earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Amazon's second-generation Echo Buds are also on sale if you're a Prime member. They're currently selling for $65, down 46 percent from their regular price of $120. Both are merely early Prime Day deals for members paying for the monthly subscription service — the actual event kicks off at July 11th and ends on July 12th.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-new-echo-buds-fall-to-a-new-all-time-low-of-35-in-early-prime-day-deal-100542199.html?src=rss
There's something so satisfying about finally getting to play the game you love on your console of choice. Rail shooter, Air Twister, is the latest video game to make the jump, with ININ Games announcing it will be released on PS4 and PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PC. Air Twister first came on the scene in 2022 exclusively for Apple Arcade.
Air Twister is the brainchild of Yu Suzuki, who designed classic hits like Out Run, Virtua Fighter and Space Harrier, and follows Princess Arch on a mission to prevent her planet's total destruction (no pressure). Suzuki credits Air Twister as a twist on a game he first thought of in the 80s but wasn't possible to create with the technology of the time. It features 12 unique stages and ten alien bosses — including a clock and candelabra that look straight out of Beauty and the Beast. You can choose from modes such as Boss Rush, Arcade and Turbo as you explore a series of minigames and unlock new challenges through the Adventure Map, all with the backdrop of new and rerecorded songs from Dutch composer Valensia.
You'll have to wait until November 10th to help Princess Arch defend her planet from invaders on your PC or console. Until then, Air Twister is still available on Apple Arcade for iOS and Mac users.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/former-apple-arcade-exclusive-air-twister-is-coming-to-pc-and-consoles-093516795.html?src=rss
Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet (2021) is a solid entertainment device and already a great value at $150, but you can now grab one at one of the lowest prices we've seen. Thanks to an early Prime Day sale you can pick one up in Denim, Lavender and Olive colors for just $75, or 50 percent off the regular price. Amazon is also offering it in a bundle with its Fire TV Stick 4K for $100, a 50 percent savings on both products.
The Fire HD 10 offers a 10.1-inch, full HD (1080p) screen, an octa-core 2 GHz processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. While it's certainly a no-frills device, it's a solid option for browsing the web, checking social media, watching streaming apps and making Zoom calls. Note that the deal is for the Fire HD 10 with "lockscreen ads," so you'll be shown personalized ads on the screensaver in sleep mode and at the bottom of the tablet's home screen.
The biggest caveat with the Fire HD 10 is the lack of Google apps and reduced choice compared to Google's Play store. Still, nearly everything you need is there, including Netflix, Disney+, Roblox for the kids, Zoom, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Plus, you get Amazon's suite of apps, ranging from Prime Video to Amazon Music and Kindle.
If you're also looking for a streaming stick, Amazon has you covered there, too. It's offering the Fire HD 10 tablet and Fire Stick 4K in a bundle for $100, saving you 50 percent off both products. As a reminder, the Fire TV Stick 4K offers support for Dolby Vision, HDR and HDR10+, along with Dolby Atmos sound.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-fire-hd-10-tablet-is-50-percent-off-in-early-prime-day-sale-085028252.html?src=rss
Google has killed a project internally known as "Iris" that it established to build augmented reality glasses, according to Business Insider. The tech giant worked on the glasses' development for several years, but it reportedly shelved Iris following waves of layoffs and company reshuffles over the past few months. Another event that factored into Google's decision was the departure of Clay Bavor, the company's former chief of augmented and virtual reality, to form a startup with Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor. In addition, Google reportedly kept changing its strategy for the Iris glasses, which became a source of frustration for team members working on the project.
WhenThe Verge reported about the Iris augmented reality glasses in early 2022, it said that Google could launch the device in 2024. The Iris AR glasses were supposed to look like a pair of ordinary glasses. and an early version reportedly resembled a product called "Focals" by North, a Canadian startup that Google had acquired in 2020. Google also demoed a newer version in a video showing a real-time AR translation feature.
While the company has stopped working on its own AR hardware, Business Insider says it still very much has big augmented reality ambitions. Instead of building its own hardware, Google has apparently chosen to focus on creating an "Android for AR" instead. The company is reportedly hoping to adopt the same business model it's using for its mobile platform and license its AR software to manufacturers. At the moment, Google is busy developing Android XR for Samsung's "extended reality" wearable devices and, according to Insider, on a new platform called "micro XR" for glasses.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-no-longer-building-its-own-augmented-reality-glasses-062555498.html?src=rss
Nintendo has a bad reputation for its online infrastructure, often being ridiculed for lagging behind in adopting the latest technologies or features (such as requiring a smartphone for voice chat). This includes transitioning user data between your old console and a new one. Fortunately, it sounds like Nintendo is at least looking into making that easier before the launch of its next console.
In a shareholder meeting late last week, when asked if your Nintendo Switch purchases would carry over to future game consoles, President and CEO Shuntaro Furukawa says (via Google Translate), “In the transition from Nintendo Switch to the next-generation console, we would like to make every effort to ensure that customers can make the transition smoothly while using their Nintendo account.” This seems to imply that Nintendo is at least looking into possibly allowing current Nintendo Switch titles purchased through the eShop to be carried over to whatever comes next. Of course, Nintendo doesn’t make comments about future hardware that hasn’t been announced yet, so take this with a grain of salt.
As a reminder, previous-generation Nintendo Wii U games did not carry over to the Switch. This is in stark contrast to Sony and Microsoft, where most last-generation console games work on new consoles. And unlike Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo likes to spice up its controller design with virtually every new console. So sometimes it’s impossible to make a game work on both the new and old console generation.
At the very least, Nintendo is considering making improvements for its future console. It’s always been a major disappointment, especially for digital game buyers, that previously-owned titles did not carry over to the new console. It’s especially infuriating when the PlayStation 5 can play most PlayStation 4 titles, and Xbox Series S and X can play most Xbox One titles and in some cases Xbox 360 titles. And in Microsoft’s case, the company lets you carry over certain physical titles as well. So, Nintendo has a few options on the table for carrying over existing games. Regardless of what Nintendo’s next console is like, hopefully it’ll work with all the Switch games people have amassed over the years.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-says-itll-be-easy-to-transfer-over-to-its-next-console-211411270.html?src=rss
