Microsoft Xbox Series S has leaked once again

The next-gen consoles are just around the corner and while Sony has shown off the design of the PS5 and the PS5 digital edition, Microsoft has only shown off the Xbox Series X. However, numerous leaks have hinted at the existence of the Series S including Microsoft's own internal documents. The less powerful Series S has the codename, Lockhart. New information has emerged suggesting the existence of the console. 

Microsoft Xbox Series S has leaked once again

Twitter user Zak S was able to purchase the controller from a resale site and the packaging of the controller confirms its compatibility with the Xbox Series X along with the Series S. The Verge was able to confirm that it was genuine. According to The Verge, “Twitter user Zak S was able to purchase the controller today, and we’ve confirmed it’s genuine”. The Verge goes on to highlight, “ the side of the packaging notes that the controller works with both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.”

Xbox series X controller found in the wild!! pic.twitter.com/TEns4z45CB

— Zak S (@zakk_exe) August 9, 2020

Twitter user Zak S has uploaded photos of the controller alongside the Xbox One controller to show the difference. At first glance, it is only the D-Pad and the share button which acts as a visual highlight to distinguish the two controllers but look closely and you will see that the new controller has a slightly shorter and more rounded grip. The slight U-bend which houses the Xbox button on the controller is also missing from the new controller which has a more flush design. The only downside to the new controller is that it still runs on AA batteries.

Side by side comparison with the Xbox one controller pic.twitter.com/FRPSiLx7OU

— Zak S (@zakk_exe) August 10, 2020

We’ve known about the existence of the Xbox Series S for a while now. It is expected to have the same CPU as the series X but lower RAM at about 7.5GB and a 4 Teraflop GPU. You can check out the details of the leaked document here. 

Sony on the other hand, as mentioned above, is only distinguishing its PS5 variants based on the presence and absence of a disc drive. There is no difference in power or performance. We know the specs of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and you can check out our comparison of the two consoles here. You can also check out our comparison of the design of the two consoles here.

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Bill Gates is wary of the Microsoft and TikTok deal

Microsoft announced that that company was looking to acquire parts of social media app TikTok’s operations in the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand with a few reports even hinting at a complete purchase of all TikTok assets by Microsoft. Most reports seem to state that Microsoft is still in the ‘preliminary stage’ of the massive deal. But according to an exclusive interview on Wired, Bill Gates is not really a fan of the deal. 

Bill Gates is wary of the Microsoft and TikTok deal

In the interview, he says that the deal between Microsoft and TikTok is a ‘poison chalice’. Harsh words! This looks to be Microsoft’s first foray into the social media business and will face still and ruthless competition from companies like Facebook and Twitter. The whole deal is a bit strange and complicated and the interview does a good job of explaining Gate’s position on the issue. 

TikTok was almost banned in the US but disaster was averted when Microsoft made a pitch to buy the troubled social media app. The deadline for the entire process is September 15. Bill Gates does note that this is not a simple and straightforward plan. 

In other TikTok news, the app was banned in India along with 58 other Chinese-based apps. In fact, Japan has been considering banning the controversial app as well. If you’re feeling the loss of TikTok, you can also check out Instagram Reels, which is an alternative to TikTok. 

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While Facebook claims its size helps it defend the US against Chinese companies like TikTok, history shows TikTok succeeded partly due to FB's corporate goals (Lucas Kunce/Pro Market)

Lucas Kunce / Pro Market:
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Sources: Sequoia, which first invested in ByteDance in 2014 and holds a 10%+ stake, has been pressing its White House contacts to help land a deal for TikTok (Wall Street Journal)

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Sequoia, which first invested in ByteDance in 2014 and holds a 10%+ stake, has been pressing its White House contacts to help land a deal for TikTok  —  TikTok's parent has been looking for a way to keep the video-sharing service alive in U.S. after Trump administration declared the app a national security threat

Xbox Series S outed by next-gen controller leak—and it’s legit

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  A new controller for a system that hasn't launched yet? That's interesting enough, sure. But the news comes when you turn the box. [credit: Zak S ]

The new Xbox console controller is now officially in the wild, which is astonishing enough since its accompanying console, the Xbox Series X, still doesn't have a release date or a price.

But the two leaked controllers we've seen thus far are even more intriguing because of something they have in common: an apparently official mention of "Xbox Series S" as an additional Microsoft next-gen console. Ars Technica can confirm that this is indeed the name of an upcoming, unannounced Microsoft product.

S marks the spot—but questions remain

The controller itself was previously announced alongside Xbox Series X's reveal during the December 2019 broadcast of The Game Awards. While it bears a strong resemblance to the existing Xbox One controller, its general mold has been shrunken to better support a wider range of hand sizes. Functionally, it's identical, other than a new "share" button, while its d-pad has been updated to resemble one of the d-pad options found in the first-party Xbox Elite Controller line. One owner of the new controller, who goes by Zak S on Twitter, pointed specifically to the updated d-pad as "one of [his] favorite parts."

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Facebook, Google, and Twitter are making the same mistakes big news outlets made decades ago, trying to placate hyperpartisan critics who are "working the refs" (Ben Smith/New York Times)

Ben Smith / New York Times:
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Buzz of TikTok return causes uncertainty

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Abandoned mall department stores may become Amazon’s next fulfillment center

One of the largest owners of shopping mall real estate in the United Stages, Simon Property Group, has been talking to Amazon about transforming its anchor department stores into Amazon distribution hubs, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In the case of Simon Property, the anchor tenants like J.C. Penney and Sears that used to be stable sources of revenue are now weights around the neck of the retail real estate manager, and transforming their ghostly halls of pale mannequins into warehouses for Amazon orders simply makes sense.

The transformation from showroom to storehouse for everything from books and sweaters to kitchenware and electronics won’t be too much of a stretch for the vacant storefronts of businesses that hvae both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Simon’s holdings include some 63 JC Penney and 11 Sears stores, according to the Journal’s reporting citing a May public filing from the real estate developer.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Amazon had turned to mall real estate for fulfillment centers. in 2019, the online retailer acquired a massive physical footprint in Akron, Ohio that it turned into a distribution center.

Gone are the days when gum smacking tweens and teens and their beleaguered parents would head to the local mall for a stroll around the retail block. Now shoppers prefer to peruse online and kids find Fortnite to be the Hot Topic to hang in. 

The deal, if it goes through, would be another nail in the coffin for a staple of late twentieth century culture that now mostly exists in the memory of baby boomers and Gen X consumers (thanks millennials and Gen Z).

Malls these days are lifestyle affairs that promise boutique branded shops than the sprawling department stores that had something for everyone. The big-box spaces that the Journal reported Amazon is negotiating for are the 100,000 square foot, multi-story behemoths, that are likely not long for the long tail world of niche commerce anyway.

These days, consumers are looking for brands that appeal to a persona or the bottom line of a pocketbook, and not the mass casual one-stop-shop of late twentieth century department store off-the-rack identities.

The Journal reported that, if the deals went through, Simon would like rent the space at a considerable discount to what it would charge another retailer. The paper estimated that rents could be as low as $4 per square foot to $19 per square foot, while warehouse rents average about $10.

At this point, shopping malls are looking for anything to bring in money. They’ve already tried schools, medical offices and senior living facilities, but the COVID-19 epidemic has thrown all of those plans into the abyss.

And, as the Journal notes, malls are already located in places that make them attractive distribution hubs. Amazon has bought some sites already and FedEx and DHL have done the same, according to the paper.

At this point, Amazon ownership may be a better fate for the real estate than totally abandoning it to empty space and the lingering soundtrack of 80s rock.

 

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Real Genius turns 35—celebrating this cult classic is a moral imperative

Enlarge / Mitch (Gabriel Jarret) and Chris (Val Kilmer) play young science whizzes trying to build a 5-kilowatt laser in the 1985 film Real Genius. (credit: TriStar Pictures)

Back to the Future justly dominated the summer box office in 1985, but it's too bad its massive success overshadowed another nerd-friendly gem, Real Genius, which debuted one month later, on August 9. Now celebrating its 35th anniversary, the film remains one of the most charming, winsome depictions of super-smart science whizzes idealistically hoping to change the world for the better with their work. It also boasts a lot of reasonably accurate science—a rare occurrence at the time.

Real Genius came out the same year as the similarly-themed films Weird Science—which spawned a 1990s TV sitcom—and My Science Project, because 1980s Hollywood tended to do things in threes. But I'd argue that Real Genius has better stood the test of time, despite being so quintessentially an '80s film—right down to the many montages set to electronic/synth-pop chart-toppers. The film only grossed $12.9 million domestically against its $8 million budget, compared to $23.8 million domestically for its fellow cult classic, Weird Science. (My Science Project bombed with a paltry $4.1 million.) Reviews were mostly positive, however, and over time it became a sleeper hit via VHS, and later, DVD and streaming platforms.

(Spoilers for the 35-year-old film below.)

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