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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 review: back with a bang

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:51
Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: October 25, 2024

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 feels like a throwback in the very best of ways. Lead developers Treyarch and Raven Software have smartly combined some of the most successful elements from entries across the long-running first-person shooter (FPS) series to craft a highly polished experience that excels in almost every regard. 

Classic systems such as the traditional prestige mechanics, which offer the most dedicated online players the opportunity to partially reset their progress for exclusive rewards, or the simple but effective weapon attachments still haven’t lost their luster in 2024. It’s not all things that we’ve seen before though, as a handful of clever new innovations, like the flagship ‘omnimovement’ system, and the most high-fidelity graphics we've seen yet successfully drive the franchise forward and keep each facet of the experience feeling fresh.

The result is one of the best FPS games in almost a decade and a must-play for fans of the genre. There are still a couple of sore spots, like a handful of poorly designed multiplayer maps, that hold things back from total perfection, but, with plenty of new content on the way through a barrage of seasonal updates, the next twelve months of Call of Duty are well-positioned to be some of the greatest yet. 

On the run

(Image credit: Activision)

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign picks up roughly ten years after the story of 2020’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Set in 1991, it’s loosely centered around the events of the Gulf War, though with more of an eye towards covert espionage than boots-on-the-ground conflict. You play as a group of CIA operatives, sent into Iraq to intercept the Iraqi Minister of Defense and bring him back to the government in one piece.

As you might expect, this simple task goes wrong in a matter of minutes when a mysterious military force emerges from the shadows to thwart your mission. Reunited with the fan-favorite rogue spy Russel Adler, it soon becomes apparent that this organization, known as Pantheon, has close ties with the CIA, forcing the team off the grid. It’s a classic Mission Impossible-style premise and, while nothing particularly complex or sophisticated, is a perfectly serviceable framework for a series of absolutely stellar set pieces.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

In a strong field, one particular campaign sequence sees you work as a team, cinematically swapping between characters to break into a shady casino is an absolute treat. 

Variety elevates every moment campaign, with all manner of surprising mechanics and environments crammed into its roughly nine-hour runtime. There’s a refreshingly open assassination segment early on, with a variety of possible approaches that incentivises at least a couple of replays. Later on, you’re stealthily infiltrating a political fundraising event, investigating different possible leads, and scanning clues with a high-tech spy camera before a hair-raising motorcycle chase. 

One highly memorable mission even takes on a wholly unexpected survival horror edge, equipping you with an overpowered grapple hook and bombarding you with legions of imagined zombies and powerful boss monsters.

In between each mission, you’re sent back to your safehouse, which offers its own suite of activities. Levels are littered with cash, which can be hoovered up and spent on safehouse upgrades to unlock new perks and gear going forward. Quite a few puzzles are hidden across its grounds too, giving achievement hunters plenty of incentive not just to blitz through the story.

This is also without a doubt the best-looking campaign in Call of Duty history, surpassing even the visual excellence of 2022’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Multiple areas are breathtakingly realistic, with absolutely stunning, highly detailed textures and advanced lighting effects. Some of the more abstract scenes also allow the developer to really show off its artistic chops, with bright primary colors and an effective dream-like atmosphere. Performance is delightfully smooth on PlayStation 5 to boot, with resolutely stable frame rates even in the most intense moments. 

Back to basics 

(Image credit: Activision)

This year’s multiplayer experience smooths out many of my biggest frustrations with recent entries, returning to a formula that will feel immediately familiar to long-time fans. The painfully convoluted weapon attachment system of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is no more, superseded by a simplified selection of accessories that still offers plenty of customization without ever seeming overwhelming.

Rather than countless barely distinct options, each attachment category is populated by a handful of more significant mods. Some provide little buffs, while others bring much bigger bonuses alongside a noticeable drawback or two. Player perks have also been whittled down and are finally available right from the start of a match rather than staggered intervals. 

You can choose up to three per loadout, with every perk sorted into a distinct Enforcer, Recon, or Strategist category. While you are free to mix and match between these categories to create your own custom builds, equipping three perks of the same type yields some very powerful bonuses. Picking three Enforcer ones, for example, gives you a major movement speed and health regeneration boost after each successful kill. These combinations are significant enough to tangibly impact play, but everything is still well balanced with no particular set taking a clear lead.

(Image credit: Activision)

The brand-new ‘ominmovement’ system, which lets you sprint, slide, and dive in any direction, is well integrated and leads to countless thrilling moments. Diving backwards off a tall ledge while peppering an enemy with bullets feels completely natural and it’s almost hard to believe that movement hasn’t always been this way. Combined with the high number of more compact 6v6 maps in its 16-map line up, most online matches have an absolutely incredible sense of pace. 

There are some notable exceptions, though, mainly thanks to a small number of quite poor maps. Scud, which is set against the ruins of a decimated desert outpost, is a particularly sore example with far too many open sightlines that encourage slow games to a crawl as players favor sitting in key positions with sniper rifles. Rewind, a delightfully 1990s strip mall, is significantly better but still feels a little empty in a 6v6 format given its large size. These complaints will almost inevitably be addressed in future updates as more maps arrive, but it does still slightly dampen the online experience at launch.

Army of the dead

(Image credit: Activision)

The round-based zombies mode is another area where Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 borrows plenty from past games. For the uninitiated, the Zombies mode is deceptively simple - you drop into one of two maps with up to three friends and try to survive against increasingly powerful waves of the undead. Mowing down shambling creatures yields cash, spent on unlocking new areas of the map, buying new weapons, or sticking your gear through a Pack-a-Punch machine for an additional bit of kick. It's an incredibly effective formula and significantly more enjoyable than the more open-world Modern Warfare Zombies found in last year’s game.

That’s far from everything to discover, however, with a raft of easter eggs ranging from cute little references to entire story sequences hidden for the most dedicated players. Exclusive cosmetics, secret achievements, and plenty of level XP reward those who dig deep. I’ve already spent hours in the Zombies mode and, while I did manage to survive to round 41 and find the hilarious zombie bowling minigame on the Liberty Falls map, I still feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of everything that it has in store.

All three major components of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are an absolute blast and are so brimming with content that they would even work well as entirely standalone games. As a complete package, the level of quality here is something that we haven’t seen from the franchise in years. Call of Duty is well and truly back. 

Should I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?

(Image credit: Activision) Play it if…

You want a blockbuster campaign
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign is the franchise at its best, filled with memorable set pieces and engaging mechanics.

You love frantic multiplayer
The online multiplayer is also a treat, with fast-paced encounters and a new ‘omnimovement’ system that practically generates action-movie moments.

Zombies is your go-to
The round-based zombies offering in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is some of the best it’s been in years. Expect hours of entertainment if you manage to pull together a few friends for a squad.

Don’t play it if…

You prefer larger-scale maps
The 16 launch maps in this year’s installment are mostly quite small. If you prefer larger maps, stick with the likes of 2022’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and its huge Ground War mode instead.

Accessibility

(Image credit: Activision)

There are plenty of accessibility features in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This includes a wide array of subtitle options for the campaign, and the ability to customize the colors of the entire UI and apply a range of visual filters.

The controls can be fully remapped across the board in both controller and keyboard play, with a range of assist settings that can remove the need to hold certain inputs if required.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

I'm a regular Call of Duty player with prior experience reviewing the series in addition to a wide range of other FPS titles. I completed the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign in a single sitting, clocking in at roughly ten hours including the time I spent exploring the safehouse and replaying a few missions.

I then spent around twenty hours (and counting) in its multiplayer mode, trying out all of its available playlists and maps. During that time I reached the maximum level and began Prestige 1. I also played multiple Zombies matches with friends and solo, getting to grips with its mechanics and the two launch maps.

I played on PlayStation 5 using a DualSense Wireless Controller. For audio, I relied on a pair of Astro A50 X headphones, which I found really helped the detailed sound effects shine. Throughout my time with the game, I compared my experience with that of other Call of Duty games. 

First reviewed October 2024.

Categories: Reviews

Forget the Magic Mouse, the new M4 Macs have the strangest design choice by Apple yet - no new Wi-Fi 7 despite iPhone 16 support

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:50

Apple’s full reveal of the new M4 Macs promises a range of upgrades powered by the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, but the manufacturer has omitted support for Wi-Fi 7 - despite the new technology present in the new iPhone 16.

The M4 chips have been long anticipated, with multiple rumors and leaks that indicated significant performance improvements. It now comes as a surprise to see that these powerful new Macs do indeed offer a big step forward in performance, but will not be utilizing the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 connection standard - especially since the much weaker device, iPhone 16, takes advantage of this (well, besides its bandwidth limitation spotted).

Wi-Fi 7 is quickly becoming the new standard for internet connections, offering reduced latency and faster speeds. While Wi-Fi 6E is no slouch at providing great connection speeds (via the 6GHz band on supported routers), most held the expectation that the new Macs would make the upgrade - mostly due to the enhancements made in other hardware departments, but that oddly hasn’t been the case.

Excuse the Magic Mouse controversy. This is the real blunder from Apple…

Now, the weird charging port position on Apple’s redesigned Magic Mouse may have been a major point of contention for Apple fans this week, but the lack of Wi-Fi 7 hardware support for M4 Macs may be the new frontrunner of strange choices made by the tech giant.

This means we’ll likely be left waiting for M5 Macs to see the new technology’s inclusion - unless Apple launches updated M4 models later on (which seems highly unlikely), it could very well be a full year or more before this upgrade is done - all while the Wi-Fi Alliance barrels ahead with plans for Wi-Fi 8.

It isn’t just Macs that have received the short end of the stick in the Wi-Fi department; it’s also the iPhone 16, which actually does feature Wi-Fi 7, but has its bandwidth limited. First spotted by Les Numeriques (article in French) while testing, the iPhone 16 can only utilize 160MHz bandwidth despite Wi-Fi 7’s capability of 320MHz.

To give Apple the benefit of the doubt, this move could have been made to further enhance the device’s great battery life (we discuss this at length in our iPhone 16 review). Despite this, this limitation and the complete exclusion of Wi-Fi 7 on M4 Macs certainly doesn’t bode well for those searching for improved internet connectivity…

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Save a Whopping 60% Off These Soundcore A30i Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:49
These Soundcore A30i wireless earbuds are available for just $20 for a limited time only.
Categories: Technology

Preorder Apple's Brand-New M4 MacBook Pro Laptops at Up to $150 Off

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:43
You can already save on Apple's new high-end M4 MacBook Pro laptop with this blazing hot deal at Best Buy.
Categories: Technology

North Korean hackers linked to Play ransomware attacks

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:42

Jumpy Pisces, a North Korean state-sponsored threat actor also known as Onyx Sleet, or Andariel, has recently shifted its focus to ransomware attacks, experts have warned.

In a recent technical analysis, researchers from Unit 42 said although Jumpy Pisces had previously focused on cyber-espionage and financial crimes, it has in recent times teamed up with the infamous Play Ransomware group (also known as Fiddling Scorpius).

Play emerged in the summer of 2022, and has since then grown into a formidable threat actor - so much so that in December 2023, the FBI warned about this group, claiming it compromised roughly 300 victims in its first year and a half of its existence.

Initial access brokers

"Since June 2022, the Play (also known as Playcrypt) ransomware group has impacted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure in North America, South America, and Europe," the agency said at the time. "As of October 2023, the FBI was aware of approximately 300 affected entities allegedly exploited by the ransomware actors."

The role Jumpy Pisces plays in this partnership is not definitively determined, but it’s most likely that it acts as an initial access broker (IAB), opening Play operators doors to different victims.

Unit 42 believes this change is significant because it shows that Jumpy Pisces is getting more involved in ransomware activities, and are using existing ransomware infrastructure instead of building its own. That makes the attacks more sophisticated, and possibly - more widespread.

However, BleepingComputer added that in an average ransomware attack, there are multiple parties involved. Most ransomware variants these days operate on an “as-a-service” model, meaning that the developers are not the ones infecting victims, and that the two end up splitting eventual profits. Add IAB to the mix, and now there are at least three separate threat actors engaged in a single attack.

In any case, companies should be extra vigilant, the researchers conclude, warning that this new teamup might lead to serious ransomware infections.

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Categories: Technology

Sony teases new Alpha camera launch – and rumors point to a long-awaited A1 II

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:41
  • Sony Japan has announced a 'special event' for Alpha cameras
  • The hands-on fan events take place from November 20 in Tokyo
  • Separate rumors have suggested that a flagship Sony A1 II is imminent

It's been an uncharacteristically quiet year for new Sony cameras, but a new teaser and rumors suggest that the barren spell will end soon – possibly with a new Sony A1 II flagship camera.

Sony Japan has now posted a 'special event' teaser on its Alpha Universe page, where fans can get their "hands on a mirrorless Alpha" on both November 20 and 21. The page doesn't specify that it's for a new Alpha camera, but that's the suggestion – and some speculation from the reliable Sony Alpha Rumors suggests the camera could be the A1 II.

The original Sony A1 was a revolutionary mirrorless camera when it landed out of the blue in January 2021, combining a high-resolution 50.1MP sensor with (for then) incredible shooting speeds of 30fps. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the successor could be a relatively mild upgrade (on paper, at least).

The site says the camera's "likely" specs will include the same stacked 50MP full-frame sensor as the Sony A1 but alongside faster frame rates and autofocus. There'll also apparently be a new AI chip and support for CFexpress Type A cards with the 4.0 standard (supporting twice the speeds as before).

Lastly, Sony Alpha Rumors says the A1 II will be "more expensive than the current Sony A1", which isn't a huge surprise given that the camera is almost four years old and that it'll be available to buy in "early 2025". As a guide, the Sony A1 cost $6,500 / £6,499 / AU$10,499 (body only) when it became available in March 2021.

With those 'special event' days announced by Sony Japan taking place from November 20, we'd imagine the new camera could arrive shortly before then – but the picture will no doubt become much clearer in the next few weeks.

Camera tech hits a ceiling?

(Image credit: Future)

If these Sony A1 II spec rumors are correct, they suggest that camera tech is hitting something of a plateau – certainly when compared to the original Sony A1. That flagship was the closest thing we'd seen to a 'no compromise' camera, one that could blur the lines between a high-resolution landscape body, a speedy sports camera, and an 8K video sidekick.

Since then, rivals have caught up, with hybrid cameras like the Nikon Z8, Nikon Z9, and Canon EOS R1 following its 'kitchen sink' blueprint and combining impressive photo and video power in one pro-friendly body.

According to the rumors, the A1 II may not blow the competition away again, but software upgrades could certainly nudge it back out in front for creators who want a single camera that does it all. Lens choice may also play a role, and Sony Alpha Rumors suggests that a new Sony 28-70mm f/2 zoom could be announced alongside the new flagship camera.

That lens will seemingly be Sony's first zoom lens with a constant f/2 aperture, but could also come with an inevitably high price tag of around $3,000 (which converts to about £2,330 / AU$4,570).

The new launches may not exactly be affordable, then, or dramatically shift the photography needle in the style of the original Sony A1 – but they could also potentially be new best-in-class tools that could trouble the upper regions of our best cameras buying guide.

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This agency is trying to protect elections from adversaries like Russia and Iran

NPR News Headlines - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:20

New Yorker journalist David Kirkpatrick says a government command hub has been tasked with tracking and protecting U.S. elections from foreign adversaries who seek to sow discord and foment violence.

Categories: News

A mother and baby from Gaza are reunited 11 months after being separated at birth

NPR News Headlines - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:19

After an Israeli airstrike left mom-to-be Raneem Hizaji badly injured, doctors performed an emergency C-section. It took nearly a year for mom and baby to be reunited.

(Image credit: Claire Harbage)

Categories: News

I Called My Grandkids From Europe on the AirPods 4

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:16
Commentary: Apple's new AirPods 4 feel like a deal thanks to the new noise-canceling feature. It's great for calling my family while I'm on my travels.
Categories: Technology

Another day, another Windows 11 24H2 update bug – this time, Task Manager shows zero apps running

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:11

It’s Halloween and while some people are getting treats, others are getting new Windows 11 24H2-related issues – this time a glitch in Task Manager. Microsoft has confirmed as much, but luckily it’s reportedly not as much a cause for concern as other recent 24H2 issues have been.

Microsoft’s acknowledgement of the glitch was spotted by Neowin in a new notification in Windows 11 24H2’s Health Dashboard, which catalogs the issues and other things of note that Microsoft has publicized about the new feature update. Normally, Task Manager lists how many apps and background tasks are currently running on your device to help you quickly see what’s using up your computer’s resources.

Neowin explains that after installing the latest build version of 24H2, KB5044384, some users have been shown the incorrect number of apps and background processes, with Task Manager claiming they have zero apps or processes running - which is impossible.

What this means and what to watch out for next

If this sounds familiar, there are two things to note. First, we don’t currently know if there’s an easy fix for this. Second, it seems like this glitch doesn’t impact Task Manager’s functionality much further. You’ll still be able to do things like see all the programs, apps, and processes you have running, check details about them, and stop them if necessary even if the group headings say that you have zero apps and processes running.

Microsoft’s acknowledgment also states that it’s working on a fix and I expect it’ll be added to a future update soon.

As far as we know, this only affects those using Windows 11 24H2 and if you use an earlier version of Windows, like 23H2, you should be unaffected. Furthermore, this is seemingly only a visual glitch and the running of Task Manager and your PC are also unaffected.

This Task Manager bug is another item on the list of problems that we’ve learned about since Windows 11 24H2’s release - including network connectivity issues and blue screens of death. This isn’t the most extreme error, but it undermines the entire purpose of Task Manager, which is intended to provide a clear and easy-to-interpret breakdown of all your running apps and background processes. Updates like 24H2 are intended to provide improved stability and introduce new features, and as new bugs keep cropping up, that’ll be less and less likely to be the impression users get while trying to use it.

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Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in San Diego

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:11
Looking to go solar in sunny San Diego? Thanks to the residential clean energy credit and the many state-level incentives, solar in California is more affordable than ever.
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Windows 10 diehards can keep their beloved OS secure for a little while longer (for a fee) as Microsoft pleas with them to be reasonable

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:04

Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating systems out there, and Microsoft is extending an olive branch of sorts to Windows 10 diehards who continue to resist the call to upgrade by offering Windows 10 users an additional year of security support, but it won't be free.

In a new blog post about the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11, of which there are several to be sure, Microsoft discloses that a new Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will be available for all users, not just enterprise or education users, unwilling or unable to upgrade to Windows 11 after support ends for the venerable OS on October 14, 2025.

For an additional $30, you'll be able to get security updates for Windows 10, but not any new features. Users will be able to enroll in the new ESU program later next year near the October 2025 end-of-support deadline.

The announcement of the new ESU program comes at the very end of the blog post, most of which is pretty much a hard sell on the benefits of switching to Windows 11, something that Microsoft has struggled to convince people to do.

Everyday users will have an extended security option normally reserved for enterprise users

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Every user's experience with Windows 11 will be different, but for many, the added hardware requirements and bad publicity around Windows 11 updates breaking some popular features of the OS have definitely played a part in customers' resistance to upgrading from Windows 10. The creation of the ESU program for all Windows 10 users, then, is both a recognition of that fact and a welcome development as far as customer service goes.

Normally, extended security updates are reserved for organizations and enterprise customers who have a lot of interconnected systems that rely on a common OS to operate and so are very resistant to upgrading.

People are typically shocked when they find out how many businesses, government agencies, and organizations are still using operating systems like Windows XP and Windows 7, but large companies and organizations build entire workflows, trainings, and bespoke software around these operating systems, and switching to a new operating system might have unforseeable consequences that can be very costly.

As such, Microsoft, Apple, and others typically offer these big customers long-term support programs where security updates are pushed out even if new features are not for a few years after general end-of-life support stops for more mainstream users.

This is the first time though that something similar is being offered to anyone willing to pay the $30 to keep Windows 10 secure for just a little while longer. Hopefully, this can be the start of a trend going forward for popular operating systems like Windows 10, as I'm sure many Windows 10 fans will gladly pay a small fee to keep using their preferred OS without risking their PC's security.

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Dropbox is laying off 20% of its staff

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:02

Top cloud storage firm Dropbox has confirmed that it will be laying off one in five workers as part of a broader cost-cutting measure to tackle an evolving landscape.

The approximately 20% reduction in headcount, or 528 employees, will take place as part of what CEO Drew Houston described as a “transitional period.” The company also terminated 500 contracts in 2023, and a further 300 in 2021, as the tech sector grappled with a tough economy.

In a blog post entitled "An update from Drew", Houston described the challenges of “softening demand and macro headwinds” affecting its core business as well as complaints from within that the company has become too “complex.”

Dropbox layoffs

It’s unclear how the layoffs will affect different types of workers, but Houston said, “excess layers of management [are] slowing [the company] down.”

“And while I'm proud of the progress we’ve made in the last couple years, in some parts of the business, we’re still not delivering at the level our customers deserve or performing in line with industry peers," he added.

Moving forward, Houston said Dropbox’s plan is to make “more significant cuts” in parts of the business that have either received too much investment or are not performing as well as the company had hoped.

A separate SEC filing revealed the company expects to incur between $63 and $68 million in costs relating to the layoffs, including severance and other benefits.

Houston committed to supporting workers with 16 weeks of pay, including one additional week of pay for each completed year of tenure at Dropbox, healthcare support, the possibility of keeping company-issued devices, and more.

Further details about the company’s strategy are set to be discussed in upcoming Town Halls and other meetings, but it’s likely that further investments will be given to artificial intelligence.

Houston summarized with a hopeful message: “The changes we're making today, while difficult, come at a pivotal moment when the market is accelerating precisely where we've placed our biggest bets.”

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WhatsApp's new Lists feature makes organizing chats easier and more personal

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:00

WhatsApp is launching a new way to organize your chats into custom categories, expanding on the addition of chat filters earlier this year.

The new Lists feature will allow users to create, edit, and organise lists of their chats, allowing you to, for example, separate work and personal chats, or keep family chats in one place.

Users will be able to create a list by tapping the plus button in the filter bar at the top of the chats tab. Both group and individual chats can be added to a list, which is then displayed in the filter bar. And once a list is created, users will be able to access editing options for the list with a long press.

Lists expands on and replace chat filters, which allowed users to view four pre-set groupings of chats: All, Unread, Favorites, and Groups.

The rollout of WhatsApp Lists begins today, and the company says the new feature will be available to all users “in the coming weeks” – though we don’t have a specific date for when the new feature will be available to everyone.

WhatsApp updates in 2024

It’s been a big year for the world’s most popular messaging app, as Meta continues to update WhatsApp in the hopes of retaining the top spot.

Updates like Lists aren’t groundbreaking on their own, but they do allow WhatsApp to stay competitive, especially as native cross-platform communication gets easier and easier.

Earlier this year, Apple finally adopted the RCS standard for texting, allowing for easier multimedia communication between iPhone and Android phones – the exact niche WhatsApp targets.

In turn, WhatsApp got a handful of new video tools in March, a redesign in May, as well as other updates throughout the year like new features for its Windows app and the aforementioned chat filters.

Furthermore, we’ve heard rumors all year that WhatsApp may bring greater integration with AI toolsets like Samsung Galaxy AI, or Meta’s own AI features, as well as an AirDrop-style file sharing system.

It’s clear that Meta are keen to keep people on WhatsApp as cross-platform relations improve and AI brings new features to native messaging apps – but for now, we’re just looking forward to trying out Lists for ourselves.

For the latest updates, be sure to keep up with our dedicated WhatsApp coverage, as well as our phones coverage.

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Don't Worry -- It's Just a Dream. Learn Why You're Having Nightmares

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:00
Scary dreams don't occur only during spooky season. Here's what we know about the hauntings in your head.
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What Is an AI Security Camera?

CNET News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:00
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 sets new record as "biggest ever" launch for the series

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 10:52

Microsoft has announced that Black Ops 6 was the biggest Call of Duty launch ever.

According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during Microsoft's first quarter earnings call on October 30, the latest title in the long-running shooter franchise set a record for day-one players and Xbox Game Pass members as the first Call of Duty game to be added to the subscription service (via VGC).

"Last week’s launch of Black Ops 6 was the biggest Call of Duty release ever, setting a record for day one players as well as Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day," Nadella said.

In addition, Microsoft's CEO revealed that unit sales for PlayStation and Steam "were also up over 60% year-over-year".

"This speaks to our strategy of meeting gamers where they are by enabling them to play more games across the screens they spend their time on," Nadella added.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Game Pass. In its first week of launch, it received two new updates in the form of the Infected game mode and the original 1950s Nuketown map.

Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season One are set to launch on November 14 and although Activision is keeping quiet on the details, we do know that there will be "all-new Multiplayer maps and modes, a terrifying new in-season Zombies map, as well as the introduction of Omnimovement and Black Ops 6 weapons and Loadout features to Call of Duty: Warzone".

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Nearly a third of GenAI users give their bots confidential information - and that's a worrying problem

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 10:44

New research has claimed consumer awareness of privacy laws and regulations has been steadily rising, and is now at 53%, up from 36% in 2019.

Cisco's 2024 Consumer Privacy Survey claims this awareness is now translating into higher confidence amongst consumers, with 81% who are aware of their country’s privacy laws confident in their ability to protect data, compared to just 44% of those who have no understanding of the regulations.

Predictably, there's a strong correlation between age and awareness, as 65% of 18-24 year olds are aware of data privacy laws compared to just 24% of over 75’s. Almost everyone cares about data privacy though, with 89% wanting more control and to protect others online.

Stop telling ChatGPT your bank details

A staggering 80% of respondents were worried about GenAI potentially being ‘bad for humanity’, and 72% are concerned that GenAI will replace jobs. There are overwhelming concerns about misinformation, with 86% concerned that GenAI output could be wrong, and 80% uneasy about its potential to undermine elections.

Despite this, GenAI is being fed vast amounts of personal data - with 37% of users entering health information, 29% giving financial information, and 27% even telling chatbots their account numbers.

There have been reports of GenAI data being stolen, and accounts being hacked, so it’s definitely not a good idea to give your chatbot sensitive information (or anyone for that matter).

The report recommends checking other sources of information to ensure the output of GenAI is correct, and to get a clear understanding of how your data is used and who it could be shared to.

To protect your data, you should also be vigilant about updating your privacy settings and research your privacy rights.

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Netflix Christmas spy thriller Black Doves shows off Keira Knightley as a butt-kicking secret agent and it’s already been renewed for season 2

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/31/2024 - 10:42

There's no doubt that Keira Knightley is the queen of period dramas, but this time she's swapping regency pomp for gun-toting revenge in the Netflix trailer for new spy thriller Black Doves, which puts the red in white Christmas.

It's certainly going to be a violent night as Knightley and Ben Whishaw (Paddington) play an unlikely spy duo who bring bullets, bloodshed and British wit this holiday season. Black Doves has already been renewed for a second season ahead of its release on December 5, so it has promise to become one of the best Netflix shows.

Knightley is unlike anything we've seen before as she plays a fearless spy hellbent on revenge after her secret lover is murdered. In the gripping trailer (see below), there's some seriously killer (literally) action scenes as Knightley stabs bad guys and jumps out of a burning building. The teaser also showcases Knightley and Whishaw's hilarious comedic chemistry, as well as Sarah Lancashire's (Happy Valley) mysterious character Reed.

What is Black Doves about?

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a high-octane and heartfelt story about friendship and sacrifice.

The official Netflix plot synopsis reads: "Black Doves follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother – and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe. Together they uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis."

Black Doves isn't the only Christmas thriller arriving on the best streaming service as Carry-On is set to bring some Die Hard action this festive season. The potential best Netflix movie follows young TSA agent Ethan (Taron Egerton) who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a busy Christmas Eve flight. It's definitely time to add some ass-kicking mystery to your tinsel and turkey.

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