Call of Duty: Mobile to soon get a new map called Meltdown

Call of Duty: Mobile players will soon get a new map to play on. The developers have teased the new map on Twitter and it has been correctly identified as Meltdown by players. Meltdown is a multiplayer map that was first introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The map sees players fight it out in a nuclear powerplant and is said to encourage medium to close range engagements. 

Besides a new map, the developers will also add a new weapon to the game, namely an assault rifle called the KN-44. The rifle is said to offer a slow rate of fire but makes up for it by offering high damage. The weapon should be available from next week onwards and players will be able to acquire the weapon in two ways. They can either pay for it via the Color Spectrum Draw, which would offer a legendary version of the KN-44 called Color Spectrum. Players will also be able to grind their way to the gun via the Heavy Shot event which would task players to play various modes, get kills in MP matches and more. 

By mid-March, players will also be able to try a new class in Battle Royale, called Trap Master. Details about the abilities of the new class are scarce, but judging by the name, players will most likely be able to set traps for opposing players, which might make it appealing for those who prefer stealth and tactics over straight-up firefights. It might also make for a good support class to have in a squad.  

 

https://ift.tt/2xdr9K2

Equinix, a leading provider of colocation services, says it has closed its acquisition of bare metal cloud provider Packet for $335M in a deal announced in Jan. (Yevgeniy Sverdlik/Data Center Knowledge)

Yevgeniy Sverdlik / Data Center Knowledge:
Equinix, a leading provider of colocation services, says it has closed its acquisition of bare metal cloud provider Packet for $335M in a deal announced in Jan.  —  The colocation giant's platform-building endeavor enters a whole new phase.  —  Equinix has closed its acquisition of Packet …

Apple will now fix your iPad Airs faulty screen for free

If you own the latest third-generation Apple iPad Air tablet, you might be eligible for Apple’s latest service programme that aims to fix a faulty screen on some units for free. More specifically, you have reason to concern yourself with this new service programme only if you own an iPad Air manufactured between March and October 2019. If you believe you’re an affected iPad Air customer, you can visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider for support. Find the nearest one by clicking here.

“Apple has determined that, under certain circumstances, the screen on a limited number of iPad Air (3rd generation) devices may go blank permanently. A brief flicker or flash may appear before the screen goes blank,” writes the Cupertino-based technology giant in its recently published support page following a number of recent user complaints regarding blank screens on some new iPad Air units. Apple promises to honour this new service claim free of charge for up to two years after the first retail sale of an affected iPad Air.

Determining the manufacturing date of your iPad Air can be tricky as Apple believes it has no reason to share that information with you. You can, however, attempt to retrieve it through the following steps: visit Settings > General > About on your iPad Air. Press and hold the list item ‘Serial Number’ and copy it. Paste it in the text box found on this external website, verify you’re not a robot by checking the reCAPTCHA checkbox, and then tap Check. The page that follows should tell you when your tablet was manufactured. If you're not comfortable with sharing your iPad Air's serial number on an external websute, you can always check its warranty status using Apple’s own web utility from here.

Apple launched the third-generation iPad Air globally nearly a year ago at a starting price of Rs 44,990. Sitting between the iPad and the 11-inch iPad Pro in terms of price, the iPad Air features a 10.5-inch True Tone Retina display that is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil. It is powered by an Apple A12 Bionic chip with up to 256GB of internal storage capacity. Like the more affordable iPad, it features Touch ID for added security. Like all other iPad models, it is available in Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + cellular variants. You can read our review of the Apple iPad Air here.

https://ift.tt/2TKIG3W

Nubia Red Magic 5G smartphone specification confirmed, will come with 144Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 865 SoC and more

Nubia has pretty much revealed everything that one would need to know about it’s upcoming Red Magic 5G smartphone. The information was revealed via a teaser image that was posted on Nubia’s own website. The image has confirmed a number of features of the smartphone, before its official launch on March 12. 

As per the image, the phone will sport a 144Hz display refresh rate and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC with support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technology. In terms of memory, the device would offer UFC 3.0 storage and 16GB LPDDR5 RAM. 

The Nubia Red Magic 5G also packs a cooling fan, just like its predecessor. It also offers support for 55W fast charging, which should ensure that users don’t have to wait a very long time to charge the device back up to 100%. Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor and a triple-rear camera setup with 64MP Sony sensor. 

Images of the smartphone have already been leaked a few weeks back. The images suggested that the drive would feature a ‘REDMAGIC’ logo that appears to feature RGB lighting underneath. The image also suggests that the frame of the phone will feature shoulder buttons, as well as air vents as well as pogo connector pins. 

Images of the phone were leaked a few days back and revealed a vertical camera strip that houses three cameras followed by the “REDMAGIC” logo that appears to light up in different colours. The top and bottom edges are not clearly visible. However, the edge consists of a shoulder button, an air vent, and a pogo connector. Moreover, the previous image has revealed that it will sport an air vent, a volume rocker and a power key on its red-coloured spine.

https://ift.tt/2PYVbrz

New phones from Oppo, Realme; Xiaomi Mi Band rival; 15 tech events cancelled due to Coronavirus; WhatsApp dark mode and other top tech news

https://ift.tt/2Tys2Wz

Sony slashes PlayStation 4 Pro price, reportedly throws in Death Stranding

If you’re in the market for Sony’s high-end gaming console, you’re in luck. Sony has dropped the price of the PlayStation 4 Pro by a couple of thousand rupees, which means you can get one with 1TB storage from Amazon.in today for Rs 36,899. But that’s not all. According to a report by The Mako Reactor, Sony’s new PlayStation 4 Pro bundle will now ship with a free copy of Death Stranding. You should be able to see the new bundle with the updated price on online retail sites and offline game stores in the next few days.

Though the new Sony PlayStation 4 Pro bundle appears to offer better value at a reduced rate, it actually doesn’t. The previous bundle on Amazon.in was priced at Rs 38,710 but it shipped with an additional DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, which is worth close to Rs 4,000, as opposed to a copy of Death Stranding, which is currently priced at Rs 1,840 on Amazon.in. The new bundle is expected to do away with the additional controller but include a copy of the new Hideo Kojima action game instead.

The bundle currently spotted on Amazon.in features the updated price tag but does not carry the new bundle information that swaps the extra controller for a copy of Death Stranding, which means you could get the old bundle (console + two wireless controllers, that is) at the updated price if you place an order today. The report, which claims that the source of the new information is part of the supply chain, says Sony is expected to make the price update official in the next few days. 

Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding went live for the PlayStation 4 platform in November last year and is expected to make it to PC in June later this year. Starring Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Léa Seydoux, Death Stranding is an open world game that revolves around a courier who is tasked with the delivery of essential supplies in a world that no longer has a wireless communications network. The game has several asynchronous online functions. Read our review of it here.

https://ift.tt/2TyqQCz

How to get WhatsApp's new feature that 'reduces eye strain'

Most apps and smartphone interfaces have already adopted dark mode, including iOS and if you are wondering why it’s a good idea to activate dark mode and also how to do it, then read on... https://ift.tt/3cHKwvh

Profile of China-based Blued, one of the largest gay dating apps in the world, which has succeeded by navigating complex rules while staying clear of activism (Yi-Ling Liu/New York Times)

Yi-Ling Liu / New York Times:
Profile of China-based Blued, one of the largest gay dating apps in the world, which has succeeded by navigating complex rules while staying clear of activism  —  Blued, one of the biggest gay dating apps in the world, has succeeded because it plays by the ever-shifting rules for L.G.B.T.Q. China …

AutoRABIT, which provides cloud-based DevOps, backup, and recovery services specifically designed for the Salesforce platform, raises $12.5M Series A (FinSMEs)

FinSMEs:
AutoRABIT, which provides cloud-based DevOps, backup, and recovery services specifically designed for the Salesforce platform, raises $12.5M Series A  —  AutoRABIT, a San Ramon, Calif.-based provider of enterprise-grade cloud DevOps solutions for the Salesforce ecosystem, raised $12.5M in Series A funding.

ISS Astronauts Grow Earth-Like Fresh Lettuce in Space

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have managed to successfully cultivate salad crop -- red romaine lettuce -- that is free of disease-causing microbes and safe to eat, and is... https://ift.tt/32YQrre

Health Data Analytics Institute, which provides an AI-powered service to predict health care outcomes, announces $16M round, which it will use to launch an API (Kyle Wiggers/VentureBeat)

Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat:
Health Data Analytics Institute, which provides an AI-powered service to predict health care outcomes, announces $16M round, which it will use to launch an API  —  Making sense of disparate data is a task at which AI excels.  Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) is a case in point …

Atlanta-based supply chain tech company Dematic acquires UK-based logistics automation software company DAI for ~$133.5M, as Dematic parent KION completes deal (Jessica Saunders/Atlanta Business Journal)

Jessica Saunders / Atlanta Business Journal:
Atlanta-based supply chain tech company Dematic acquires UK-based logistics automation software company DAI for ~$133.5M, as Dematic parent KION completes deal  —  Supply chain technology company Dematic is expanding its software offerings with the acquisition of a UK-based company that specializes in logistics automation software.

Nokia 52 becomes Nokia 53, reveals quad cameras, 4000mAh battery in leaked specs

With HMD Global all set to unveil its new Nokia 5G smartphone (Nokia 9.2) on March 19 in London, we’re seeing an increase in the number of Nokia leaks and rumours. The latest leak, reported by NokiaPowerUser, suggests that the company’s new mid-range offering will be called not Nokia 5.2 but instead Nokia 5.3. The leak also suggests that the handset will feature as many as four cameras on its back panel, a large 6.55-inch screen, and a 4000mAh battery. We expect the Nokia 5.3 to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600-series chip.

The leak suggests that the Nokia 5.3, which was previously thought to be the Nokia 5.2, is a dual-SIM mid-range smartphone bearing the model number ‘TA-1234’. Though the leak claims to confirm the change in the handset’s name, it fails to mention why HMD Global is skipping a number. Nonetheless, the Nokia 5.3 is expected to replace the quickly aging Nokia 5.1 that is currently on sale for Rs 8,727. Going by a recent Geekbench listing, it will be powered by either a Snapdragon 660 or Snapdragon 665 chip with up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity.

The leak not only gives us a glimpse of the new handset but also reveals some key specs. For example, the Nokia 5.3 is expected to feature a large 6.55-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. As is the case with many modern Nokias, the top section of the handset’s screen will house a circular notch for the single 8MP selfie camera. On the back panel, the Nokia 5.3 should pack four camera sensors of varying resolution (16MP + 5MP + 8MP + 8MP). It’s also expected to feature a 4000mAh battery. Colour options include Cyan and Charcoal with the possibility of a third.

The outgoing Nokia 5.1, which was launched in India in mid-2018, features a much smaller 5.5-inch Full HD+ display with fairly thick horizontal bezels. It’s powered by a MediaTek Helio P18 Octa-core chip with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage capacity. It has a single 16MP camera sensor on the back with phase-detection autofocus and dual-tone flash. On the front, it sports an 8MP selfie unit. The battery inside the handset is a much smaller 2970mAh unit. The Nokia 5.1 runs Android 9 Pie out of the box.

Inline image courtesy: NokiaPowerUser

Note: Cover image depicts Nokia 5.1

https://ift.tt/38zqhN0

Google Pixel 4 Gets More Secure Face Unlock Setting, Doesn't Work Yet

Google has apparently released a new setting for the Google Pixel 4s face unlock, as it appears in the settings. Called "Require eyes to be open", it would only authorise face unlock with the users'... https://ift.tt/2VWflWP

Online classifieds company OLX Brazil, a leading player in Brazil's digital real estate ads, has agreed to buy rival Grupo ZAP for $642M in an all-cash deal (Terje Solsvik/Reuters)

Terje Solsvik / Reuters:
Online classifieds company OLX Brazil, a leading player in Brazil's digital real estate ads, has agreed to buy rival Grupo ZAP for $642M in an all-cash deal  —  OSLO (Reuters) - Online marketplace OLX Brazil has agreed to buy competitor Grupo ZAP for 2.9 billion reais ($642 million) …