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The growth of generative AI requires huge amounts of water and energy and the US grid is struggling to cope.… Continue reading The US grid can’t handle the drain of growing generative AI energy use
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The growth of generative AI requires huge amounts of water and energy and the US grid is struggling to cope.

As AI has taken off in the last few years, new data centers are popping up across the country to support the paid acceleration of AI. Learning models need such data centers to provide the vast amount of computing resources required to train and deploy complex machine learning models and algorithms.

However, data centers also require a huge amount of power to run and maintain them, as well as water to cool the servers inside. Concerns are rising about whether the US power grid can generate enough electricity for the growing number of necessary data centers. While AI has been helping to improve sustainability in some fields, if it’s not a sustainable technology in itself, it won’t be doing any good for the planet.

What can be done to save energy in the AI space?

Those working in AI production both on a hardware and software level are working to mitigate these drains on energy and resources, as well as investing in sustainable energy sources.

“If we don’t start thinking about this power problem differently now, we’re never going to see this dream we have,” Dipti Vachani, head of automotive at Arm, told CNBC. The chip company’s low-power processors are being used more and more by huge companies like Google, Microsoft, Oracle and Amazon because they can help to reduce power use by up to 15% in data centers.

Work is also being done to reduce how much energy AI models need in the first place. For example, Nvidia’s latest AI chip, Grace Blackwell, incorporates Arm-based CPUs that can supposedly run generative AI models on 25 times less power than the previous generation.

“Saving every last bit of power is going to be a fundamentally different design than when you’re trying to maximize the performance,” Vachani said.

Nonetheless, concerns remain that these measures won’t be enough. After all, one ChatGPT query uses nearly 10 times as much energy as a typical Google search, while generating an AI image can use as much power as charging a smartphone fully.

The effects are being seen most clearly with the larger companies, with Google’s latest environmental report showing greenhouse gas emissions rising nearly 50% between 2019 and 2023, in part because of data center energy consumption. That’s despite claims from Google that data centers are 1.8 times as energy efficient as a typical data center. Similarly, Microsoft’s emissions rose nearly 30% from 2020 to 2024, also due partly to data centers.

Featured image: Unsplash

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If you played Portkey Games’ Hogwarts Legacy and wondered why Quidditch wasn’t a prominent feature, it’s because there’s a whole… Continue reading Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions – Release date, trailers, platforms, and everything we know
The post Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions – Release date, trailers, platforms, and everything we know appeared first on ReadWrite.

If you played Portkey Games’ Hogwarts Legacy and wondered why Quidditch wasn’t a prominent feature, it’s because there’s a whole new game dedicated to the brutal wizarding sport.

This is called Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and we have a bunch of freshly revealed info on most Wizard’s and Witch’s favorite sport.

We’ll showcase the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions release date, any trailers, platforms, editions, and more so you know as much as possible before getting on that broom.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions release date

If you’re eager to bat away those Bludgers and catch that all-important Golden Snitch, you won’t have to wait long to do so.

That’s because the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions release date is September 3, 2024, beating the Holiday rush.

This will likely allow you to get some serious game time in before the number of game launches ramps up.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions trailers

There have been two trailers released for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions – the reveal and “Welcome Students!” trailers.

The first of these was little more than a tease for what’s to come but it did showcase the art style for the game as well as some familiar faces from the Harry Potter books and movies.

It also gave us the release date for the game, something first trailers don’t really do, which was a nice surprise.

The second “Welcome Students!” trailer, even though it was less than two minutes long, was pretty packed with information.

We got our look at different modes, character creation, and even some raw gameplay, a perfect pre-launch snippet for those who are on the fence for whether they want to buy it or not.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions platforms

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

This is pretty much every platform out there in the wild right now, making it a true multi-platform release.

On PC, it’s even available via both Steam and Epic so you’ll have a choice depending on your preference.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions editions

There are two editions for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions – Standard and Deluxe.

The Standard Edition provides you with the base game only, no frills or additional content, for $29.99.

This is a respectable entry price for the experience considering there are both single and multiplayer modes available, coupled with some extensive character customization. However, it is a game solely focused on Quidditch, so it can only reach so far.

The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and additional goodies for you Potterheads out there who want anything and everything related to the Wizarding World.

This will set you back $39.99 and has the following additional content:

2,000 Gold
The Slytherin House Pack

Slytherin Stormrider Hurricane Broom Skin
Slytherin Hogwarts Travel School Uniform
Slytherin House Crest Emblem

The Hufflepuff House Pack

Hufflepuff Stormrider Sandstorm Broom Skin
Hufflepuff Hogwarts Travel School Uniform
Hufflepuff House Crest Emblem

The Ravenclaw House Pack

Ravenclaw Stormrider Cyclone Broom Skin
Ravenclaw Hogwarts Travel School Uniform
Ravenclaw House Crest Emblem

The Gryffindor House Pack

Gryffindor Stormrider Firestorm Broom Skin
Gryffindor Hogwarts Travel School Uniform
Gryffindor House Crest Emblem

You can buy the Deluxe Edition both in Digital and Physical form but the latter is not available at launch.

What is the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions pre-order bonus?

If you’re hyped after everything you’ve read so far on Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, you’ll probably want to secure your copy early by pre-ordering.

Thankfully, if you do so, there is a pre-order bonus to sweeten the deal.

The pre-order bonus for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is the Firebolt Supreme Broom Skin which is a newer variant of the one that Potter himself owned during his time at Hogwarts.

It’s available to everyone, contrary to the Legacy Pack, despite which edition you pre-order so no need to pay the extra for the Deluxe if you’re not sold on it.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has claimed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have gathered “bulk” data on users’… Continue reading US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China
The post US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China appeared first on ReadWrite.

The U.S. Department of Justice has claimed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have gathered “bulk” data on users’ views on gun control, abortion, and religion, and sent it to China. The information was reportedly collected through an internal communication tool called Lark.

In a filing from July 26, the Justice Department reported that since 2022, Lark had contained multiple internal search tools developed and operated by ByteDance engineers for scraping TikTok user data, including U.S. user data.

Lark is similar to internal messaging services such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. However, according to Techspot, it also gathers user data such as photos, country of residence, IP address and device, as well as user IDs.

The document stated that one of those tools “allowed ByteDance and TikTok employees in the United States and China to collect bulk user information based on the user’s content or expressions, including views on gun control, abortion, and religion.”

The Department also suggests that “significant amounts of restricted U.S. user data (including but not limited to personally identifiable information)” were shared over Lark.

“This resulted in certain sensitive U.S. person data being contained in Lark channels and, therefore, stored on Chinese servers and accessible to ByteDance employees located in China,” the DoJ added.

Another tool allegedly included policies that allowed the suppression of content on the platform based on the user’s use of certain words. Although some of these policies applied only to users based in China, others may have been used to target TikTok users outside of China.

Oracle’s scrutiny of TikTok user data

The filing also targets the American multinational tech firm Oracle over its attempted partnership with ByteDance under a “national security agreement” (NSA) that would ideally have TikTok operating under strict conditions.

The software company began reviewing TikTok’s source code in 2022, which contained two billion lines of code. That being said, it was estimated that reviewing it in its entirety would take three years, hence the proposal was rejected.

“But the source code is not static,” the document notes. “ByteDance regularly updates it to add and modify TikTok’s features. Even with Oracle’s considerable resources, perfect review would be an impossibility.”

The DoJ argued that tech providers would “lack insight into ByteDance’s communications with PRC officials, ByteDance’s use of US user data, and ByteDance’s other TikTok-related activities,” hence deeming the partnership “too great a risk.”

Our statement on the DOJ brief filed today:

“Nothing in this brief changes the fact that the Constitution is on our side. The TikTok ban would silence 170 million Americans’ voices, violating the First Amendment. As we’ve said before, the government has never put forth proof of…

— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) July 27, 2024

TikTok rejected the claims in a post on X, stating: “Today, once again, the government is taking this unprecedented step while hiding behind secret information. We remain confident we will prevail in court.” ByteDance has filed a countersuit seeking to block the law that forces the video-sharing app to separate from the company by January 19 or face a ban.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is expected to hold oral arguments on the legal challenge on September 16.

Featured image: Ideogram

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Developers behind the fan-created modification Fallout: London have announced they are working on a fix after the game faced a… Continue reading Fallout: London developers announce fixes after troubled launch
The post Fallout: London developers announce fixes after troubled launch appeared first on ReadWrite.

Developers behind the fan-created modification Fallout: London have announced they are working on a fix after the game faced a number of challenges during its release last week.

Gamers complained on Reddit that it “frequently” crashed, and a user stated that it “even rebooted me to a windows setup screen at one point, which was very worrying.”

PSA : fix for crashes
byu/Status_Jellyfish_213 infallout4london

However, Team FOLON addressed “reported technical issues” on social media platform X, stating that it expected to release an update soon.

The developers also shared a workaround to try and alleviate the issue. They said: “To avoid any installation issues we encourage you to check the guide … while we are working on improving the installation experience please make sure that you follow all these points to ensure the process is as hassle-free as it gets.”

Hello all, a message from us at Team FOLON®:

More information and links can be found in the image description or here:https://t.co/7a9IkhNIKN pic.twitter.com/g0XYyt32hR

— Team FOLON (@TeamFOLON) July 29, 2024

Is Fallout: London worth it?

Despite the reported bugs, Fallout: London is probably at the top of the list when it comes to both depth and hype for release. Ever since the Amazon Prime Fallout show began to air, players have flocked back to the core of the series for more of that gory wasteland action we know and love. However, Fallout 4 takes you away from the U.S. for the first time.

The acclaimed RPG series, originally developed by Black Isle Studios and Bethesda, even featured an intriguing Doctor Who Easter egg, gearing the game to fans of the beloved British series.

This DLC mod is said to be one of the most ambitious and prominent fan projects in gaming history, with special voice appearances from former Doctor Who actors Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker, alongside John Bercow, the ex-Speaker of the U.K. House of Commons.

Baldur’s Gate 3 fans were also in for a treat as Neil Newbon, the voice behind the sardonic vampire Astarion, plays Barry the Boat in this modification.

Featured image: Black Isle Studios / Bethesda

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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom (UK) is launching a probe into Google’s partnership with a… Continue reading UK regulator to probe Google’s links with Anthropic
The post UK regulator to probe Google’s links with Anthropic appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom (UK) is launching a probe into Google’s partnership with a rival AI company, Anthropic.

The CMA – the UK’s main competition regulator – is concerned about Google’s heavy investment in the AI research start-up. According to reports the tech giant funded $300 million in 2023 followed by a further $2 billion later in the same year. Amazon is another big-name investor and has pumped $4 billion into Anthropic, which has developed Claude, a major chatbot rival to ChatGPT.

The CMA fears that huge companies are using this method to fly under the radar and gain control over smaller AI businesses. The regulator has already begun looking into Microsoft’s ties with OpenAI, as well as Amazon’s Anthropic dealings.

The authority has the power to clamp down on anti-competitive behavior within the UK.

The San Francisco-based AI start-up Anthropic is a public benefit corporation. This is a type of for-profit business that seeks to have a positive impact on people. For Anthropic, this means it does not solely aim to make a profit. It wants to create trustworthy and reliable AI for the public.

CMA vs Google

The CMA is now seeking comments from any interested parties in the Google and Anthropic probe. It is, “considering whether it is or may be the case that Alphabet’s partnership with Anthropic has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002”.

The invitation to comment will close on Aug. 13.

Earlier this year, a similar probe was launched into Microsoft’s dealings with the start-up Mistral AI. The CMA did not begin a full-scale investigation as the size of the investment did not meet the required standard in the merger regulations.

Featured image: Ideogram

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In the world of cryptocurrency, strong leadership is crucial for success. Antony Turner, the CEO of BlockDAG, brings over two… Continue reading BlockDAG Leadership Raring to Go All the Way: Team Led by Antony Turner, Co-Founder of SwissOne Capital
The post BlockDAG Leadership Raring to Go All the Way: Team Led by Antony Turner, Co-Founder of SwissOne Capital appeared first on ReadWrite.

In the world of cryptocurrency, strong leadership is crucial for success. Antony Turner, the CEO of BlockDAG, brings over two decades of experience in various technology sectors, including Fintech, EdTech, Travel, and Crypto markets. His extensive career includes roles such as SPIRIT Blockchain Capital Inc. in Zug, Switzerland. Antony’s financial and business management expertise is complemented by his ability to engage with executive-level stakeholders.

Alongside him, BlockDAG’s team features industry experts like Youssef Khaoulaj, enhancing the project’s potential and credibility. With a robust team in place and $62.3 million fundraising across 21 batches, BlockDAG is poised to surpass prominent platforms like Solana and Ethereum. By leveraging advanced technology and innovative strategies, BlockDAG aims to deliver faster transaction speeds, lower fees, and superior scalability, making it a formidable competitor in the crypto market.

Antony Turner – CEO of BlockDAG

Antony Turner is the CEO of BlockDAG, with over 20 years of proven experience in starting, managing, and exiting technology companies across various sectors, including Fintech, EdTech, Travel, and Crypto markets. His extensive career includes roles such as SPIRIT Blockchain Capital Inc. in Zug, Switzerland, as well as Co-Founder of Axona-Analytics in London, England, where he contributed to building a better portfolio optimizer for the asset management industry.

Antony possesses strong financial modeling, analysis, reporting, and business management expertise. He is adept at scaling growth businesses and setting up international structures.

Known for his ability to engage and influence customers and partners at the executive level, Antony combines business acumen with technical experience across trading, software and embedded application development, electronics, IoT, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. He is experienced in raising capital and working with investors, with a talent for conceptualizing and executing new business opportunities.

A master’s level qualified business executive, Antony’s experience is underpinned by effective stakeholder engagement, enabling him to collaboratively achieve value-adding objectives. His leadership at BlockDAG leverages his comprehensive background to drive innovation and growth in the crypto industry.

Youssef Khaoulaj – Chief Security Officer

Youssef Khaoulaj is the Chief Security Officer at BlockDAG, a leading crypto project. In his multifaceted role, he excels as a Smart Contract Auditor, Certified Metaverse Expert, Red Team Hacker, and bug hunter. Additionally, Youssef is a respected blockchain and smart contract trainer and consultant, holding a PhD and frequently speaking at conferences. He is dedicated to achieving system security operational objectives by contributing valuable information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews, ensuring that security measures align with BlockDAG’s goals.

In his capacity as Chief Security Officer, Youssef is proactive in establishing system safeguards by directing disaster preparedness development and conducting preparedness tests.

At BlockDAG, Youssef is a trusted advisor to senior management, identifying critical security issues and recommending effective risk-reduction solutions. His extensive expertise and proactive approach make him an invaluable asset in the field of system security within the dynamic environment of the crypto industry.

Advisory Board

Steven Clarke-Martin

Steven Clarke-Martin is a technologist with expertise in enterprise, high-tech, and startup environments, serving as an advisory board member of BlockDAG. His career includes significant contributions as a consultant and technology leader, with a focus on DAOs and smart contract technologies.

Starting at New England Electric System, he has consulted numerous companies on DevSecOps, Infrastructure/Cloud Automation, and Digital Transformation. Steven founded two San Francisco-based startups, enhancing his strategic guidance and technical leadership in the tech landscape. He remains dedicated to advancing decentralized technologies and collaborating with innovative organizations.

Maurice Herlihy

Maurice Herlihy is an esteemed advisory board member of BlockDAG, holding an A.B. in Mathematics from Harvard and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from M.I.T. His career spans academia and industry, including faculty positions at Carnegie Mellon and Brown University, where he is the An Wang Professor of Computer Science. Recognized with awards like the Dijkstra and Gödel Prizes, Maurice is also a fellow of the ACM and the National Academies. As an advisor to Algorand, his expertise in distributed computing greatly benefits BlockDAG.

BlockDAG stands at the forefront of the cryptocurrency arena, equipped with a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology. Antony Turner’s leadership, combined with the expertise of Youssef Khaoulaj, positions BlockDAG to outpace well-known platforms like Solana and Ethereum.

As BlockDAG continues to innovate and improve transaction speeds, reduce costs, and enhance scalability, it is set to become a dominant force in the crypto space. Investors and enthusiasts alike should keep a close eye on BlockDAG’s crypto presale, as it represents a significant opportunity to be part of the next big leap in blockchain technology.

Explore BlockDAG Presale:

Website: https://blockdag.network
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

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As we approach the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, everyone’s building up to the expected launch of the Apple… Continue reading Apple Watch X Rumors: Bigger screens, new chip, cheaper SE model
The post Apple Watch X Rumors: Bigger screens, new chip, cheaper SE model appeared first on ReadWrite.

As we approach the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, everyone’s building up to the expected launch of the Apple Watch 10.

In some corners of the internet, it’s being labeled as the Apple Watch X, although no confirmation on the name has yet been issued. Of course, the tech giant’s tenth-generation smartphone was called the iPhone X, so it’s rational to expect the same format again.

Apple Watch X: What we know so far and rumors

New Design & Bigger Screen

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the Apple Watch 10 is set to have a bigger display than its predecessors, but not quite as big as the screen found on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or the bigger screen rumored to be on the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The Apple Watch 9 has a screen size between 1.6 and 1.8 inches, but it is believed the Apple Watch 10’s screen will be nearer two inches in size.

This might suggest a slight design change to accommodate a larger screen. A previous CAD file leak from 91mobiles shows a thinner model with a bigger screen.

Image: 91mobiles

One of the more controversial changes anticipated is the potential introduction of a new magnetic band mechanism. That may mean bands will no longer be universal across all Apple Watch generations. That might be a very controversial move in the eyes of those with a collection of Apple Watch bands that they may not be able to use on the Apple Watch 10.

New Features

There are three new features Apple has been working on for the Apple Watch, according to Gurman. However, two of them may not be available in time for the Apple Watch 10.

Firstly, the blood-pressure monitor has been in production for some time now but, there have been several snags in testing which may or may not be ironed out before the 10th-generation Watch’s release.

Then there’s the sleep apnea sensor, which relies on reading blood-oxygen levels. Apple has been forced to disable its blood-oxygen tool in Apple Watch devices due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo Corp. If that isn’t resolved in time, a sleep apnea sensor is unlikely to be present in the next Apple Watch release.

The only other new feature that will reportedly be included is a glucose monitor. This might use short-wave infrared absorption spectroscopy. That involves shining lasers through the skin into the interstitial fluid between blood vessels and cells. The intensity of the light’s reflection can supposedly be used to calculate the glucose concentration in the bloodstream.

Elsewhere, we can expect watchOS 11, which was announced at WWDC in June, to be present out of the box, which includes a stack of new features, including new training modes, a new vitals app, and an update to the Photos watch face.

Image: Apple

New Chip

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch 10 is set to receive a brand new chip, named S10, according to Gurman. Like the rumored Apple Watch Ultra 3, this new chip will be able to power new AI features in the future.

However, there are no expectations to find Apple Intelligence present in Apple Watch models for the foreseeable future. AI features are going to be limited to the likes of iPhones and iPads for now but the inclusion of powerful chips suggests Apple is planning to bring AI to its wearable range at some point.

Battery Life

Apple has always promised users will get the same battery life regardless of all the new features it adds to future generations of Apple Watches.

However, with a potential new case design and larger display, we may be in line for more than the usual 18 hours a day users are used to getting.

According to The Elec, this may happen via tweaks to the device’s display, such as including low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) and thin-film transistor (TFT) technology which could improve the display’s power consumption.

Apple Watch X: Will there be a cheaper SE model?

Image: Apple

There is a general expectation that we can also expect to see a new, cheaper SE model when the Apple Watch 10 is released.

However, what that looks like in terms of design and features remains to be seen at this point.

Apple last released an Apple Watch SE model alongside Apple Watch 8 in September 2022, two years after its first SE edition which arrived at the same time as Apple Watch 6.

What is the Apple Watch X release date?

Apple’s release schedule for its smartwatches is pretty set in stone, with a new one arriving every September.

Therefore, we should expect Apple to announce its 10th-generation Watch in September 2024, alongside the reported iPhone 16 and Watch Ultra 3.

How much will the Apple Watch X cost?

There’s a widespread belief that we won’t see Apple steer too far away from the pricing we’ve come to expect from Apple Watches in the past.

With that in mind, we should expect prices for the Apple Watch 10 to start at around the $399 mark for its baseline model, with the larger model being priced at around $429.

Meanwhile, if there is going to be an SE model, then we could be in line for another price cut, although that’s purely based on Apple’s previous two SE releases. Its first, in 2020, launched at $279 but 2022’s SE model launched at $249. Could Apple make its next SE model even cheaper? Who knows just yet, but it’s a possibility.

Featured Image: Apple

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Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is the second Wizarding World title from Portkey Games and aims to build on the success… Continue reading Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack explained and how to get
The post Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack explained and how to get appeared first on ReadWrite.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is the second Wizarding World title from Portkey Games and aims to build on the success of Hogwarts Legacy, enticing fans of the franchise with one of the fan-favorite activities.

One added extra you can pick up for the game is the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack and here, we’ll reveal what’s inside as well as how to get it, so you can be the envy of your competitors and team mates alike.

What is in the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack?

The Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack is all about additional cosmetics, allowing for some customization right out of the gate.

This further bolsters the already comprehensive character customization, providing even more exclusive options that are not available to all.

Here is what’s included in the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack:

Moontrimmer Broom Skin
Sebastian Sallow Hero Skin
Sebastian Sallow Style Wand
Ancient Magic Emblem
Ancient Magic Celebration

This is a solid amount of extra goodies, and will potentially set you apart from other players. You will need to acquire it though, so read on for how to do this.

How to get Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy Pack

If you like the looks of the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Legacy pack contents above, how do you get your hands on it?

Well, as alluded to by the name of it, you will have to own Hogwarts Legacy. If you do so, and are playing Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions via the same WB Games account, you’ll be granted access to the aforementioned rewards.

If you end up playing Quidditch Champions and purchase Hogwarts Legacy after the fact, you’ll still be able to secure the Pack so don’t worry if you haven’t done so before getting into some Snitch catching action.

This is a nice little bonus for those of you who had faith in Portkey Games’ first escapade into the world of Harry Potter, albeit an unexpected one.

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Qualcomm has unveiled its new and affordable smartphone chip, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset, at an event in India.… Continue reading Qualcomm launches new ‘affordable and reliable’ Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chip
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Qualcomm has unveiled its new and affordable smartphone chip, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset, at an event in India. The entry-level chip is set to be available in phones at the end of the year.

What sets it apart from last year’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is its faster connectivity of up to 1 Gbps and improved camera capabilities for budget Android phones. The 5G-ready chip is said to be is much faster than the 4G-only silicon available in the similar price range.

Introducing fast, reliable performance with #Snapdragon 4s Gen 2. Users can elevate the experiences they love with ultra-fast Gigabit #5G, all-day battery life, #AI enhanced audio for transportive entertainment, and more. pic.twitter.com/iwV6F3fXOf

— Snapdragon (@Snapdragon) July 30, 2024

According to Qualcomm, Xiaomi and its other brands will be among the first to use the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chip.

What are the specs for Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip?

The chip is fabbed on a 4nm process, and has a clock speed of up to 2 GHz, as well as a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. The model supports Qualcomm Spectra ISP image signal processing technology, which provides up to 84MP for its main camera sensors. It can also capture FHD videos at up to 60 frames per second.

The chip has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 local connectivity, rounded off by Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ tech and dual-frequency GPS.

Cited by Computer Weekly, Chris Patrick, senior vice-president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm Technologies, said the platform was a “significant leap forward in making 5G technology more accessible, so more people can navigate the world at 5G speeds.

“Thanks to cutting-edge engineering, we balanced affordability with reliability, offering strong performance with all-day battery life and widespread access to 5G for more enhanced mobile experiences.”

Xiaom India President Muralikrishnan B added: “We are excited to be working with Qualcomm Technologies to enable access to gigabit-fast connectivity for users.

“Many people have yet to experience the benefits of 5G, and thanks to Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, Xiaomi can bring 5G connectivity to a broader audience to help reshape the way the world connects and interacts.”

Data research company IDC reported that the entry level smartphone segment in India declined by 14 per cent year-on-year to 15 per cent, down from 20 per cent a year ago. That being said, Xiaomi and Poco continued to lead the segment.

Featured image: Qualcomm / Canva

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When Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions was announced, Potterheads around the world rejoiced at the prospect of mounting their brooms and… Continue reading Is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions free to play?
The post Is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions free to play? appeared first on ReadWrite.

When Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions was announced, Potterheads around the world rejoiced at the prospect of mounting their brooms and flying around the legendary Quidditch arenas.

Since Quidditch Champions is literally just all about Quidditch, many are asking if it is a free to play affair with a battle pass, for example, or if you’ll need to buy it.

Here, we’ll take a look at if Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is in fact free to play or whether you’ll have to sink some cash into it.

Is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions free to play?

The short answer to if Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions free to play is no, it is not. Instead, it is going to set you back $29.99 for the Standard Edition and $39.99 for the Deluxe Edition.

This isn’t too outrageous compared to the usual AAA developed games of today and does make a lot of sense since it doesn’t have the large, open world experience like Hogwarts Legacy.

What it does provide though is both single and multiplayer modes, giving players a choice as to whether they want to dive into the game solo or ramp up the difficulty by playing online.

However, even though Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a paid game, if you’re a PS Plus subscriber, you can get it for free on launch until September 30, 2024.

This is open to every tier of subscriber, no matter if you’re on Essential or Premium, which is pretty great, and should help the player base numbers.

Sadly, it isn’t on Game Pass though so if you were hoping for a ‘free’ download on your Xbox, you’re going to be left wanting.

We don’t think it’ll make it onto Game Pass any time soon, or simply ever, since there is a synergy between Portkey Games and PlayStation, showcased previously with Hogwarts Legacy and now Quidditch Champions.

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