Month: March 2023
HBO Max’s streaming successor will be revealed very soon
Warner Bros. Discovery announces when it’ll officially unveil its new super streamer, which will replace HBO Max and Discovery Plus.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has announced when it’ll unveil its new so-called super streamer, which is set to replace HBO Max and Discovery Plus this year.
In a press release, WBD confirmed that it’ll host an online event on Wednesday, April 12 to reveal its brand-new streaming platform, which is believed to be called Max. The video webcast, which is open to the press and the general public, will begin at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (Australian viewers can tune in at 3 AM AEST on Thursday, April 13).
Responding to TechRadar’s question about whether this event will show off WBD’s new streaming product to audiences worldwide, a WBD spokesperson simply replied: “Yes”. Expect an official name, potential launch date, price plans, how it’ll impact HBO/HBO Max deals with UK and other worldwide streamers (more on this later), and more to be discussed during the webcast, then.
We’ve known that a WBD super streamer was on the cards since the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger was completed in April 2022. Four months after the entertainment companies joined forces, we reported that HBO Max and Discovery Plus would form a new super streamer sometime in 2023. Since then, the two streaming platforms’ days have seemingly been numbered.
Discovery Plus will still exist as a single streaming service after the two platforms merge (Image credit: Discovery Inc.)
However, in February, it was revealed that HBO Max and Discovery Plus wouldn’t fully merge after all. Instead, Discovery Plus will continue to be offered as a single streaming service to US-based users who don’t want to subscribe to WBD’s new super streamer. Per The Wall Street Journal, WBD is concerned that it’ll lose large swathes of its Discovery Plus user base if it forces consumers to sign up to its combined platform, hence the small change of heart.
It’s unclear whether HBO Max’s extensive library of movies and TV shows will migrate to WBD’s new streaming service when it launches. We’re likely to find out more information on April 12 but, for now, the best HBO Max shows and best HBO Max movies are still available to watch on that service, provided you own an HBO Max account.
We’ll hopefully find out when the super streamer will be released in the US – and potentially other territories, such as Latin America and parts of Europe – during the event, too. During WBD’s Q2 2022 earnings call, executive JB Perrette suggested it could launch stateside in summer 2023. The service would then be rolled out to other world regions – where HBO Max is available, mind you – in 2024.
Analysis: a big question answered, but many more remain
HBO Max and Discovery Plus will be combined sometime this year (Image credit: Shutterstock / rafapress)
After months of speculation, we’ve finally learned when WBD will officially unveil its new streaming service. While that big questions has been answered, though, there are many more that still require a response.
As well as the aforementioned concerns around HBO Max content, when and where the service will be rolled out, and how much it’ll cost, there are doubts about how this super streamer will impact deals that WBD has with other streaming services globally.
For one, there’s the question of how it might impact the HBO Originals that are shown on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Popular TV shows including The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and Euphoria are broadcast exclusively on Sky Atlantic on British shores, thanks to a four-year licensing deal between HBO and Sky that allows the latter to show these series (and many more) in the UK.
That deal is due to expire this year, but it’s expected that Sky and HBO will renew the agreement. WBD’s new super streamer could theoretically impact any deal renewal – the aforementioned shows are available on HBO and HBO Max in the US – though, especially if its new streaming platform beams The Last of Us and company into US households. Will, for instance, Sky be asked to pay more for the privilege of showing those shows on Sky Atlantic?
Will The Last of Us be transferred to WBD’s new streaming service? (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)
Then there’s the HBO Max add-on feature that Hulu users can bolt onto their subscription plan. Currently, Hulu subscribers can add HBO Max as an extra channel (for an additional monthly fee) to their plan, meaning they gain access to the streamer’s suite of content, as well as the best Hulu shows and best Hulu movies around. Will this offer be extended for WBD’s new super streamer? Or, with the streaming wars hotting up, will WBD prevent Hulu – one of Disney’s streaming platforms, with Disney Plus being the other – from offering WBD’s super streamer as a bolt-on option for Hulu customers?
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, we’re unsure if WBD’s new streaming plan will help it to close the gap with Netflix, aka the world’s best streaming service. Right now, Netflix is the most popular streamer around, with around 231 million subscribers to its name. By contrast, the combined user base of HBO Max and Discovery Plus sits at a less impressive 96.1 million. For comparison’s sake, Disney Plus is the second-most popular service, with 161.8 million users – that’s despite Disney Plus suffering its first subscriber loss ever in Q1 2023.
WBD will hope, then, that its mega-streaming service, with its huge back catalog and potentially competitive price point(s), will give it a boost in the battle against its rivals. Until April 12 rolls around, however, we’re all in the dark about WBD’s super streamer – and how much the entertainment behemoth actually wants to win the streaming wars.
For more HBO Max-based coverage, read about all of the new HBO Max movies that have debuted on the service since December 2022. Alternatively, see if there’s a free HBO Max trial in your world region before WBD unveils its new streaming platform.
Ethics group says OpenAI GPT-4 “is biased, deceptive, and a risk to privacy and public safety,” asks FTC to stop new OpenAI GPT releases
On Tuesday, Elon Musk joined other technology leaders called for a pause on training AI exceeding GPT-4, citing “risks to society.” In an open letter signed by Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, tech leaders are calling for a six-month pause
On Tuesday, Elon Musk joined other technology leaders called for a pause on training AI exceeding GPT-4, citing “risks to society.” In an open letter signed by Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, tech leaders are calling for a six-month pause […]
Google: India tribunal upholds $160m fine on company
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Polestar 3 first look: Possibly the best-looking EV for 2023
Polestar started out as a racing team that was then turned into a performance tuning division for Volvo before becoming its own brand in 2017.And after testing the waters with the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, the company is poised to take another big step forward with the upcoming release of its first EV SUV: the Polestar 3. So when the car recently came to New York City for its North American debut, we couldn’t pass up the chance to check it out because it might just be the best-looking new SUV in 2023.
The Polestar 3 is built on the same platform as the Volvo EX90, but the company has made some significant changes that ensures there won’t be confusion between the two. Instead of three rows of seats, the Polestar 3 maxes out at two, with slightly less rear storage in favor of a more spacious cabin. So despite a relatively low roof line, the combination of a glass roof, a long wheelbase and rear seats that are reclined a bit more than usual gave me and my 6-foot frame a very relaxed seating position with tons of leg room. There were even a couple throw pillows in the back seat, which might be a bit unnecessary, but really adds to the premium loungey feel Polestar is going for.
Meanwhile, in front the Polestar 3 features a more enclosed cockpit-style layout, mixed with a bit of Scandinavian minimalism. There’s a big armrest and an extended console featuring a built-in wireless charger. As for infotainment, Polestar is continuing to use a system based on Android Automotive centered around a big 14.5-inch touchscreen with Google Maps as your default navigation system and a very familiar touch-based UI. Like in a lot of modern cars, pretty much everything from climate control to music is handled on the display, with the only physical controls being a big knob on the console for volume/play/pause along with some additional haptic touch points on the steering wheel.
On the outside, the Polestar sports a much more aggressive design than the EX90, thanks to dual wings (one on the hood and one above the rear window), a front splitter, big wheels (either 21 or 22 inches depending the spec) and a new two bladed-version of the company’s signature Thor’s Hammer headlights. I know not everyone will agree, but I think the Polestar 3 looks fantastic. It’s got just enough futuristic sci-fi design cues without going overboard like Tesla’s Cybertruck.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe Polestar has the tech to back up its sci-fi looks too. In addition to things like automatic lane keeping and blindspot detection, it features a bevy of monitoring components including 12 ultrasonic sensors, five exterior radars, five cameras, two driver monitoring sensors and even four interior radars spread throughout the car. The most important use of these new sensors is that alongside the EX90, the Polestar 3 will be one of the first cars to offer an onboard passenger detection system as standard.
This means in the event a child or a pet is left in the back seat (or the trunk), the car will warn the driver, prevent the car from being locked and will continue to maintain a safe climate unless a manual override is given. The goal is to prevent any occupants from overheating if left in the car, which is sadly a very preventable cause of death that’s occurred to more than 900 children in the U.S. since 1998.
Another interesting feature is the Polestar 3’s headlights which feature a 1.3-megapixel DLP sensor that allows the car to more easily focus and adjust its beams to suit the driving conditions. And while it wasn’t on the model we saw, Polestar says the 3 will also have an optional Pilot Pack that includes a LiDAR sensor from Luminar and an NVIDIA Drive Orin chip, which will support some level of autonomous or semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
Finally, as part of the company’s commitment to making a fully carbon-neutral car by 2030, the 3 also includes a number of sustainability features including paneling and pieces of trim made from flax fiber, “Microtech” upholstery made from a pine oil-based vinyl (instead of petroleum), and floor mats created from recycled PET bottles.
That said, possibly my favorite thing about the Polestar 3 is the way the carmaker has integrated the vehicle’s design, tech and sustainability into a single cohesive package. Little elements like labeling the size of the Polestar 3’s battery on the outside of the car, right next to its name, help add a sense of transparency to its construction. As a part-time design nerd, the little labels everywhere are like a typographer’s dream. On top of that, Polestar is even using blockchain technology to trace the origins of the components that go into the car’s battery, to make sure they are coming from conflict-free regions. And when you pair all this with a striking design, you get a really enchanting vision of where the EV market is heading.
However, I still have two main concerns about the Polestar 3: its pricing and its energy efficiency. With the standard dual-motor long-range model starting at $83,900 or $89,900 for the Performance Pack model, this clearly isn’t an EV for the masses. And with the number of luxury electric SUVs like the BMW iX and others hitting the roads, Polestar is wading into an increasingly competitive market.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetOn top of that, despite costing $30,000 more than a Tesla Model Y and having a big 111 kWh battery (versus just 75kWh for the Tesla), the Polestar 3 is currently only expected to get around 300 miles of range compared to 330 for the Model Y. And it’s a similar situation for the Polestar’s 250 kW DC charging, which isn’t quite as fast as what you’d get from a similar but less expensive rival like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Granted, the Polestar has yet to receive its final official range figures from the EPA, but just going by the numbers we have so far, its battery and charging tech aren’t quite as impressive as you might expect. Still, the Polestar 3 looks great and hopefully we’ll know more later this year when the car goes on sale for real sometime in Q4.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/polestar-3-first-look-possibly-the-best-looking-ev-for-2023-133508992.html?src=rss
Polestar started out as a racing team that was then turned into a performance tuning division for Volvo before becoming its own brand in 2017.And after testing the waters with the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, the company is poised to take another big step forward with the upcoming release of its first EV SUV: the Polestar 3. So when the car recently came to New York City for its North American debut, we couldn’t pass up the chance to check it out because it might just be the best-looking new SUV in 2023.
The Polestar 3 is built on the same platform as the Volvo EX90, but the company has made some significant changes that ensures there won’t be confusion between the two. Instead of three rows of seats, the Polestar 3 maxes out at two, with slightly less rear storage in favor of a more spacious cabin. So despite a relatively low roof line, the combination of a glass roof, a long wheelbase and rear seats that are reclined a bit more than usual gave me and my 6-foot frame a very relaxed seating position with tons of leg room. There were even a couple throw pillows in the back seat, which might be a bit unnecessary, but really adds to the premium loungey feel Polestar is going for.
Meanwhile, in front the Polestar 3 features a more enclosed cockpit-style layout, mixed with a bit of Scandinavian minimalism. There’s a big armrest and an extended console featuring a built-in wireless charger. As for infotainment, Polestar is continuing to use a system based on Android Automotive centered around a big 14.5-inch touchscreen with Google Maps as your default navigation system and a very familiar touch-based UI. Like in a lot of modern cars, pretty much everything from climate control to music is handled on the display, with the only physical controls being a big knob on the console for volume/play/pause along with some additional haptic touch points on the steering wheel.
On the outside, the Polestar sports a much more aggressive design than the EX90, thanks to dual wings (one on the hood and one above the rear window), a front splitter, big wheels (either 21 or 22 inches depending the spec) and a new two bladed-version of the company’s signature Thor’s Hammer headlights. I know not everyone will agree, but I think the Polestar 3 looks fantastic. It’s got just enough futuristic sci-fi design cues without going overboard like Tesla’s Cybertruck.
The Polestar has the tech to back up its sci-fi looks too. In addition to things like automatic lane keeping and blindspot detection, it features a bevy of monitoring components including 12 ultrasonic sensors, five exterior radars, five cameras, two driver monitoring sensors and even four interior radars spread throughout the car. The most important use of these new sensors is that alongside the EX90, the Polestar 3 will be one of the first cars to offer an onboard passenger detection system as standard.
This means in the event a child or a pet is left in the back seat (or the trunk), the car will warn the driver, prevent the car from being locked and will continue to maintain a safe climate unless a manual override is given. The goal is to prevent any occupants from overheating if left in the car, which is sadly a very preventable cause of death that’s occurred to more than 900 children in the U.S. since 1998.
Another interesting feature is the Polestar 3’s headlights which feature a 1.3-megapixel DLP sensor that allows the car to more easily focus and adjust its beams to suit the driving conditions. And while it wasn’t on the model we saw, Polestar says the 3 will also have an optional Pilot Pack that includes a LiDAR sensor from Luminar and an NVIDIA Drive Orin chip, which will support some level of autonomous or semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
Finally, as part of the company’s commitment to making a fully carbon-neutral car by 2030, the 3 also includes a number of sustainability features including paneling and pieces of trim made from flax fiber, “Microtech” upholstery made from a pine oil-based vinyl (instead of petroleum), and floor mats created from recycled PET bottles.
That said, possibly my favorite thing about the Polestar 3 is the way the carmaker has integrated the vehicle’s design, tech and sustainability into a single cohesive package. Little elements like labeling the size of the Polestar 3’s battery on the outside of the car, right next to its name, help add a sense of transparency to its construction. As a part-time design nerd, the little labels everywhere are like a typographer’s dream. On top of that, Polestar is even using blockchain technology to trace the origins of the components that go into the car’s battery, to make sure they are coming from conflict-free regions. And when you pair all this with a striking design, you get a really enchanting vision of where the EV market is heading.
However, I still have two main concerns about the Polestar 3: its pricing and its energy efficiency. With the standard dual-motor long-range model starting at $83,900 or $89,900 for the Performance Pack model, this clearly isn’t an EV for the masses. And with the number of luxury electric SUVs like the BMW iX and others hitting the roads, Polestar is wading into an increasingly competitive market.
On top of that, despite costing $30,000 more than a Tesla Model Y and having a big 111 kWh battery (versus just 75kWh for the Tesla), the Polestar 3 is currently only expected to get around 300 miles of range compared to 330 for the Model Y. And it’s a similar situation for the Polestar’s 250 kW DC charging, which isn’t quite as fast as what you’d get from a similar but less expensive rival like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Granted, the Polestar has yet to receive its final official range figures from the EPA, but just going by the numbers we have so far, its battery and charging tech aren’t quite as impressive as you might expect. Still, the Polestar 3 looks great and hopefully we’ll know more later this year when the car goes on sale for real sometime in Q4.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/polestar-3-first-look-possibly-the-best-looking-ev-for-2023-133508992.html?src=rss
Roku will lay off another 200 workers
Roku isn’t done cutting jobs in a bid to turn its fortunes around. The streaming company has warned that it will lay off another 200 workers, or about six percent of its current headcount. It also plans to either close or sublease offices that aren’t in active use. The layoffs will help the firm limit its expenses and focus on projects that will have a “higher return on investment,” Roku says.
The device and platform creator expects to pay between $30 million and $35 million to handle the layoffs and building closures. Most of those costs should be paid in the first quarter, or by the end of this month. The layoffs should be finished by the end of Roku’s second quarter, or June.
In November, Roku said it would eliminate 200 jobs in response to rough “economic conditions.” It expected a year-over-year drop in revenue, and had already been struggling with slowing revenue growth in the second half of 2022. Like fellow internet video rivals Disney and Netflix, Roku is grappling with the combination of a looming recession and the end of a pandemic-era boom that kept many people at home watching TV. The company wasn’t helped by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this month — it said it could have lost over 25 percent of its cash if regulators hadn’t stepped in to protect deposits.
Roku is far from the only large tech company laying off staff this year. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have all slashed their workforces, among numerous others. However, Roku’s reductions come at a pivotal moment. It just released its first self-made TVs, and it’s facing stiff competition in hardware and services from the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google. Roku is under pressure to invest heavily in its technology to keep up with its frequently wealthy challengers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roku-will-lay-off-another-200-workers-132908304.html?src=rss
Roku isn’t done cutting jobs in a bid to turn its fortunes around. The streaming company has warned that it will lay off another 200 workers, or about six percent of its current headcount. It also plans to either close or sublease offices that aren’t in active use. The layoffs will help the firm limit its expenses and focus on projects that will have a “higher return on investment,” Roku says.
The device and platform creator expects to pay between $30 million and $35 million to handle the layoffs and building closures. Most of those costs should be paid in the first quarter, or by the end of this month. The layoffs should be finished by the end of Roku’s second quarter, or June.
In November, Roku said it would eliminate 200 jobs in response to rough “economic conditions.” It expected a year-over-year drop in revenue, and had already been struggling with slowing revenue growth in the second half of 2022. Like fellow internet video rivals Disney and Netflix, Roku is grappling with the combination of a looming recession and the end of a pandemic-era boom that kept many people at home watching TV. The company wasn’t helped by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this month — it said it could have lost over 25 percent of its cash if regulators hadn’t stepped in to protect deposits.
Roku is far from the only large tech company laying off staff this year. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have all slashed their workforces, among numerous others. However, Roku’s reductions come at a pivotal moment. It just released its first self-made TVs, and it’s facing stiff competition in hardware and services from the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google. Roku is under pressure to invest heavily in its technology to keep up with its frequently wealthy challengers.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roku-will-lay-off-another-200-workers-132908304.html?src=rss
The Last of Us on PC gets a first patch to fix some performance issues
Image: Naughty Dog
The Last of Us Part I on PC hasn’t had a smooth launch. PC players have reported crashes, performance issues, and plenty of weird visual glitches. Now, Sony-owned developer Naughty Dog has started issuing bug fixes to try and fix some of the widespread problems and investigate other bugs that are affecting PC players.
A new patch arrived on Steam and the Epic Games Store last night, which includes fixes for “several performance & hitch related issues impacting some users.” It’s not clear exactly what has been fixed, and for some players, it was only a 36MB patch on Steam.
Naughty Dog has enabled extra crash diagnostic information, though. It’s designed to help the developer investigate crashes related to shader building and “other common reported stability issues.” The team is “closely watching player reports and actively working on a patch with more bugfixes, to be released soon.”
Steam reviews of The Last of Us Part I are still overwhelmingly negative, with more than 60 percent leaving a negative review. PC players have reported random crashes and stuttering, long shader compilation times, and myriad visual glitches like characters randomly becoming dripping wet in cutscenes.
Naughty Dog delayed the release of The Last of Us Part I on PC by a few weeks after saying it wanted to “make sure that The Last of Us Part I PC debut is in the best shape possible.” That has clearly not happened, and it has left many fans wondering if this PC port was rushed out to take advantage of increased game sales after HBO’s well-received The Last of Us TV show.
Image: Naughty Dog
The Last of Us Part I on PC hasn’t had a smooth launch. PC players have reported crashes, performance issues, and plenty of weird visual glitches. Now, Sony-owned developer Naughty Dog has started issuing bug fixes to try and fix some of the widespread problems and investigate other bugs that are affecting PC players.
A new patch arrived on Steam and the Epic Games Store last night, which includes fixes for “several performance & hitch related issues impacting some users.” It’s not clear exactly what has been fixed, and for some players, it was only a 36MB patch on Steam.
Naughty Dog has enabled extra crash diagnostic information, though. It’s designed to help the developer investigate crashes related to shader building and “other common reported stability issues.” The team is “closely watching player reports and actively working on a patch with more bugfixes, to be released soon.”
Steam reviews of The Last of Us Part I are still overwhelmingly negative, with more than 60 percent leaving a negative review. PC players have reported random crashes and stuttering, long shader compilation times, and myriad visual glitches like characters randomly becoming dripping wet in cutscenes.
Naughty Dog delayed the release of The Last of Us Part I on PC by a few weeks after saying it wanted to “make sure that The Last of Us Part I PC debut is in the best shape possible.” That has clearly not happened, and it has left many fans wondering if this PC port was rushed out to take advantage of increased game sales after HBO’s well-received The Last of Us TV show.