You won’t have to pay to play ‘Quake Champions’

The upcoming Quake Champions will be free-to-play. Or not. It depends on how you want to approach it. “At its core, it’s a free-to-play game with the option to buy the Champion Pack and just get in and play with all the Champions,” developer Bethesda Softworks’ creative director Tim Willits recently told Polygon. The Champion Pack is basically the full-priced version of the game, giving access to everything you’d expect from a retail title right out of the gate. But, if games like League of Legends and Dota 2 have taught us anything, it’s that dropping $60 up-front is a huge barrier to entry for people around the world.

That’s why Quake Champions will offer a way to play the game without spending money. Using earned, in-game currency called “favor,” you can play with other characters for a limited time period.

“I don’t want to use the word ‘rent,’” Willits told the publication. “You do spend favor to have access to them for a limited amount of time, yes. But you don’t spend any real money on it.”

Polygon says that favor will be easy enough to earn and that you can spend it on things besides access to other characters too, like new skins for said characters.

Given the popularity of LoL, Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2 simply by way of their accessibility, this seems like it could be the best way to go about structuring the new Quake’s business model. That’s especially true when you consider that the aforementioned games are incredibly popular in places like eastern Europe and South Korea, where gaming cafes are bountiful. Bethesda made its eSports aspirations for the game explicit when it debuted last year; this helps prove that it wasn’t just hollow talk.

Source: Polygon

Best LG G6 cases: Protect your new LG phone

LG’s latest flagship smartphone, the LG G6, has arrived – and it’s totally different than its predecessor.

The company has ditched the modular concept it introduced with last year’s LG G5, opting for a metal-and-glass sandwich for the LG G6. This, of course, means you need an entirely new case for the new phone. It’s always a little bit of a shame to put on a case to cover a smartphone up, but without one, its beautiful frame would undoubtedly become covered in dings and scratches in no time.

• LG G6 initial review: The first truly great flagship for 2017

Fortunately, there are plenty of cases available at launch, so you’ll have no trouble finding something absolutely perfect to protect it. Here’s a roundup of the best LG G6 cases we’ve stumbled across so far, but you can expect an update to this piece when we come across more. So, if none of these catch your eye just yet, don’t worry.

Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor

Spigen’s case will protect your phone without making it as thick as a book and it looks good too, thanks to the carbon fiber texture on the rear and clear port cutouts. In terms of protective features, Spigen said it offers spiderweb shock absorption on the interior and Air Cushion Technology in all the corners. If you want a sleek case that’ll insulate the LG G6 from damage, get the Spigen Rugged Armor.

Price: £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk / $13.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit

If you like the look of Spigen cases but absolutely hate any added bulk, then you should check out the Thin Fit case from Spigen. It doesn’t offer the type of drop protection you see in other Spigen cases, but it’ll prevent most nicks. Keep in mind your ports and side buttons are out in the open, and it’s so thin that NFC and wireless charging can get by it. We’re talking basic coverage here, but it works.

Price: £9.99 at Amazon.co.uk / $11.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Ringke Air Prism

Ringke makes really nice-looking cases, such as the Air Prism, a one-piece case made from soft TPU. It has a geometric pattern on the back, promises drop protection, and comes with all sorts of textures to ensure you always have a solid grip on your LG G6. It’s available in different colours, including black, rose gold, and clear, so you should be able to find one that suits you and your new phone.

Price: £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk / $10.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Supcase Rugged Holster Case

Supcase is a two-piece case with a front plate that has a built-in screen protector. Its multi-layered protection system relies upon TPU and polycarbonate materials to ensure shock absorption. It even has an impact resistant bumper and belt clip holster that swivels 360 degrees, making it a great accessory for anyone – especially belt-wearing fathers – who like to have quick access to their phone at all times.

Price: £16.99 at Amazon.co.uk / $14.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Mangix Water Resistant Case

Before you get too excited, remember there is a difference between waterproof water resistant. This case will protect your phone from splashes, the rain, and snow, but you cannot carry it into the pool with you. The exterior has hard shell, while the interior is flexible TPU. There are also six screws in the front, along with a screen protector, so your phone will definitely be protected from drops and falls.

Price: $29.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Trianium Clarium Series Case

Some people (*cough* minimalists *cough*) just want a simple, clear case, because it offers basic protection from bumps while still allowing them to show off their new device for all to see. Trianium’s Clarium Series cases are a perfect example. With one, your phone will get all-around protection, but the case itself is still pretty slim and lightweight, and of course, it’s clear and can display your new LG G6.

Price: $7.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

LK Wallet Case

Don’t forget other cases aren’t solely about protection and looks. They can be practical and functional. Wallet cases, for instance, offer the convenience of storing your phone, cash, and cards all in one place. LK Wallet case also happens to offer full protection, thanks to the TPU inner shell and leather exterior. You can fit three cards inside, as well as folded bills, and it folds up to create a kickstand.

Price: $9.99 at Amazon.com

Amazon

Wellci Flip Case

Similar to a wallet case, the flip case is different from most protective coverings. Usually there is a slot or two for cards, and they don’t cover the entire smartphone, nor do they have a magnetic lock to keep everything inside. But they certainly look stylish and will safeguard your phone against minor drops. The cutouts in Wellci’s case are also very precise – plus, there’s a kickstand for your phone.

Price: $9.99 at Amazon.com

‘Sonic Mania’ finally gives its lead character a unique special move

When Sega invited me behind closed doors to get an early look of Sonic Mania at GDC last month, I wasn’t expecting much. I’d seen the trailers and indeed, it looked like a grand homage to franchise, but I was surprised to find that the game is more than that. Mania doesn’t just bring players back to the 16-bit era with classic graphics and gameplay — it adds to it. This retro Sonic throwback gifts its mascot with new abilities, new levels and incredibly smooth pixel animation.

Think of Sonic Mania as an evolved approach to how Christian Whitehead handled the Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sonic CD HD remasters. It embraces the spirit of classic Sonic games while subtly improving upon almost everything — starting with the heroic blue rodent himself. “Tails flies, Knuckles can glide and climb,” Sega’s Aaron Webber told Engadget. “Sonic had nothing.” Somehow, the game’s titular character became its least versatile. Sonic Mania fixes that, giving the blue hedgehog a new “drop dash” move that lets the player drop down from a jump into an accelerated, controllable spin-dash attack. Once on the ground, players can instantly change direction without coming out of the attack. It’s a simple, easy-to-use move that finally puts Sonic on the same level as his sidekicks.

Sonic Mania also makes the most of modern hardware. Sure, it still looks like a game plucked out of the Sega Genesis library, but it’s tuned to run at 60 frames per second. That may not sound like much, but it’s the kind of specification boost that allowed the team to cram in beautiful, fluid character animation. Simply put, there are more animation frames in every action Sonic and friends perform, from the way the blue hedgehog cranes his neck to look up to Tails’ end-level victory dance. This smooth character work really shines on the game’s title screen, where Sonic performs a 360-degree spin within the frame of the game’s logo. “That took the animator almost two weeks,” Webber said. “There’s a huge amount of frames in it.” Indeed, it looks gorgeous.

Despite these gameplay and technical changes, Sonic Mania still feels very much like a classic Sonic title. That’s probably because most of the staff are die-hard Sonic fans with roots the fan community and experience making unofficial hedgehog games. The passion shows in the painstaking recreation of the first game’s Green Hill Zone (an homage filled with new secrets and areas to explore) and Studiopolis Zone, a new level that merges the flash of the classic Casino Night Zone with a Hollywood theme. Webber says the team “tried to find a balance between ‘We’re making something new,’ and ‘We’re making something that isn’t too far from what the originals were.’” The final game isn’t due out until later this year, but if my early impressions are anything to go by, Sega nailed it.

The Engadget Podcast Ep 31: Look Inside America

On this episode a trio of out-of-towners — managing editor James Trew, senior editor Aaron Souppouris and senior editor Mat Smith — join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the latest tech news. First they’ll discuss Consumer Reports decision to start considering security and privacy in their ratings. Then try to figure out just what the hell the New York Times is thinking by putting tweets in the print edition of the paper. Then lastly they’ll talk about the latest out of Wikileaks and yell a whole lot about what a terrible person Julian Assange is.

Relevant links:

• Consumer Reports now rates product privacy and security
• New York Times reporters’ tweets will appear in its paper edition
• Apple says it’s already patched ‘many’ Wikileaks iOS exploits
• WikiLeaks claims to have the CIA’s hacking toolkit

The Wind Down:

• Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile (2017 Definitive Edition)
• Raye – Second
• Lovesick
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

You can check out every episode on The Engadget Podcast page in audio, video and text form for the hearing impaired.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on Facebook

Subscribe on Google Play Music

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Stitcher

Subscribe on Pocket Casts

YouTube made VR gaming videos for Google Daydream and Cardboard

You might have come across a few 360-degree gaming videos on YouTube since last year. Chances are, those are some of the results of the platform’s partnership with creators and publishers formed in an effort to experiment with the production of VR gaming videos. They transformed all kinds of content into 360-degree experiences, from trailers to Let’s Play and even gaming-themed live action videos. YouTube has now collected all of them in a playlist aptly entitled “Step Into The Games.” As you can see, they include familiar names like Minecraft, Super Mario Bros, Psychonauts, Need for Speed and Call of Duty.

For maximum immersion, you’ll have to access the playlist using the YouTube VR app on Google’s Daydream or Cardboard headset. You can still play them on a mobile device or a computer, though — you’ll just have to drag your screen or move your phone around to see everything the 360-degree videos can offer.

Source: YouTube

Airbnb might soon be legal in Japan

Looks like Airbnb is faring a lot better in Japan than in its own home: it might soon be able to legally operate within the country. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet has given its blessing to the proposed rules that will be imposed upon the service, and they’re now on their way to be approved by Japan’s National Diet. While home owners won’t have to worry about breaking the law when they list their properties, the service’s legalization comes with a price. The rules include a 180-day limit on rentals per year, and not all home owners are happy with the restriction.

As you know, some people buy properties with the intent of listing them on Airbnb all year round. It can be especially lucrative in Japan, with its booming tourism industry — some hotels in the country can be fully booked months before Sakura season. In 2016, 3.7 million of the 24 million tourists who visited the island nation stayed in an Airbnb, making it the company’s fastest-growing market.

The lack of proper regulation allows home owners to make a decent profit off their properties. But once Airbnb becomes legal, they’ll have to secure a landlord’s permit and an operating license to rent out their properties for over 180 days. They can’t cheat either: the website will add a new feature that will automatically hide rentals that exceed the annual limit. The company’s Japanese division knows that it could affect some of their hosts, but it believes what’s important is “that there will now be clear rules governing home-sharing.”

Source: Bloomberg

We’re live from SXSW 2017!

The past few weeks have been intense for the tech world, what with MWC and GDC taking place over the past few weeks. Now it’s turn for SXSW 2017. We’re on the ground in Austin, Texas to check out what the festival has to offer with its interactive, music and film sections. All the SXSW action is happening this week and next, so stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you the latest news, interviews and more from the event.

Twitch desktop app aims to make streaming more social

Twitch has long been more than just a video game streaming platform. In fact, it’s starting to morph into a full-fledged, gamer-centric social network and marketplace. Just a few days ago, the company unveiled Pulse, which added a Facebook-like feed featuring posts from streamers and viewers. This spring, Twitch will also introduce the ability for users to buy and download the games being played by their favorite streamers directly on the page. Today, the gaming platform announced these and other features are also coming to the new Twitch Desktop App, which launches on March 16th.

The app isn’t entirely new, since it’s a rebranding of Curse, a communication platform Twitch acquired in August, with added features. Now that Curse has been fully integrated into the Twitch family, the revised app aims to be a one-stop destination for Twitch power users. In addition to standard Twitch features like streams, chat, activity sharing and private messaging, the desktop program will also include video chats, audio messaging, and community servers (those places where followers of a particular streamer can interact with each other even when the streamer is offline).

Soon, desktop Twitchers will also be able to actually play the games they watch. When direct purchases become available this spring, users will be able to download and play their games right there in the Twitch Desktop App. Once that feature goes live, the gamers can even snag addons and mods, which sounds similar to the Steam Workshop downloadable content marketplace. Steam shouldn’t have to worry about its market share just yet though — it recently had 14 million people on the platform at once, says PC Gamer — but the platform definitely has a serious new competitor.

In non-app news, Twitch is also increasing its influence among non-gamers with TwitchPresents, a new channel for TV marathons. It’s kicking things off with a 17-day Power Rangers binge, which will include all 831 episodes and runs from March 14 to March 30. The Twitch website should continue to be more than enough for most casual viewers, gamers or otherwise, but for users who want a more immersive experience — and perhaps an alternative to Steam — it looks like the Twitch Desktop app could scratch that itch.

The best USB audio interface

By Al Griffin

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

For beginners looking to branch out into DIY recording, we recommend the Tascam US-2×2. After spending 30 hours researching the category, discussing key features with audio pros, and recording instrument and vocal samples on five models for evaluation by a panel of trained listeners, we chose the US-2×2 as our favorite. We found it to be the easiest model to work with, and setup in most cases is plug and play. It’s also one of the more affordable two-channel USB audio interfaces on the market.

Who should get this

Musicians wanting to record songs without a big upfront hardware investment have long relied on their computer’s basic audio capabilities to capture and digitize tracks. But those serious about boosting the quality of their setup will soon realize the shortcomings of built-in hardware. Recordings can be noisy, and you are typically limited to capturing only one instrument or vocal track at a time. Relying on USB to connect a microphone also restricts your selection to mics with a USB output. Though mics in that category are fine for basic recording applications like podcasting, the options aren’t anywhere near as extensive as regular models that output analog audio over an XLR or ¼-inch jack—especially when it comes to specialized mics for recording musical instruments.

For all these reasons and more, a USB audio interface will benefit musicians looking to expand their recording capabilities.

How we picked and tested

Photo: Al Griffin

To narrow down the choices for musicians and others doing basic recording, we scoured sites including Amazon, Sweetwater, and Musician’s Friend and looked for products that satisfied a select list of criteria. These included a hi-Z input or plugging in an electric guitar or keyboard without additional hardware, zero-latency hardware direct monitoring, a pair of inputs, and more; see our full guide for the rest.

When we surveyed the field it became clear that models capable of capturing audio at 24-bit bit depth and a 96 kHz sampling rate have become the norm. Though that high level of resolution can make sense for projects where archival quality is desired, it isn’t necessarily a requirement for most recordings. Not having that capability ultimately wasn’t a dealbreaker.

We also eliminated products that received complaints in user reviews about insufficient gain (input volume) when using phantom power with condenser microphones.

We tested the Tascam US-2×2, PreSonus AudioBox iTwo, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Steinberg UR22mkII, Behringer U-Phoria UM2, and Blue Microphones Icicle. To evaluate their audio performance, design ergonomics, and ease of setup, we spent time with each model in a home studio, recording both vocal and electric guitar samples using GarageBand on a MacBook Pro, and Cubasis LE on an iPad.

We then recorded samples of vocals and acoustic instruments—in this case, harp. Using two popular and affordable condenser mics, a Blue Microphones Yeti Pro (using its analog output) for harp and an MXL V63M for vocals, we recorded performances. After swapping out USB interfaces, we repeated each performance so to capture samples with the various units at 24-bit/44.1 kHz resolution in GarageBand on a MacBook Pro.

Once the samples were edited, we normalized the volume for each track (to make sure listeners weren’t responding to minor differences in levels), exported them as AIFF files, and uploaded them in uncompressed format to Soundcloud. This enabled our expert listening panel to evaluate them using their own headphones and USB DACs.

Our pick

Photo: Al Griffin

The Tascam US-2×2 is our pick for the best two-channel USB audio interface for amateur musicians and podcasters. It offers consistently excellent recording quality and a design that’s more user-friendly and rugged than the other models we tested. The US-2×2 is also packed with useful features such as iPad support and a MIDI interface to enable the playing of software instruments using an external controller.

The low noise and ample gain provided by the US-2×2’s dual microphone preamps allow for use with a wide range of microphones, including more exotic condenser models. Its ability to capture the nuances of both acoustic instruments and vocals pushed it past the other models under evaluation to score a top rating in our recording sound-quality tests.

Tascam’s design for the US-2×2 elevates the front panel and positions it at a slight angle. This arrangement allows for easy access to the unit’s control knobs, which, unlike those on some of the other units we checked out, are spaced comfortably apart and provide good resistance when making adjustments.

Runner-up

Photo: Al Griffin

Although it costs more than our main pick, the PreSonus AudioBox iTwo is also well worth considering. The AudioBox iTwo received high marks from our listening panel for its sound quality, with comments citing its ability to capture the natural decay of acoustic instruments as well as maintain spaciousness and detail even during loud passages. The AudioBox iTwo’s main trade-off from the Tascam pick is a less convenient ergonomic design: Input gain adjustment knobs are placed near the bottom of the unit’s front panel, making them somewhat difficult to access.

If you need to record more than two sources

Photo: Al Griffin

The Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 features the same high-quality mic preamps and 192/24-capable DACs as the Scarlett 2i2 we evaluated for this guide, but adds features that the 2i2 lacks such as iPad connectivity and a 1×1 MIDI interface. Priced only $100 higher than the 2i2, it provides four additional ¼-inch inputs/outputs on the back beyond the twin XLR inputs on the front (for a total of six inputs). This lets you accommodate a wider range of recording scenarios, such as capturing the performance of a full band. Some panelists had a few criticisms of the Scarlett’s sound. This is what kept it from being a top pick. But it’s still a fantastic value if you need six inputs.

An affordable option for vocals and acoustic instruments

Photo: Al Griffin

The Blue Microphones Icicle is a great choice for those who don’t need to record guitars or keyboards and simply want to capture vocals or acoustic instruments. In contrast to the company’s Yeti, our pick for best all-in-one USB microphone, the Icicle is a basic audio interface that has an XLR input on one end for plugging in microphones, and a USB output on the other end to connect to a computer. It’s best thought of as an adapter to turn any XLR mic into a USB mic. The Icicle’s recording resolution maxes out at 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality), which is plenty good enough, but below what the other interfaces are capable of.

This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

New US solar installations nearly doubled in 2016

Yes, the head of the EPA did display a staggering level of ignorance about climate change, but not everything is terrible. A report produced by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association says that solar power in the US had a blockbuster 2016. It’s believed that 14,762 megawatts of solar capacity was installed in the year, almost twice as much as the 7,501 megawatts that were added in 2015.

The document also reports that the average price of a solar system has fallen by 20 percent in that same 12-month period. That dwindling price has helped solar becoming the largest source (39 percent) of new energy installations in the US. Natural gas and wind energy complete the rest of the makeup, with coal nowhere to be seen — in fact, coal investment seems to have dropped off since 2014.

The report is optimistic about the future, even though it warns that 2017 and 2018 won’t match 2016’s record numbers. Because so many large utility projects came on in the year, 2016 is an outlier that won’t be beaten until 2020 at the earliest. The projections also suggest that 18 gigawatts of energy will be installed by 2022, theoretically ensuring that more than 24 states will have 1 gigawatt of operating solar power.

With falling prices for both panels and batteries, more efficient hardware and a big push from China, solar energy is the way forward.

Via: Cleantechnica

Source: GTM, (2)