Items tagged with Update
Steam has a big problem, and the problem is that game sales on its store are down significantly. To combat the downtrend in game sales Steam has launched what it calls the Store Discovery Update. The update has algorithmic changes and bug fixes for the store to "be more precise and more diverse" in how games are represented to shoppers in the Recommendation feed. The tweaks that Steam is making also impact the "More Like This" and "Recommended for You" sections. Steam notes that before the tweaks were made, when shoppers looked at games in their recommended feed, they didn't see as many different games as Steam wanted. Steam also admits that it received lots of feedback that the "Recommended...
Read more...
With Microsoft's own smartphone OS on its deathbed, the software giant is now focusing on Android and iOS devices. It's admittedly odd to see Microsoft making apps specifically for Android and iOS given that Apple and Google are two of its biggest rivals. Sources claim that Microsoft has been working on a new app for both iOS and Android devices called Microsoft Movies & TV. Currently, that app is only available on Windows-based devices like the PC, Xbox, and Windows 10 Mobile devices and supports content from the Microsoft Store. With a version of that app coming for iOS and Android, movie and TV fans with large catalogs of content purchased from Microsoft can finally free that content from...
Read more...
Back in May during Google I/O the search giant announced that a Material Design revamp of Google Maps was coming. At the time, only a few users and devices were able to get access to the update. Google is now slowly rolling that update out to the masses. Google's fancy Material Design redesign is rolling out to users who are currently running Maps 9.80.2 according to reports. The update is significant enough that you will know when it has been applied because there are major interface changes. Maps gains new buttons and colorful icons on a mostly white background in the update. Other features coming with the update include a new Explore interface that allows you to easily find out what is available...
Read more...
Epic Games has announced that the v3.5 patch for the Fortnite is now available for all to download and that the most anticipated feature is likely the new Replay mode. This mode brings a bunch of settings that allow you to capture your most memorable moments, highlights, and cinematics. Epic says that it will be hosting a contest that allows players to win "phenomenal prizes" using the Replay system. There is no specific date for that contest, all Epic says is "very soon." Survive the Storm mode has returned and players who survive in the mode will be able to claim rewards. A useful new item has landed in the game in the form of the Port-a-Fort. That new item is a portable fortification that...
Read more...
LG has announced that it is opening a new Software Upgrade Center in South Korea. This will be its first facility of this type and the goal is to provide customers globally with faster, timelier smartphone OS and software updates. Faster Android updates have been one of the major reasons that Android fans choose Google's devices over other competing products. LG has located the new center on a campus in Magok-dong, western Seoul. The software center will be charged with regular OS updates for LG smartphones and for ensuring a consistent user experience on LG devices. The Upgrade Center will continuously test stability and compatibility between software and hardware after updates. That should...
Read more...
Fans of Fortnite who are sad at the ending of the Sniper Shootout Event have a new limited time event they can partake in and this mode blows the bejeebers out of stuff. The new event is called High Explosives v2 and it is part of the v3.4 content update. This mode removes all non-explosive weapons and turns off friendly fire. Wait times for the first four storms have been reduced (1:50), meaning they arrive in 20/30/30/30 seconds. There are plenty of supplies to make blowing stuff up a ton of fun; Epic says that 50% more consumables will spawn along with 100% more materials. There is also a 50% chance of dropping a Legendary Guided Missile. Other improvements to gameplay for the mode include...
Read more...
Mozilla has announced the launch of Firefox 59, which is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. The new release builds on Firefox Quantum and is a significant update for fans of the browser. Among the performance enhancements of the new browser include faster load times for content on the Firefox Home page. The faster page load times are thanks in part to loading from the networked cache or the cache on the user hard drive. Graphics rendering has been improved thanks to a move to Off-Main-Thread Painting (OMTP) for Mac users; this feature landed for Windows and Linux back in Firefox 58. Users can now drag-and-drop to rearrange Top Sites on the Firefox home page and windows and tabs have...
Read more...
Nintendo Switch gamers have a new system update that is available for download right now. The update brings the Switch to version 5.0.0 and should have downloaded automatically, and is probably ready to install on your console. If the update didn't download automatically, Nintendo reminds that you can apply the update manually by following the steps outlined here. Before you apply the update, you might be wondering what exactly changes in the new software. One of the improvement has to do with social media accounts. If you have your Facebook and Twitter accounts linked in the Switch menus, you will now be able to find friends on Facebook or Twitter via Friend Suggestions. Those suggestions can...
Read more...
DJI has announced that it has a new firmware for the Spark drone coming this week, and it will be mandatory for everyone. The update brings with it enhancements for flight safety and performance, and owners who don't install the new firmware update by September 1 won't be able to fly their Spark drone. DJI says that the new firmware enhances the battery management system to optimize power supply during flight. The update also brings support for the DJI Goggles to the Spark drone's repertoire. Other tweaks included in the firmware are optimization for the PalmLaunch function that makes the drone more stable after takeoff. QuickShot Dronie mode has more accurate controls and the compatibility...
Read more...
The last time that Sony issued a major update for the PlayStation 4 game console was when update 4.5 landed back in March. That system update added Boost Mode to the PlayStation 4 Pro among other things. Firmware Update 5.0 is incoming, and it empowers PS4 Pro gamers with the ability to stream via Twitch at 1080p and 60fps. These details have come not from Sony, but from leaked patch notes that were published. The update is expected to launch for all gamers later this month, but an exact launch date is unknown. The update for Twitch streaming isn't all that update 5.0 will bring to the table. The update also features changes to the PS4 master/sub account system that will give parents an...
Read more...
Your Lexus might not be your best navigation tool, unless you enjoy purple screens of death. A botched Lexus OTA software update has crippled the vehicle navigation and infotainment systems. Affected vehicles such as the RX350 are currently stuck in a boot loop following the update. Cindy Knight, a Toyota spokeswoman stated, “We have not found the root cause yet.” The glitch can also affect radio controls, which are displayed on the same dashboard screen. The company has not yet determined whether vehicles will need to return to dealerships in order to fix this latest glitch or if another OTA update will get customers up and running again. Many of our owner's vehicle head units stopped working....
Read more...
A few botched updates from Microsoft this week have us questioning their forced update strategy with Windows 10. If you've had issues logging into your Windows 7 computer, if Outlook is crashing randomly, or if you are unable to open documents from Sharepoint, the fixes are below. The troublesome KB's in question are KB3055034, KB3101521, and KB3097877.KB3055034 was actually released in October but most users probably haven't encountered any issues stemming from it because it seems to only break Office programs when files are opened from Sharepoint. We are covering it now because Microsoft has now released a superseding KB3101521 update which, well, still breaks Sharepoint...
Read more...
With less than two work days remaining until the start of the long Memorial Day weekend, many minds are turning to thoughts having nothing at all to do with work... loved ones lost to service or currently serving, barbecue, baseball, hanging at the beach or pool, that first donning of white pants and shoes after a long winter in storage... and traffic. One of the most road-traveled weekends of this or any year in the USA, many of those who will be behind the wheel over Memorial Day weekend will go so far as to work out time lost to traffic in their planning. All of which serves to make Google's latest update to Google Maps quite compelling. Yesterday, Google announced...
Read more...
It goes without saying that Amazon's Fire Phone leaves a bit to be desired (check out our review for more on that). Ultimately, it's been a major flop for the company, something its sales figures back up, which is really quite unfortunate given that it was the company's first phone - and a promising one, at that. Given all that, it might not strike too many people as interesting that the device just received a huge update, but I am willing to bet that those who actually own the phone might be a little intrigued. With this update, which comes in at an unknown size, Amazon has added a bunch of standard features that probably should have shipped with the device to begin...
Read more...
