Review of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro (Global Version)

Chris Hare
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Review of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro (Global Version)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro which was launched recently in here in the UK in November for the global version of the Mi 8 Pro, priced at £499.99 available from Mi.com and Argos.

Design

So the old premium design language of Aluminium build and glass on the back and front is back with the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro. The design looks quite good on the phone, and here we have the best in class work of colours which Xiaomi will surely be proud of.

What comes in the box for the Mi 8 Pro you get the Mi 8 Pro, sim tool, a clear case and user guide and the USB Type C headphone adaptor as the phone don’t come with a headphone jack and also the type C usb cable.

With Dual tone finish on phones is still a long way to see in most of them, and hence dual tone finished phones are still very rare.

Talking about the placements of different things on the phone, we have the front sensors which include the IR projector, IR Camera, Front camera, and other sensors onto the phone inside the notch which is quite wide in order to accommodate all the above along with the earpiece. The Face unlock on the Mi 8 Pro is not available at the moment waiting for the Over the Air coming very soon, shame it wasn’t available for the review.

Surrounding the same is the big display while at the bottom there is a noticeable bezel. At the back, we have a vertically placed camera unit and that does help the phone a long distance.

Build quality of the phone is great and there is no issue with the device when it comes to the feel of the phone it is at par with other devices in the market which deserves the flagship tag. The phone feels premium and at the same time solidly built which makes it certified to be used daily with a normal protection case.

Display

We have a 6.23 inched display onto the device which is actually an AMOLED unit. This unit is capable of producing some really great images with its 16 million colours which are available to be produced. Due to the help of AMOLED display phone have a great screen to body ratio of over 80% and even the screen is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 and even comes with HDR10, DCI – P3, and MIUI 10 technology for the display. Even with the build in fingerprint sensor into the display, it’s still very quick to unlock with this technology.

Keeping all these in mind the display unit is quite vivid and at the same time, contrast levels are really great all due to the AMOLED display. Blacks on the screen are pure black and hence when you are using the phone out in the bright sunlight the phone is easily legible while during the night-time too if you are using a night mode you will have the best in the class experience of using the phone during the night.

Performance

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro comes with the best in class Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset which is based upon 10 nm platform making the device one of the most power efficient ones. With 8GB RAM option while for the storage side, there is only a single option of 128 GB.

Coming to the real world performance of the phone it performs really well and you have the joy of using the best in class hardware at a relatively low pricing. Day to day chores are taken care by the phone with ease and there is no issue whether the phone can handle any app or not, because most of the apps are like a gameplay for it, and the top of the line games are like daily chores for the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro.

Camera

Star of the show is the camera of the phone which is one of the best parts of Xiaomi Mi Devices, coming to the setup on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro we have it as a dual 12MP sensor where the primary one is having aperture value of f/1.8 while the other one happens to have f/2.4.

The primary sensor also comes with a bigger pixel size and 4–axis OIS making the phone a great shooter even in low light. The secondary camera on the phone is equipped with 2x optical zoom lens making it great for taking portrait pictures.

In the real world, the camera is quite good and the images turn out to be great with a good amount of saturation, contrast, and even a good amount of vividness in the pictures.

When it comes to the front camera it is a 20MP unit making it a great shooter for selfies, most of the selfie lovers are going to love it for the sharpness and quality in the pictures taken with the front camera. None of the users is going to be left behind when all their friends are going to be there in the selfie of over with 10 people.

Camera Samples

Taken on a speeding train

Battery

The Mi 8 Pro comes with a 3000 mAh battery, due to the Snapdragon 845 chipset as it is constructed over 10 nm platform which makes it really efficient and hence there are no issues when the phone has to be on standby as it will be taking less of the battery.

Charging the phone is no issue as it comes with Type-C fast charger and hence you are surely goanna is charged all times to go and take pictures or game whenever your friends want you to play. Another great thing about the phone is the that the standby time of the phone when it is not connected to the internet is over 48 hours hence the phone can be kept as a secondary device due its battery life and capacity, although this is normal for most of the flagships phone. Still, if you are someone who likes to talk to their friend the whole day long then Xiaomi’s Mi 8 Pro is the best choice.

Specs

Dimensions: 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm
Weight: 177 g
Screen: 6.21-inch, 18.7:9, 402 ppi (1,080 x 2,248)
CPU: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 3,000mAh
Cameras: 12MP+12MP rear / 20MP  front
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo

Verdict

The clear star of the show the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro will take the credits of being the best, when it comes to the camera, build quality, and performance the phone surely wins ahead. Even if the back of the Mi 8 Pro has fake chipset etc it’s still cool to see.

Shame no wireless charging or any waterproofing for the device.

Protect the Home with Hive View Outdoor Camera

Chris Hare
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Protect the Home with Hive View Outdoor Camera

Centrica Hive today launched its smart external camera, Hive View Outdoor, taking its security proposition outside the home. Designed to keep people informed of activity around their property, the visually striking camera is equipped with new technology, a simple, flexible installation process and must-have security features to deliver greater peace of mind and protection.

Available immediately to buy through Hive and Amazon, customers can now purchase professional installation, as well as take advantage of a broader range of Hive Video Playback Membership subscriptions to access recordings for 30 days.

Hive View Outdoor is weatherproof, element-proof and equipped with automatic night vision, and is mains powered to work 24/7, detecting sound, motion or people, and sending notifications once recording starts.

A live HD feed gives immediate viewing, with content captured and securely stored for later viewing. Two-way audio allows people to speak directly through the camera, whereas smart notifications provide thumbnail images of the person detected to help customers quickly check who’s there.

Revealed in October for pre-order, Hive View Outdoor has been in high demand by new and existing customers, exceeding its early sales expectations.

Tom Guy, Global Product Director, Centrica Hive commented: “We are thrilled by the level of interest shown in Hive View Outdoor. It makes all the work our team has carried out over the last few years immensely satisfying and further strengthens the importance of listening to our customers. We are inspired by their insight and are continuously encouraged to create technology and services that meet their needs, giving a real positive impact on day to day lives.”When the Hive View Outdoor is connected to other Hive devices, extra layers of smart security can be created using Hive Actions. Linking Hive Lights to the Hive View Outdoor will make it look like someone’s home, while connected to a Hive View means customers can rest easy knowing their whole home is looked after, inside and out.

Captured video is securely stored remotely and can be viewed and downloaded for free for 24 hours. Once downloaded it can be kept forever. Hive Video Playback Membership extends access to content for 30 days, giving optional extra reassurance, even when away for an extended period.

Hive View Outdoor is Hive’s third collaboration with renowned designer and fuse project founder Yves Béhar, and shares the same elegant design philosophy as seen in other Hive devices. Simple to set up, it works within minutes of installation and is managed through the intuitive Hive app. Once on the wall, the magnetic mount allows it to be easily manoeuvred to offer the best possible view with its wide 130° lens and safely secured through an anti-theft mechanism.

A robust roadmap is in place to enhance the camera, providing customers with richer features. Adjustable Activity Zones will allow customers to choose areas to monitor, while Automated Sounds, such as a dog’s bark, will help deter unwanted attention. These are expected to arrive early 2019. Pricing and availability, Hive View Outdoor is available to purchase from  Hive and Amazonat £179 or £339 for two.

Customers can also opt for Hive Video Playback membership from £3.99 per month.

Review: GODS Remastered

Sean McCarthy
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Review: GODS Remastered

I am of a certain age that when it comes to remastered game,I can remember pretty much each original version so the level of nostalgia can be very high even if the game was not quite the classic the marketing would claim it to be. But every now and then, someone takes a game to remaster that is so old that it even tests my ancient memory. Harking back to my Amiga days and this particular title I do remember but admittedly came as a real surprise and so my first reaction to it was simply ‘why’. It was time to revisit a very old-school platformer in GODS Remastered.

GODs Remastered is about as random as you can get in terms of taking a game from a bygone era and giving it a modern refresh and as above, was very unexpected indeed to find out that GODs had been selected. I do remember this being quite a tough old school platformer but that could well be due to the old school joystick I used when playing on my Amiga back in the day. GODS was very different to the more colourful platformers I was fond of back then for the AMIGA such as ‘The New Zealand Story’ and ‘Rainbow Islands’ and stood out because it was full of Greek mythology and monsters and you got to play as Hercules himself, who accepts the challenge of the Gods of Olympus to clear out their citadel of Four invading Guardians but only because the Gods have offered whichever hero defeats them, anything they want so of course Hercules being smarter than your average bear, simply asks to have a seat beside the Gods in Olympus.

First thing with any Remastered game you will notice are the visuals and to be perfectly honest, they do look far better now then they did all the way back in 1991 on the games original release, but not by that much.They have been cleaned up and happily they have kept to the same Bitmap Brothers iconic art style but it has certainly just been cleaned up rather than a complete overhaul. You can switch back to the original art style as well with a button press and whilst it is chalk and cheese between the original and this remastered version, it wouldn’t be my first reason to pick this up if honest. What I was really smiling about though was the work done to clean up and improve the original musical score and audio effects in the game which for me is where the nostalgia really came from and hit home

What has been kept the same is the gameplay, and whilst itfeels a little clumsy in 2018 to be running and jumping in a 2D environment, itfeels exactly as it did back then which is helped a little by using a modern controller over the clunky old school joystick. Screens are filled with enemies and traps to avoid and you can shoot with various weapon types but in the end ,it really is just about hitting the fire button constantly as you move around which is a very 90s platforming style of fighting. The jumping is still clumsy as it was back in the day and enemies follow the same standard pattern making them easy to identify and react to. When you look at modern 2D action platformers like Dead Cells and Sundered for example, this kind of game play does feel incredibly dated which will make this a very niche title.

It is the little things though which still stand out today and it is because this is a 1990s original game that made them such a treat to rediscover such as finding the secrets and hidden switches in the levels as you search for the key to open the exit to that level. In 2018 such things would all be fully expected to find but it is fascinating to see that these mechanics from almost 30 years ago are still being used today in gaming, and being able to trace such mechanics to games almost 30 years ago on very different platforms is why I love this hobby we know as video games.

So, whilst GODs Remastered does not break the internet in terms of being the best remastered out there right now, in terms of revisiting a long-gone era of AMIGA gaming was fun for me especially as both an AMIGA user and fan of Bitmap Brothers games from the 90s. Gameplay is very hit and miss but is faithful to the original game that those like me who do remember the original GODs will recognise it instantly. But that is probably where the appeal for this remaster will end, it is a novelty at best and at £16 asking price for it, is a little hard to recommend but it would be a perfect title to be included in the Xbox Games Pass as it is worth playing if for nothing more than to showcase how much platform games have evolved since the 90s giving modern 2D platformers a new appreciation.

A nostalgia purchase at best and something to show a younger gamer if like me, you know people who missed the 90s gaming scene altogether.It left me reflecting on fond memories of my Amiga days and slightly tempted to grab my old Amiga 1200 from storage to play some old games, but this is a difficult one to recommend you rush out and buy now but instead wait to the sales to see if it appears should you want to revisit or just experience some very classic gameplay which has been given a fresh coat of visual paint.

Ghost Recon wildlands free two-part mission announced

Chris Hare
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Ghost Recon wildlands free two-part mission announced

Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy’s GhostRecon Wildlands will introduce a free Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier®–themed special mission featuring iconic characters Scott Mitchell and John Kozak as part of Special Operation 3.In this third major update of Year 2 content, players will be able to team upwith Mitchell and Kozak for this free two-part special crossover event starting today, December 11, on all platforms.

Exclusive Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier–themedcontent will be introduced to the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands main campaign and PvP mode, including two new Future Soldier–inspired Ghost War PvP classes and a PvE mission, Operation Silent Spade. In Operation Silent Spade, Ghost Leader Scott Mitchell calls on Nomad and his team to help rookie John Kozak investigate a plot that links the Santa Blanca Cartel to a nuclear threat. The special challenge is playable solo or with up to four players in co-op.

Upon completing Operation Silent Spade, players will be rewarded with the Optical Camo Backpack, perfect for a stealth approach. In addition to the rewards for completing the challenge, players can further customise and arm their Ghosts with the Silent Spade Pack, which include a weapon and new customisation items.

Special Operation 3 will also bring two new Ghost War PvP classes, Vanguard and Sharpshooter, inspired by Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Future Soldier characters. Vanguard uses sensor grenades to uncover and highlight hidden enemies in the area of effect to his team, while Sharpshooter charges his shots by using his Long Range Specialist ability, which at a full charge enables him to negate the effects of sway and bullet drop. In addition to two new classes,this update will also contain two new PvP maps, Lithium Mine and Outskirts.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands Year 2 Pass offers seven-day earlyaccess to the two new Ghost War classes starting December 11, along with oneexclusive customisation pack. Non-owners of the Year 2 Pass will be able toaccess the new Ghost War classes starting December 18.

PC players wanting to share the experience with friends can gain Battle Crate rewards including Spec Ops and Ghost War Crates, via the PC Referral Program from December 11 – February 11, 2019. Invited friends who purchase the game will also receive Battle Crate rewards, including one Ghost War Crate and OneSpec Ops Crate. The more friends players invite, the more rewards they will receive.



Special Operation 3 will also bring two new Ghost War PvP classes, Vanguard and Sharpshooter, inspired by Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier characters. Vanguard uses sensor grenades to uncover and highlight hidden enemies in the area of effect to his team, while Sharpshooter charges his shots by using his Long Range Specialist ability, which at a full charge enables him to negate the effects of sway and bullet drop. In addition to two new classes, this update will also contain two new PvP maps, Lithium Mine and Outskirts.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Year 2 Pass offers seven-day early access to the two new Ghost War classes starting December 11, along with one exclusive customisation pack. Non-owners of the Year 2 Pass will be able to access the new Ghost War classes starting December 18.

PC players wanting to share the experience with friends can gain Battle Crate rewards including Spec Ops and Ghost War Crates, via the PC Referral Program from December 11 – February 11, 2019. Invited friends who purchase the game will also receive Battle Crate rewards, including one Ghost War Crate and One Spec Ops Crate. The more friends players invite, the more rewards they will receive.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Year 2 will continue to expand the Ghost Recon universe with free major Special Operation updates, each featuring a unique theme, updates to the PvE campaign with free special content and special challenges with exclusive rewards, community-requested features and updates for the Ghost War 4v4 PvP experience. The development team is committed to supporting the game with free new content and improvements to the core experience.

Disneyland Paris reveals new image of Marvel-themed area coming to Walt Disney Studios Park

Chris Hare
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Disneyland Paris reveals new image of Marvel-themed area coming to Walt Disney Studios Park

 

Disneyland Paris revealed anew image illustrating the Marvel-themed area coming to Walt Disney Studios Park. This new area will allow guests to encounter the heroes in new and exciting ways, from the mystic arts of Doctor Strange to the gravity defyingfeats of Spider-Man. Guests will also experience the latest in Pym Technologywith Ant-Man and Wasp and be wowed as Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther,Captain America and more leap into action.

In addition to heroic encounters, new attractions, thrilling entertainment and dining, guests will experience a reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, which will become a high-speed, hyper-kinetic adventure.

Get ready to assemble alongside Earth’s mightiest heroes to protect the world… recruitment begins soon.

As part of a €2 billion, multi-year expansion plan, this immersive area marks a first step in the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park, with three new areas based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars.

Fans won’t have to wait forthe new area, though, to experience more Marvel at Disneyland Paris. After the first Marvel Season of Super Heroes last summer, Captain America, Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Widow return for a second edition in 2019, filled with epic adventures, joined by new heroes such as Captain Marvel and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. Beyond the Parks, Disney’s Hotel NewYork will be reimagined to become Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel in 2020, becoming the first Disney hotel to showcase and celebrate the historyand new exciting ways to explore the visual world of Marvel.

Times Change. DOOM is Eternal

Chris Hare
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Times Change. DOOM is Eternal

A quarter century has passed since DOOM was released to the unsuspecting masses. More than two decades later the franchise has spawned multiple sequels, spin-off titles, films, comics, and cemented itself as part of the pop culturelexicon.

Over the next year we’re celebrating twenty-five years of ripping andtearing. Twenty-five years of mods, gibs, guns, and the most passionate, unwavering, and ardent fan base this side of Phobos.

Whether you cut your teethin 1993 or if DOOM (2016) was your first trip to Hell, we’re asking all DOOMSlayers past, present, and future to unite in celebrating one ofentertainment’s most iconic franchises.

Fans can join up today at www.SlayersClub.com to receive the exclusive Zombie DOOM Slayer skin for DOOM Eternal when it launches. Stay tuned for more detailsin the coming weeks around how to participate in the Year of DOOM, includinginformation on exclusive content, rewards, events, contests, and much more.

ID@Xbox Releases for December 3rd – 7th 2018

Andrew Edney
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ID@Xbox Releases for December 3rd – 7th 2018

Each week a number of new ID@Xbox titles are released. Here is the roundup of the releases for this week.

GODS Remastered

Join the nameless warrior on a dangerous journey through four worlds to defeat the Great Guardians who have stolen the homes of the gods. As a reward you will receive immortality and a place in the eternal hall of fame…

Subnautica

Subnautica is an underwater open world adventure game. Craft equipment, pilot submarines, and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, and cave systems.

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

A legendary series returns with a grand new adventure! Enjoy a colorful action-adventure game made alongside Ryuichi Nishizawa, creator of the original Wonder Boy in Monster World series.

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom borrows the best from the classic series to deliver a fresh, modern adventure with fun gameplay, memorable music and gorgeous hand drawn animations.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

A tactical adventure game combining the turn-based combat of XCOM with story, exploration, stealth, and strategy. Take control of a team of Mutants navigating a post-human Earth. Created by a team including former HITMAN leads and the designer of PAYDAY.

Monica e a Guarda dos Coelhos

MONICA E A GUARDA DOS COELHOS is a couch co-op game for 1 to 4 players, with a focus on teamwork and cooperation. Playing as a group with (many) heroes from the Brazilian IP Monica and Friends, everyone must have a different role and defend the castles against the smudge horde! Use magical bunnies with unique powers, load them into cannons, and fire them at incoming enemies! Join Monica and her friends in this great adventure!

Edge Energy Cycle

‘Energy Cycle Edge’ is the sequel to the puzzle game ‘Energy Cycle’. The main idea is the same: when you activate each cell in the game field, it changes the colors of the cell and any adjacent cells in a straight line. Each cell switches between three different colors, and your task is to make them all match the same color.

Battle Princess Madelyn

Battle Princess Madelyn is a game that follows the journey of a young knight in training, Madelyn, and her ghostly pet dog, Fritzy. They set out on a journey to save her kingdom and her family from the clutches of an evil wizard.

Hello Neighbor: Hide and Seek

Hello Neighbor: Hide and Seek follows the tragic story of the Neighbor’s family in this dramatic prequel to Hello Neighbor. Experience playing a game of hide-and-seek with your brother as you both deal with a loss of a family member. The game explains events that led up to the original Stealth Horror hit Hello Neighbor.

On A Roll 3D

On A Roll 3D is a fast-paced 3D platform game. Roll your way through 24 huge levels across six different themes and be prepared to take on spikes, mines, dynamite, conveyor belts, springs, switches, doors, bumpers, lasers, saws, fire, ice, water, electricity, trapdoors and much much more.

Ashen

Ashen is an open world co-op action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home.

See you next week for another round-up of the new ID@Xbox releases.

Review: Doctor Who – Series 11 Episode 10 ‘The Battle of Ranskoor’

Sean McCarthy
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Review: Doctor Who – Series 11 Episode 10 ‘The Battle of Ranskoor’

It only seems like last week that we all tuned into the opening episode of Series 11 to welcome a brand Doctor in Jodie and show runner in Chris Chibnall along with a very new look feel to the show in so many ways. It has been a rather bumpy season with some amazing episodes such as ‘Rosa’ , ‘Demons of the Punjab’ and ‘It Takes You Away’ but some missteps such as The Tsuranga Conundrum and Kerblam!! Chris Chibnall has returned to write this finale which as we approach it airing, does not feel like a finale which feels strange and as wrong as there being no Christmas Day episode this year. But, trailer looks promising and hopefully the series will end just as strong as it began!

Spoiler Warning – I will be talking about story points in this review, hard to avoid due to series finale

Going into this episode I really had no idea what to expect but more hoping for someking of connection to previous revealed through Series 11. The lack of a series story arc has perhaps been the most frustrating aspect to Doctor Who  under Chris Chibnall with more time stretched trying to find roles for all the members of Team TARDIS to fill each week. New Aliens and characters have been introduced but also dismissed almost as quickly as they were introduced.

The finale brings Team TARDIS to the planet of Ranskoor Av Kolos after they answered nine distress calls from this world and discovering the ruins of a battlefield upon landing. The Doctor feels that something is not quite right here. But the story starting with a very Aliens style “Engineer” pair of characters on the same planet but thousands of years ago with the woman encouraging a younger man to fulfill his duty and do what she had been training him to do, to build something on that planet for the creator however they are stopped by the arrival of a mysterious person before the action jumps back to the TARDIS and the Doctor and Team arriving at the planet. 

The opening is very sci fi and dare I say it, rather Doctor Who which is something I like, the first 10 minutes also suddenly made this feel like a real series finale. This feeling became even stronger then they meet a man who has lost his memory due to the effects of the Planet but with some help from The Doctor and the convenient use of a neural device, begins to remember his name and crew, who are missing. I have to admit, the Doctor’s ability to just handily having the right tech at a moments notice this series is a little…on the nose for me. 

That being said, I was very much relieved when the identity of the person who has his crew mates was shown to be Stenza sounding very much like Tim Shaw from the first episode who you will remember, teleported back to where he came from after being defeated by the Doctor. By coming full circle this episode has very much become the series finale and instead of a series story arc, simply used the first and now this last episode as book ends for series 11 which I am still unsure is the right direction for Doctor Who going forward. But the return of the Stenza provided a great opportunity for Graham to perhaps complete his own story arc and I loved Bradley Walsh’s performance here as he warns the Doctor that he plans to kill ‘Tim Shaw’ for the death of his wife Grace resulting in the Doctor asking him and then ordering him not to kill and threatening that if he tries then she will not only stop him, but he will not be welcome to travel with her anymore.

As for the rest of Team TARDIS, well sadly both Ryan and Yas are still just background characters with Yas yet again ending up with the Doctor whilst Ryan is really just there to finish what began last episode by acknowledging his feelings for Graham as his Grandad and playing the default action hero. This does for me at least give me the sense that Graham will most likely be leaving the team during the New Year’s special simply because I feel his journey is now complete as far as his character goes. The size of Team TARDIS limits the way in which companion stories can be told and too many times this series has one or more of Team TARDIS been benched to focus on the other. Yas did so little this episode and Ryan merely became Graham’s sidekick, it is a waste of screen time and story telling so if we were to lose Graham, as great as Bradley Walsh is, I would have no complaints.

For the story itself, well I actually liked it and by bringing back Tim Shaw as the big threat it managed to tick quite a few boxes for me. Discovering that it was actually him that was the mysterious person who appeared which stopped the two aliens, the Ux from doing what they were doing. Forcing them to keep him alive and to build him a weapon in order to exact his revenge on the Doctor’s precious planet Earth, Tim Shaw actually became a much darker and genuine threat for the Doctor and friends then I had expected. It was done well and even the lovely little nods to previous times the Doctor has saved the Earth with the TARDIS were quite fun for the audience. It was all wrapped up very nicely and the Doctor and her ‘fam’ stepped back into the TARDIS and set off for new adventures.

Perhaps that is the overall problem with Series 11 for me. You have a superb new Doctor in Jodie who has not put a single foot wrong in any of the episodes so far, but each episode really is just a stand alone adventure and whilst we have had two episodes now in 9 and 10 both connect to the first episode, other then that, the 13th Doctor really is just happy travelling around with Team TARDIS and not really going any bigger then short stories. It was a strong end to Series 11 but when I look back at this series, I will see some brilliant moments for Jodie’s Doctor but some rather average testing the waters stuff from Chris Chibnall.

Now the news has also just broken at the time of completing this review that Series 12 will not air until early 2020, so essentially that means no Doctor who for 12 months between the New Years Day special and either a Christmas Special or another New Years Day one, if that until the next series will be broadcasted. That has actually sucked out all the fun I had with this series, leaving me just a little bit annoyed and concerned going forward for the show which will mean Jodie’s Doctor will be stretched over 3 years for just two series. This last happened with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor and well, that was a worrying time too.

But that is a wrap for the new Doctor’s first series and honestly, I do not know where this leaves the show with the news of it not returning until 2020 and the rumours of both Chibnall and Jodie possibly leaving after the second series which now sound increasingly more possibly with the year break for the show. I like Jodie’s Doctor and she is a superb refreshing new quality to the show but there are things I feel need to be changed for the next series such as the size of Team TARDIS and Chibnall’s reluctance to use old Doctor Who monsters in favour of creating new ones which there have been very few memorable ones. 

For me Series 11 is very much a work in progress for new showrunner Chris Chibnall but for Jodie Whittaker, she has definitely made the TARDIS her home.

The first trailer for ‘AVENGERS 4’ has been officially released

Chris Hare
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The first trailer for ‘AVENGERS 4’ has been officially released

Watch the first trailer for ‘AVENGERS 4’ has been officially released, where we finally get the official title name for the film.

EMUI 9.0 released for Honor’s devices from Honor Play to Honor 10/View 10

Chris Hare
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EMUI 9.0 released for Honor’s devices from Honor Play to Honor 10/View 10

The EMUI 9.0, a new version of the Honor user interface, was officially announced today to support Honor’s latest devices, the Honor Play, the Honor 10 and the Honor View 10. Based on the Android 9.0 Pie, the EMUI 9.0 provides top-notch innovations for a smarter, smoother and simpler operating system. These innovations significantly improve the user experience in security, AI-driven smart life features, device management and usability.

“EMUI 9.0 was born out of a commitment to create an enjoyable and simple experience for Honor fans. The innovative features and the brand new UX design embody the spirit of our brand, a brand that is always working to optimise the mobile user experience and meet the evolving needs of our young customers. We look forward to sharing this latest innovation with them and welcoming new customers impressed by our unrivalled product quality and service,” said Mr. George Zhao, President of Honor.

Secure your life with the “Password Vault”

The latest operating system offers greater security with “Password Vault” which acts as a password manager to streamline all user IDs, passwords and online credentials for websites and apps into one secure space. Once users have safely stored their login data, they can access a website or open an app with their fingerprint ID to complete the auto-fill function.

Experience the world with AI

The EMUI 9.0 release will make AI more accessible to users with HiVision – a travel, shopping and translation assistant powered by Augmented Reality. HiVision allows the camera to identify 522 landmarks across 15 countries and 10 million renowned artworks in 40 cities around the world. By pointing the camera, HiVision becomes the user’s personal tour guide and provides detailed information on popular attractions.

HiVision is a personal shopping assistant. When users bring an object into the focus of the camera, it will send users to an online retail platform where the item can be bought, such as Amazon. HiVision can also recognise more than 7 languages and translate a menu, a map and a range of other instructions instantly into the desired language.

EMUI 9.0 has upgraded the HiAI ecosystem, which now supports 147 algorithmic calculations and 33 online APIs. The ecosystem recognises more than 1,500 scenes, improving the user photography experience significantly. The upgraded AI system also enhances the overall user experience by supporting new apps, such as an AI Email Translator and an AI Schedule Planner.

Use digital well-being for a happier life

The updated system fulfils Honor’s commitment to improve users’ quality of life by integrating measures that promote “digital well-being”. One of the key features of the EMUI 9.0 is the new Digital Balance dashboard which offers an in-depth metrical analysis of personal device usage, usage time for each app, time period and frequency of device unlocking.

With this information at their fingertips, users can allocate their usage quota for each app to help them manage their time. An additional feature, Wind Down mode, initiates a gradual display fade to grey according to the user’s preset sleep time at night, silencing all smartphone alerts and notifications to ensure a better quality of rest.

Make your sharing wireless

The upgraded system introduces Wireless Projecting, which provides a desktop-like experience when the device is wirelessly connected to a supported TV or monitor.[1]Users can project presentations, photos, videos or gaming to the larger screen directly from the device

In addition, EMUI 9.0 enables wireless printing via Huawei Share. The new feature satisfies users’ need for personal printing service with a simple click on the device, allowing for a convenient mobile printing.

More to offer, more to enjoy

Overall, the EMUI 9.0 is designed as a lightweight operating system that makes the device faster, cleaner and easier to use. The new version increases the overall operational performance by 12.9 percent and dramatically shortens app launch times. The new navigation system has reduced the number of EMUI setting items by 10 percent, which considerably boosts ease of use. Another key feature of EMUI 9.0 is the natural UX design, which ensures consistency across the interface with a minimalist style inspired by nature.

The next generation of the revolutionary graphics processing acceleration technology GPU Turbo 2.0 is based on EMUI 9.0. It delivers a better gaming experience with a reduction of 36 percent for touch-input latency.

On top of the existing supported games, the latest operating system has been optimised for Vainglory, Arena of Valor, Rules of Survival and NBA 2K18.

The EMUI 9.0 Beta testing program is now open on Honor Beta Club’s Facebook page. The second phase of the beta test will start on 15thDecember, and users who have an Honor ID can sign up via HiCare with unlimited number of devices. The EMUI 9.0 upgrade will be officially available for Honor 10, Honor Play and Honor View 10 on 4th January.

Review: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade Episode 1

Sean McCarthy
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Review: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade Episode 1

When Ubisoft announced that there would be no new entry in the Assassin’s Creed series for 2019, they instead have planned expansion content for AC Odyssey to run throughout next year which will also include the release of the Remastered version of Assassin’s Creed III. Now two months from the game’s launch and we now start the first of the expansion DLC’s in “Legacy of The First Blade” which will be split into three chapters which now begins with ‘Hunted’ which will introduce the legendary user of the very first hidden blade weapon, Darius!

The story and lore of Assassin’s Creed is a huge part of why I have loved this series from day one and the main reason why I continue to expand my fandom of it outside the games with novels and comic books. I am really pleased that the expansions for AC Odyssey are focusing on expanding the story more then just adding new generic quests or items to find. When the Season Pass content was revealed I was most intrigued by this story expansion most of all as it is a nod back to Assassin’s Creed 2 which for those who played it will remember that a special chamber paid tribute to legendary Assassins through history including the first recording death by someone using the hidden blade, that man was Darius and this story brings him to life for the very first time.

Now I managed to complete the story campaign quests and all the side activities for this in about 5 hours with my level 50 Alexios, and I only increased by three levels by the time I completed it with the new level cap of 70. For those who may not have completed the main campaign or odyssey’s you can still access this DLC story after you hit player level 28 with enemies to scale to your level which is a great way to make new content accessible to all. It also does not mention the main story campaign at any time, so it is also spoiler free if you do decide to complete this DLC before finishing the base game story.

Hunted is limited to one single region on the map, Makedonia but it is still a pretty good size area which will have you exploring every inch of it during Hunted. After investigating a burning village, Alexios/Kassandra will be attacked by a mysterious hooded man armed with a wrist blade forcing a confrontation. Upon winning the fight you will be able to question this mysterious man who will claim to be responsible for the death of Xerxes himself, and will reluctantly tell you about the Order of the Ancients, which those who have played AC Origins will remember as the faction working in the shadows whom Bayek will hunt down. But here Alexios/Kassandra have only met the Cult of Kosmos, so Darius explains that you, The Eagle Bearer, are now being targeted by them and that they are here hiding in the shadows in Makedonia. Intrigued by this news but also slightly suspicious about the motives of Darius who is clearly not revealing all he knows.

Now depending on whether you chose to play as Alexios or Kassandra will determine which of Darius’s children you meet. If Alexios then you will meet his daughter Neema or if Kassandra then you will meet his son Natakas. Whichever one you do meet, it will be revealed that the other sibling was killed by the Order of the Ancients, it will also hint at a possible romance opportunity with the child of Darius you meet. Another interesting thing of note is how Darius refers to Alexios/Kassandra as a tainted one, something which the Order of the Ancients are hunting down which is no doubt a reference to those who are descended from the Isu. Now of course this is really the first time that the more traditional Assassin Vs Templar war has come into the world of Odyssey which is set way before the Assassin Brotherhood is formed in Origins and before the Order of the Ancients evolves into the Templar Order. But it is nice to see a direct connection to Origins and the rest of the series and as a series fan, it is nice to see Odyssey expand with this.

Hunting down the 7 members of the Order of the Ancients is the main focus of the Hunted, and just like with the Cult of Kosmos, you will need to complete side quests in order to reveal their identity and location to go hunt them down. It is all pretty self-contained with side quests opening up as you follow the story through. One issue I did have was that I found I was finding members of the Order just by exploring the area, in fact I took out four of them without doing the specific quest to find them which was a little disappointing. But I really liked the threat of the Order of the Ancients, with the main target called ‘The Hunter’ taunting you about your own actions and motives for killing. This very much feels like an ongoing threat which will be expanded on with the next two chapters of this DLC which will come in 2019.

This opening taster for that is great for story but the gameplay is very much the same as the main game and for some just revisiting the location of Makedonia. You can earn new exotic weapons and armour for completing this capture but overall outside of the new characters and story, nothing is really that new for players to experience gameplay wise. This DLC does come with a brand-new Assassin skill called ‘Death Veil’ which will cause the bodies of enemies you stealth assassinate to disappear which will stop the risk of bodies being discovered and raising the alarm. Knowing that this was just the first part of a three-chapter DLC expansion allowed me to manage my expectations so that the 5 hours it took me to do everything never really felt too criminally short knowing that more was to come and serving as a prologue really has my imagination working on where this could possibly go.

It is nice to have some new story having already put 130 hours into this game and pretty much only having the weekly quest challenges to do and this really has me looking forward to seeing where the next instalments will take my Alexios. It does really feel like an Assassin’s Creed story having the Order of the Ancients back and Darius is a very interesting character to interact with. But this is rather short DLC but if you have this DLC you do have the rest so the hope is that Ubisoft will drop the next part very early into 2019 so the wait is not too long.

Welcome to Far Cry New Dawn coming in February 2019

Chris Hare
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Welcome to Far Cry New Dawn coming in February 2019

Today at The Game Awards, Ubisoft unveiled Far Cry New Dawn, the newest instalment of Far Cry franchise. Set in a breathtaking post-apocalyptic world, Far Cry New Dawn will release on 15th February 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One/Xbox One X and Windows PC. Players can pre-order Far Cry New Dawn now.

Set seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, Far Cry New Dawn brings players into a wildly beautiful and radically transformed Hope County, Montana. Life has begun to emerge from the chaos, but the survivors now face a new threat – the merciless Highwaymen and their leaders The Twins, Mickey and Lou. Raised in a lawless frontier, the twin sisters and their band of scavengers live only for today and have descended upon Hope County to take all available resources. To push back this devastating threat, players must help the Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier.

At the Homebase, players will prepare to face off against the threat of the Highwaymen. The Homebase, called Prosperity, is the stronghold of the Survivors. Here, players can craft makeshift weapons and vehicles and train their Guns for Hire – including new and familiar faces. As players progress, they can upgrade the Homebase for more powerful weapons and gear. The Homebase is also a launchpad to Expeditions, where for the first time in Far Cry, the adventure is more than local. Set in memorable locations across the US, from wetlands to canyons and more, Expeditions drop players into unique locations where they must grab a package of valuable materials and get out, quickly.

 

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Kiev and Ubisoft Bucharest, Far Cry New Dawn is a first-person shooter set in a completely open world. The standalone sequel to Far Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn thrusts players into a post-apocalyptic setting where they will encounter a dual-threat – The Twins, Mickey and Lou. Players can recruit an eclectic cast of Guns and Fangs for Hire, or a Friend for Hire for co-op play, to experience unpredictable, unforgettable Far Cry Moments where anything can happen.

NEW Palm smartphone now available only with Vodafone UK

Chris Hare
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NEW Palm smartphone now available only with Vodafone UK

The NEW Palm smartphone, (£31 per month with no upfront cost) or £350 Pay as you go when bought with a £10 Big Value Bundle is now available exclusively here in the UK with vodafone.co.uk.

 

Smart, light and credit card sized, the Palm is designed for life on the go – from morning commutes and workouts to weekend getaways and nights out with friends – simply mount it on your bike, wear it around your neck, or slip it into your pocket or clutch bag.

 

It’s also sweat and water resistant and has two built-in cameras – a 12MP rear-facing and 8MP front-facing – so you can capture the perfect shot no matter what you’re doing.

Other features such as Life Mode let you eliminate distraction and silence notifications when the screen is turned off – unless you’re on a call, streaming music or using GPS. When you wake the screen, Palm becomes fully usable again.

Running on Android OS, the Palm offers both face recognition unlocking and voice-activation with Google Assistant – so you can play music, create events, reply to texts or look up directions by simply using your voice.

Vodafone and Sony Pictures team up to close digital skills gap

Chris Hare
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Vodafone and Sony Pictures team up to close digital skills gap

Vodafone and Sony Pictures have announced a groundbreaking global collaboration, which sees them uniting to help millions of young people in 20 countries identify their skills and find digital jobs that match them.

They will use December’s hotly anticipated movie release Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to introduce young people to Vodafone’s free Future Jobs Finder, a gamified digital platform to help them understand their skills and future career opportunities. The initiative was developed as part of Vodafone’s global programme, What will you be?, which has committed to support 10 million young people to access digital skills, learning and employment opportunities by 2022.

A global digital campaign to support the Sony Pictures and Vodafone collaboration – leading people to Future Jobs Finder – will draw on the movie’s central theme: that anyone can achieve their full potential with the right skills and support.

Andre Seddoh, Vice President International Marketing Partnerships at Sony Pictures, said: “We are so excited about this visually groundbreaking movie, as for the first time we open up a different Spider-Man universe – known as the Spider-Verse – where more than one can wear the mask. Within this world we introduce Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales, who like many young people preparing to leap into the next stage of their lives, is struggling to find out who he is and what he is meant to be. By teaming up with Vodafone we can engage with audiences using the inspirational power of this game-changing movie while also helping Vodafone to connect young people with digital jobs and free digital skills training.”

Joakim Reiter, Director of External Affairs at Vodafone Group said: “Our ambition is to help 10 million young people to access digital skills, learning and employment opportunities and our partnership with Sony Pictures will help us accelerate our progress towards this goal by bringing our digital platform, Future Jobs Finder, to more young people who are thinking about their future career. Future Jobs Finder has been specifically designed to help young adults make a connection between their skills and digital careers they may never have thought of. Together we can harness the power of technology, and the excitement around the movie, to engage with young people to help them realise their potential and play a role in closing the digital skills gap.”

Seddoh added: “One of the great moments in the movie is when Peter Parker says to Miles “Don’t do it like me, do it like you,” and this is what we want everyone to take away from this movie and use as inspiration to fulfil their own destiny.”

Since launching in March this year, more than 300,000 young people have completed Vodafone’s Future Jobs Finder tool, introducing them to over a million digital job types. The online platform takes people through a series of short tests, developed with psychologists, careers experts and training providers, to identify their skills and interests. By responding to these questions, young people can understand where their potential lies and find live local job opportunities in multiple digital industries which are matched to their skills, as well as access relevant, free digital skills training.

https://futurejobsfinder.vodafone.com/

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