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Apple outs iOS 11.3 update with new Animoji and AR experiences

New updates for watchOS and tvOS, too!

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A few days after their last event, Apple has started the rollout of the latest version of their mobile operating system for the iPhone and iPad. The Cupertino company also released a new update for the Apple Watch and TV.

The new iOS 11.3 introduces new features to Apple’s mobile platform starting with improved augmented reality for supported devices. ARKit 1.5 allows a more immersive AR experience for developers and users to explore, including the ability to place digital objects on vertical surfaces, detect posters and artworks, and see clearer with a higher-resolution real-world camera.

Battery Health tool on iOS 11.3

The battery-gate issue gets addressed in the update with a Battery Health tool. This tells you whether your device’s battery needs to be serviced and is available for iPhone 6 and later. It also gives info about the battery’s performance and if the phone experienced an unexpected shutdown.

Four new Animoji are waiting for the update which includes a lion, bear, dragon, and skull. Of course, this feature is exclusive to the iPhone X. Other new features include Business Chat and Health Records which are both available in the US only. An updated data and privacy information feature also come with the latest iOS update.

New Animoji for the iPhone X

As for watchOS 4.3, the Apple Watch now gets a Nightstand mode when the wearable is positioned in portrait orientation. Music control from the Watch to the iPhone, as well as with the HomePod, is now back with version 4.3.

Lastly, the tvOS 11.3 update comes with auto frame rate switching for the 4th-gen Apple TV and automatic mode switching for AirPlay video playback. The update is available for the 4th- and 5th-generation Apple TV.

For more info about the updates, head over to the source link below. The updates are now available for download on their respective devices.

Source: Apple

News

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

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Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer

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Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

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Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 now lets you play old games in 1080p

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Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

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When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

SEE ALSO: PC Game Pass gets cheaper, but Call of Duty delays are coming

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