18 glorious GoPro photos of our amazing, beautiful world

Monday 5 June was World Environment Day and to celebrate GoPro encouraged its users to snap and submit photos to the GoPro Awards. GoPro asked for any photo that captured the world’s beauty and helped remind others of the importance of protecting the environment.

It received a stack of entries that are truly inspiring.

The most stunning photos are soon to be selected by GoPro as award winners and reap the rewards of internet fame and cash prizes. However, we’ve dived into its archives ahead of the final announcements, to pick out some of the most impressive snaps entered so far. 

Palm tree paradise

Mark Baechtold

In the middle of the British summer, with the usual sporadic showers, we look on with envy at this view of paradise snapped by Mark Baechtold. Not the usual action shot we’d expect from a GoPro, but certainly a marvellous view of a beautiful sunset. 

An eagle-eyed view

Lauren McGough

At the opposite end of the spectrum comes this snap from the Western plains of Mongolia. Here, GoPro photographer Lauren McGough captures spectacular snow covered views of the sweeping mountains while out on a hunt with a group of nomadic Kazakhs.

The accompanying golden eagles are tagging along to help out with the hunt, blissfully unaware of the majesty they add to the photograph. 

A view from turbulent waters

Marcus Rodrigues

Putting the GoPro’s waterproof housing to maximum use, Marcus Rodrigues captures a magnificent underwater view. The water’s surface appears to be rough and angry but there’s a pleasant calm below which this swimmer is briefly enjoying on the way up to the surface. 

What lies beneath

Chelsea Yamase

Another snap of a wonderful underwater swimmer captures what looks like someone diving for buried treasure while the captain of the boat keeps watch.  

Cliff-hanging for views

Chuang Liu

Dangling from the mountain tops of Yangshuo, China, Chuang Liu snaps a breath-taking view during a heart-pounding climb. An impressive feat of endurance and masterful photography in a single shot.

Powder lines with a view 

Rob Kingwill

A solitary snowboarder appears at the edge of this snap, barely visible in the jaw-dropping view of the snow-covered expanse that lays before them. Marvellous, untouched white powder stretches out as far as the eye can see. A snowboarder’s paradise indeed. 

A peaceful paddle 

GoPro

This GoPro enthusiast took man’s best friend along for the ride on these calm lake waters. A beautiful scene lays before them and pooch seems to be contemplating the wonders of his life as he stares off into the distance.

A calm view from a mountaintop tent

Marc_Ruffini

There’s something thoroughly humbling about this view captured by Marc Ruffini. He sits at the edge of his tent, sipping from a flask and basking in the glory of the magnificent mountains sprawling out before him. We’d imagine there was a fair amount of effort that went into scaling this mountain to get to this viewpoint in the first place, so hopefully, the reward was worth it. 

Don’t look down

Victoria Nader

With a slightly less relaxing mountainous view, Victoria Nader shows us what a rather steep descent might look like. We’re pleased to be viewing this one from a safe distance but have to admire the courage of the photographer and the wonder of the view. 

Catching some air

Markus Fischer/Elias Elhardt

An impressive feat of snowboarding grace makes for yet another marvellous snow photo. The composition of this one looks like it could have been taken by a bear sitting in his cave snapping the action as it went by. 

Communing with nature

Mike Maholias

GoPro photographer Mike Maholias warms his hands by an open fire as he communes with nature and relaxes by the peaceful waters of this still lake. This photo certainly makes us marvel at how many wonderful elements of nature can be squeezed into a single snap. 

Atop the emerald ocean

Sam Dowdney

Forward-facing shots from the bow of a boat seem to be a firm favourite amongst GoPro users. This one is pretty special too. The sparkling emerald waters glisten below the green-topped hillsides. Relaxing, calm and tranquil, this photo certainly inspires a warm happy feeling at how serene nature can be. 

Mother Nature shows her might

Nick Troutman

From the tranquil to the downright scary. Nick Troutman’s photo shows us just how impressive and fearsome Mother Nature can be. Here a mixture of foam, steam and smoke billow from the water’s surface as molten lava pours from the cliff face and falls down into the waters below. 

The supported ascent

Niqolas Ruud

Putting their GoPro to spectacular use, Niqolas Ruud shows us what it’s like to climb a steep mountain face, supporting teammates and fellow climbers along the way. The wonder of our planet stretches out before them as these three lone climbers make their way onwards and upwards. How small and insignificant they appear before the mighty landscape below them. 

Whitewater wonder

Rush Sturges

Sun breaking through the tree line, whitewater rapids beckoning in the distance, a GoPro strapped to a helmet. We have no doubt there were quite a few awesome photos taken on this kayaking ride, but this one is something special. The quiet before the storm? Or simply a fantastic view of nature at its best. 

Swimming with the fishes

Jeb Corliss

GoPro cameras are special because of how flexible they are. The underwater housing once again works its magic as Jeb Corliss captures a shoal of fish passing by with a few sharks thrown in for good measure. A range of creatures caught on camera peacefully and harmoniously floating around in the warm waters.  What could be a better fit for a competition about the environment we live in than this? 

A new underwater friend

Alex Robert

Last but not least on our list is a submission from last year by Alex Robert. This fantastic photograph captures the cheerful face of a magnificent marine mammal swimming in the waters of Laguna Beach, California. 

Some pretty spectacular images, we’re sure you’ll agree and we’ll expect to see more GoPro photos like this in future. 

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): What’s the difference?

Apple’s new MacBook Pro arrived in October 2016, with a Touch Bar in place of function keys and a hefty price tag. It was then updated in June 2017 with new specs, as was the MacBook Air, while the company also announced new iMacs.

Before you spend all your hard-earned cash on the latest MacBook Pro though, take a moment to compare it to its predecessor. Yes, the old model doesn’t come with that fancy OLED touch strip, better graphics or streamlined connections, but if you’re on a budget, every little bit counts, and not upgrading to the latest tech may be in your favour.

Here is how the MacBook Pro (2017) compares to the MacBook Pro (2015), based on the specs. You can also read how all the six MacBook options compare to each other in our separate feature.

• Which MacBook is right for you?

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): Design

• Touch Bar and Touch ID sensor on newer MacBook Pros
• MacBook Pro (2017) thinner and lighter compared to predecessors
• New models more portable

The MacBook Pro (2017) features an aluminium enclosure, LED-backlit display, and it comes in 13-inch and 15-inch model sizes, as well as silver or space grey colour options. The 13-inch model comes in two versions, one with the Touch Bar and integrated Touch ID sensor, an OLED strip that sits at the top of the keyboard where the standard function keys normally go, the other without. The 15-inch model is only available with the Touch Bar and Touch ID.

The MacBook Pro (2017) 13-inch model weighs 1.37kg and measures 14.9 x 304.1 x 212.4mm, while the MacBook Pro (2017) 15-inch model weighs 1.83kg and measures 15.5 x 349.3 x 240.7mm.

The MacBook Pro (2015) 13-inch model weighs 1.58kg and measures 18 x 314 x 219mm, though it is no longer available through Apple, while the MacBook Pro (2015) 15-inch model, which is still available, weighs 2.04kg and measures 18 x 358.9 x 247.1mm.

In other words, if you’re looking for an Apple laptop with a slightly new design that’s relatively thin and light and new functionality, you should consider the MacBook Pro (2017) over the MacBook Pro (2015).

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): Display

• Both models offer 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes
• Both models offer same resolution
• MacBook Pro (2017) is brighter with better contrast and colour

The MacBook Pro (2017) offers a choice between a 13.3-inch LED-backlit IPS display with IPS with 2560 x 1600-pixel resolution (227ppi) and a 15.4-inch LED-backlit IPS display with 2880 x 1800-pixel resolution (220ppi).

The MacBook Pro (2015) offers the same display sizes and resolutions, though as we said, the 13-inch model is no longer available through Apple. You may be able to pick one up through the Apple Certified Refurbished programme or elsewhere though.

There is no difference in display size or resolution between the Apple MacBook Pro (2017) model and Apple MacBook Pro (2015) model, but the 2017 model is 67 per cent brighter, offering a higher contrast ratio, more vibrancy and more power efficient.

• Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs Apple MacBook Air: What’s the difference?

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): Hardware and power

• All models and sizes claim to offer up to 10 hours battery life
• 15-inch MacBook Pro (2017) offers better graphics
• All have various configuration options

The MacBook Pro (2017) 13-inch base model with Touch Bar offers a 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM and Intel Iris Graphics 650. Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro (2017) 15-inch base model with Touch Bar offers a 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM and Radeon Pro 555 graphics with 2GB of GDD55 memory. Both claim to deliver up to 10 hours battery life.

The MacBook Pro (2015) 13-inch base model offers a 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 128GB SSD, 8GB and Intel Iris Graphics 6100, though as we mentioned, it can no longer be bought directly from Apple. The larger and still available MacBook Pro (2015) 15-inch base model offers a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Pro Graphics. Both claim up to 10 hours battery life like the new models.

The MacBook Pro (2017) offers a better processor over its predecessor and much-improved graphics capabilities. The 15-inch model with Touch Bar specifically switched up a lot when it added Radeon Pro 555 graphics with 2GB of memory in the base model, whereas last year’s model with no Touch Bar had Intel Iris Pro Graphics. Therefore, if you want a machine that’s a bit faster and better equipped at handling intense graphics, consider the top-end, 15-inch MacBook Pro (2017).

One more thing: all models offer a number of configuration options for CPU, RAM and storage and the prices you pay will vary accordingly. It’s no surprise that the 2017 models will outperform the 2015 models.

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): Connections and ports

• The MacBook Pro (2017) only has Thunderbolt 3 ports
• Adapters will be required for MacBook Pro (2017)
• MacBook Pro (2015) has more flexibility when it comes to ports

Both MacBook Pro (2017) models features four Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C design) ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. These ports can handle charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and USB 3.1. The MacBook Pro (2015) on the other hand, comes with MagSafe 2 for power, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, two USB 3 ports, a HDMI port, and an SD card slot.

You can charge and transfer data using the same port (all four of them) on the MacBook Pro (2017), but you won’t be able to do things like plug in an SD card without an adapter, which of course costs more. If that matters considerably to you and you don’t like USB Type-C, the MacBook Pro (2015) might be the better option for you.

To use the MacBook Pro 2017 with your existing devices, you’re going to need a lot of new cables or adapters.

Apple MacBook Pro (2017) vs MacBook Pro (2015): Price

• The MacBook Pro (2017) with Touch Bar is more expensive
• Cheaper to buy 13-inch 2017 MacBook Pro than 15-inch 2015 model 

The MacBook Pro (2017) 13-inch model with Touch Bar starts at £1,749, while the MacBook Pro (2017) 15-inch model with Touch Bar starts at £2,349.

As the MacBook Pro (2015) 13-inch model is no longer available through Apple, your only option through the company itself is the MacBook Pro (2015) 15-inch model, which starts £1,899.

It’s therefore cheaper to go for the newer MacBook Pro (2017), if you don’t mind dropping down a couple of inches in screen size. If not, you’re looking at around £500 more for the latest model. That does get you better graphics and better performance though, as well as the Touch Bar and Touch ID features.

Google Pixel 2 could come with an 18:9 display

Google has yet to make any sort of official announcement about the existence of the second-generation Pixel smartphone, but a recent GFXBench listing for a device called the Pixel XL2 suggests one is on the horizon.

• Google Pixel 2: What do we want to see?

The listing also alludes to the fact the Pixel 2, or XL2 as it’s called, could take design cues from the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8 and feature an 18:9, or 2:1, display.

The listing mentions a 5.6-inch screen with a 2560 x 1312 resolution, making it smaller than both the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, which have 5.7- and 5.8-inch screens respectively, but still give it a 18:9 aspect ratio.

Given the screen sizes and resolutions, the Pixel XL2 would have a ppi of 514, while the LG and Samsung devices are much higher at 564 and 570 respectively.

We do have to take this leak with some caution, especially if it is meant to represent the Pixel XL2, rather than the regular size Pixel 2, as 5.6-inches for an ‘XL’ phone isn’t big at all. It’s also not clear from the listing if Google plans on ditching the home button, in a similar move to LG and Samsung.

The rest of the specs in the listing look more like the real deal though. It mentions a 2.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, which is likely to be the Snapdragon 835.

• Google Pixel 2 due in 2017, will once again be a premium handset
• Google Pixel and Pixel XL tips and tricks: Getting to grips with with Google’s phone

Elsewhere there should be 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 12-megapixel rear camera that can record 4K video. The front-facing camera is noted as being 7-megapixels and can also record 4K video. 

What to expect at this year’s E3

Dazzling press conferences. Heart-stopping trailers. A convention center packed with video games large and small. E3 is a magical week for anyone who likes to spend their free time pushing buttons on plastic gamepads. It’s like the Super Bowl, the Oscars and a presidential election rolled into one. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo stand out as the hardware heavyweights, while EA, Ubisoft and Bethesda lead the third-party-publisher tussle. Throw in Square Enix, Activision and the occasional Capcom appearance, and you have the makings of a truly special show. Did I mention the army of indie developers that show up too?

As always, the Engadget crew will be in Los Angeles covering all of the major press conferences as they unfold. We’ll then turn our collective attention to the show itself, hunting down the latest games and talking to smart developers who are shaping the industry. If you’re curious, here’s everything you can expect to see and read about on the site.

Microsoft

So. Many. Xbox. Controllers. Image: Daniel Boczarski via Getty Images

Microsoft has the most to prove at E3 this year. The company has a new console code-named ‘Project Scorpio’, which promises to be the most powerful system you can stick in your living room media center (barring a gaming PC, of course). It was teased at last year’s show with some vague developer endorsements, followed by a technical breakdown courtesy of Digital Foundry and Eurogamer. The specs are impressive and put it on a higher footing than Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro. But the question remains: Will there be enough games that take advantage of the extra horsepower?

Forza Motorsport 7 seems like a safe bet, as well as a smattering of third-party titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of War and the long-rumored Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Microsoft needs to do more, however. Beyond Crackdown 3 and Sea of Thieves, there’s little to pull people away from the PlayStation 4. State of Decay 2? A few special indie games like Cuphead, Tacoma and Below? While welcome, these releases are unlikely to change people’s perception of the Xbox platform. Microsoft needs better exclusives, the kind that were promised with ReCore (which turned out to be a pretty average action-adventure game) and Scalebound (which was cancelled in January).

Sony

PlayStation stole the show last year with a presentation that was crammed with trailers and little else. On-stage chatter was kept to a minimum, leaving more time for announcements like The Last of Us: Part II and God of War. Sony’s mission this year is to keep that momentum going. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is out soon, so another peek at Chloe and Nadine’s adventure wouldn’t go amiss. Days Gone, God of War and of course, fungus survivors Ellie and Joel are likely to pop up too — I have a feeling Spider-Man will swing by as well.

Nadine and Chloe take center stage in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

Sony

With Scorpio on the horizon, there’s a chance Sony will counter-punch with some well-timed price drops. A gold, “limited edition” 1TB PS4 was announced for $249 earlier this week — $50 cheaper than the normal model. If Sony wants to crush the Xbox One S, it would make sense to offer this on a more permanent basis. Likewise, if Sony can undercut Project Scorpio, its slightly less powerful PlayStation 4 Pro will remain competitive this Christmas. Otherwise, we’re expecting Sony to focus on PlayStation VR — a new bundle would be nice, as well as a bunch of extra games to lose ourselves in over the summer.

Oh, and don’t expect anything about the Vita. If it’s mentioned more than once, I’ll eat my press pass.

Nintendo

The portly plumber has a few new moves in Super Mario Odyssey. Image: Nintendo

The Switch is out and for now, Nintendo is riding high. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a smash-hit and the first reviews for ARMS, its colorful spring-loaded boxing game, have been favorable. The system needs more games, however, and fast. Splatoon 2 is fast-approaching, but otherwise, the Switch’s lineup looks a little threadbare. Nintendo has already confirmed it will focus on Super Mario Odyssey, its big new platformer for the holidays. It’s an important game, for sure, but we’re curious to see what else it brings to the convention center.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2, perhaps. The Japanese role-playing game is set to come out this year, and while that might be a little ambitious, there’s no reason why developer Monolith Soft shouldn’t have a new trailer ready. We’re also likely to see Mario & Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the controversial and heavily-leaked mashup title from Ubisoft. The Mario crew will be present, albeit wielding cannon arms, in addition to some Rabbids who have been dressed to resemble the Mushroom Kingdom’s mightiest heroes. It’s all very weird, with a rumored focus on turn-based combat and tongue-in-cheek humor. We’ll see.

Will Nintendo have a few surprises? We sure hope so. There’s a big question mark over Retro Studios, the developer behind the Metroid Prime trilogy, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Is this the year that we finally see a new, full-blown Metroid game? (Federation Force on the 3DS doesn’t count.) We can but hope. Otherwise, I’ll settle for a new F-Zero. Come on Nintendo, make it happen. Even Sony has released another Wipeout game.

EA

Star Wars Battlefront II will be at the heart of EA’s press conference this year. The previous entry, which served as a reboot for the first-person shooter series, was a huge success, even with its limited maps and modes. The biggest omission was a traditional campaign, which Battlefront II will be rectifying later this year. You’ll be playing as a member of the Empire’s Inferno Squad directly after the events of Return of the Jedi. It’s an interesting premise that EA needs to prove is more than a convenient whistle-stop tour of the game’s multiplayer maps.

EA

Need for Speed is back, baby. The classic racing franchise took a year off in 2016 but will return this fall as Payback. The latest version turns the game into a Fast and Furious movie, with over-the-top stunts set pieces. Cop chases will still be present, but they’ll probably play second-fiddle to the more bombastic missions and races. EA will, of course, be showing a slew of sports games too, including FIFA 18, Madden 18 and NBA Live 18. It’s been awhile since EA stepped out onto the court — hopefully, it can give NBA 2K18 some competition.

All of these are dead-certs for EA this year. If you’re looking for surprises, consider the other Star Wars projects that are currently in the works. Titanfall developer Respawn Entertainment is working on an action-adventure game, as is Visceral Games, led by Uncharted writer Amy Hennig. If either game is shown at E3, it will be a huge moment for science fiction fans and help to bury some of the disappointment surrounding Mass Effect: Andromeda. Speaking of, maybe we’ll get a tease for Bioware’s Destiny-style, massively multiplayer “Dylan” game too?

Ubisoft

Far Cry 5 takes the fight to Montana. Image: Ubisoft

If you have any interest in Assassin’s Creed, you’re probably seen some of the “Origins” leaks by now. The game looks to be set in ancient Egypt, with pyramids, tombs and a reworked combat system centered around bows, knives and shields. Far Cry 5 will also be shown at E3 this year, with a tense conflict set in modern-day Montana. It’s an unusual setting for the franchise and one that has riled a certain section of the internet, due to its portrayal of religion and the American West. Ubisoft will have its work cut out winning them over.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole, the long-delayed superhero parody, should also get one last push before its release this October. Expect lots of crude humor and a fairly deep turn-based combat system — its predecessor, The Stick of Truth, impressed us with its complexity in 2014. As we mentioned previously, Mario & Rabbids has leaked heavily ahead of the show, and there’s a good chance it will be shown off during Ubisoft’s press conference too. Otherwise, we’re racking our brains to think what the publisher might have in its back pocket. The Crew 2? Maybe a new Splinter Cell?

I’m still holding out for Beyond Good and Evil 2…

Bethesda

It’s about time for a new Wolfenstein game. Credit: Bethesda

Bethesda is new to the E3 press conference game but has quickly established itself as a not-to-be missed publisher. Next week should be no exception, although we know little about the company’s line-up. The heavily-rumored Wolfenstein: The New Colossus will probably get a reveal, showing us what William Blazkowicz has been doing since The New Order. A sequel to Shinji Mikami’s The Evil Within is also on the cards, providing players with another dose of creepy wet-your-pants horror. With the recent success of Capcom’s Resident Evil VII — a franchise that Mikami created — we suspect another game from the man will do very well indeed.

Otherwise, your guess is as good as ours. Fallout 4 VR? It seems likely. Quake Champions? Maybe. A tease of the next big Elder Scrolls game? We have our fingers crossed, but probably not. Some DLC for Dishonored 2? Okay, now we’re clutching at straws. If you have some ideas about what Bethesda might show, do us a favor and drop them in the comments section below.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

SiriusXM invests in Pandora to get into on-demand music streaming

Pandora made the leap to on-demand streaming back in March after building on the pieces Rdio left behind. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the company was looking for a buyer. It didn’t find one, but it was able to attract a big investor: SiriusXM. The satellite radio company announced today it’s investing $480 million in Pandora, adding a portion of the à la carte music streaming service to its catalog of audio options. The deal gives SiriusXM a 19 percent stake in the company.

This isn’t the first time the two were rumored to be in cahoots. CNBC reported in December that Pandora was in talks with SiriusXM about a buyout after rejecting an offer last summer. It took some time, but the two sides finally reached an agreement — albeit not the all out acquisition that had been previously rumored to be on the table.

Of course, Pandora is no stranger to radio either. The company is best known for its artist-based internet stations that spin a mix of songs to suit your audio preferences. Pandora has prided itself on how good those recommendations are and it’s using that accumulated knowledge to serve up suggestions in the Premium on-demand service, too.

For opening up its wallet, SiriusXM gains a lot more than a popular music service. When Pandora Premium launched, the company said it had 80 million users per month. That’s a sizeable audience that SiriusXM will get access to on top of its satellite radio customer base. And unlike some other streaming services, Pandora is actually making a profit.

Reports also indicated that Pandora might sell off its Ticketfly business as part of the acquisition plans. Eventbrite announced this morning that it would nab Pandora’s ticketing option for $200 million. Liberty Media owns over half of SiriusXM, but it also owns a smaller piece of Live Nation Entertainment. That’s the company that formed after two of the biggest event ticketing companies merged in 2010 — Live Nation and Ticketmaster. It’s easy to see why Ticketfly could’ve been a sticking point to getting a deal done.

Even though it found a big investor, Pandora isn’t clear of all the hurdles. If PayPal gets its way, the company may have to change that fancy new logo it debuted last fall.

Source: SiriusXM/Pandora (PRNewswire), Eventbrite (Marketwired)

Airbnb rentals are now legal in Japan

After some legal tussling between home owners, building owners, Japanese government and, well, Airbnb the country has decided to legalise sharing economy home rentals. The law was passed earlier today, allowing home-owners to let properties to guests for up to 180 days a year. Owners do, however, have to register with local authorities in the country. These authorities will also be able to add their own restrictions and rules to those that choose to rent their property.

It took Airbnb, which says Japan was one of its top ten countries, about a year to gain legal footing in the country. Short-term Apartment rentals to visitors in Japan was notably picked up in the media, with TV specials centered around (often foreign) guests that didn’t obey residential rules, that were noisy, excessively messy or otherwise a nuisance to neighbors. The new 180-day limit is actually pretty long: in London, the rules state a limit of 90 days. Airbnb also has other problems that still need addressing.

The challenge for local authorities will be to strike a balance between opening up a new price band for visitors (and their tourist yen) and ensuring everyone who isn’t renting is okay with their temporary neighbors. According to the company, there are already 52,000 Airbnb listings in Japan.

Via: Bloomberg, TechCrunch

Of course the ‘Stranger Things’ soundtrack is coming to cassette

Just when you thought Netflix’s sci-fi horror series Stranger Things couldn’t get any more retro, a new version of the original soundtrack is due to be released on cassette. To celebrate its one year anniversary, Lakeshore Records announced that both volumes of the Season One soundtrack will be available on red cassettes, which come inside cases that look like mini VHS tapes.

Pitchfork reports that the cassettes will go on sale from July 14th, but only in Urban Outfitters stores. They feature the iconic Stranger Things intro and additional synth-heavy sounds from Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of S U R V I V E, who received two GRAMMY nominations for the score. A deluxe vinyl box set — complete with character cards — will go on sale at the same time, despite being announced in March.

Before you write it off as a marketing stunt (although it blatantly is), there is method to Lakeshore’s madness: cassette sales in the US actually grew last year, with 129,000 copies being sold. It pales in comparison to the 13.1 million vinyl albums bought over the same period, but it a points to a definite demand for retro releases.

The soundtrack will serve to fill a gap until Stranger Things Season Two debuts on Halloween. The show will pick up in 1984 with all of the old gang, roughly a year after Will’s journey to the Upside Down and back.

Via: CNET

Source: Pitchfork

Indie games invade the art world at the Megashow festival

The Indie Megabooth, a bastion of independent games at conventions around the world, is growing. Again. But this time around, things are different: The Megabooth is expanding beyond games.

The Megashow is the first standalone festival to be spun off from the Megabooth proper: It’s a roaming, daylong fair designed to highlight local creatives and bring communities together around video games, art and music. The Megashow will make its debut at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on July 15th.

“Our initial goal was to expose new audiences to indie games and show them that there was this whole other side to game creation,” says Megabooth leader Kelly Wallick. “Over time, we’ve moved so far past that to the point that we have fans and press who specifically come to the Megabooth area to discover content and reconnect with teams and games they love, which is amazing. But on the flip side of this, it has become more challenging to reach new audiences.”

That’s where the Megashow comes in. Wallick hopes it will introduce the wider artistic world to video games, specifically showcasing the creativity and innovation of the independent industry. The Megashow is looking for Atlanta-based musicians, traditional artists, installation work, rappers, crafters, local geek shops and, of course, video game developers, just to name a few potential vendors. Adult Swim Games is already onboard and will showcase a handful of its latest titles, plus some projects that haven’t been released yet.

The people behind Indie Megabooth know how to put on a successful, genre-shifting show. It popped into existence in 2012, at a time when Fez was the most popular game among fans of independent titles. Microsoft’s indie-publishing program, ID@Xbox, was still a year away, and Sony was too focused on selling the Vita to worry about non-partnered programmers.

It was an exciting time to be independent. Indie Game: The Movie debuted in May that year, and technology was advancing in a way that enabled more people than ever to create the games of their dreams. The mainstream gaming industry was just about to realize the potential within indie development, and the community was bursting with fresh ideas.

The Indie Megabooth wrapped up all of this tension and explosive growth in a humble space at PAX East, highlighting a collection of burgeoning independent developers and their latest games. The team chose well: This first installment included Owlchemy Labs (which made Job Simulator and was bought by Google), DrinkBox Studios (which was building the acclaimed platformer Guacamelee) and Ska Studios (which went on to make the 2D, Dark Souls-style RPG Salt & Sanctuary).

Oh, and the booth featured Hello Games, the studio behind the controversial indie superhit No Man’s Sky. Back then, Hello was focused on the mobile racing series Joe Danger.

The Indie Megabooth came along at the right time with the right people, and it had the necessary infrastructure to introduce amazing independent games to new audiences. Today the Megabooth is a staple at major gaming conventions across the globe, and it’s grown into a massive space featuring dozens of incredible indie games.

As the independent-gaming industry has grown, so has the Megabooth.

“My hope is that we have helped shape this growth in the past and will continue to push forward with positive intent as we expand into growing a community of fans — in the same way we grew our community of developers,” Wallick says. “We try to be a slow and steady force of change, to affect as much as possible in our own way, even though the rest of the industry feels like it’s moving faster than we can all keep up with.”

There is plenty of overlap when it comes to video games, art and music, allowing the Megabooth to leverage its existing infrastructure and turn the first Megashow into something truly special. This isn’t about leaving games behind. It’s about finding new fans.

“You can end up in a bubble of sorts, where the types of games indie creators make aren’t really reaching all the types of players that would really enjoy their work,” Wallick says.

She hopes the Megashow will pop this bubble.

“Pulling all these fragmented audiences and creators together feels really reminiscent to what the Megabooth was founded on,” she says. “Plus, it feels a bit like bringing the arcade and physical experience back into gaming — to create a shared, local community experience. Which I personally really miss.”

Watch ‘The Talk Show’ Live From WWDC 2017 With Craig Federighi and Phil Schiller

Daring Fireball has shared the full video of “The Talk Show Live” from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference this week.

Before a live audience at The California Theatre in San Jose, Apple senior executives Craig Federighi and Phil Schiller joined host John Gruber to reflect on the company’s announcements at its WWDC opening keynote on Monday, including several new Macs, macOS High Sierra, iOS 11, and HomePod.

The video, produced by Amy Jane Gruber and Paul Kafasis, is available on Vimeo and embedded below.

MacRumors has put together a WWDC 2017 roundup with the latest news and announcements from the conference.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2017
Tags: Phil Schiller, Craig Federighi
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Component Production Begins for 2017 iPhones as New Renders Combine iOS 11 With iPhone 8

As we get closer to the launch of the so-called “iPhone 8” in the fall, a new report out of Apple’s supply chain today confirms that the company has begun mass producing components for all three of 2017’s iPhone models. The report corroborates what has been rumored for well over a year: Apple will launch two iterative iPhone updates sized at 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, along with a 5.8-inch model that includes the first ever OLED screen on an iPhone.

According to DigiTimes’ sources, the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones will include a reinforced glass chassis and an aluminum metal frame, while the 5.8-inch iPhone will feature the same reinforced glass chassis and an unspecified “metal frame.” Recent rumors have largely agreed that the iPhone 8’s frame will be made of stainless steel, similar to Apple Watch.

Samsung Display is one of the manufacturers currently in component production on Apple’s next-generation iPhones, and is said to be ready to supply up to 80 million AMOLED panels for the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 in 2017, falling between the 70 million and 92 million previously rumored.

Samsung Display is set to supply up to 80 million AMOLED panels for the new 5.8-inch iPhone in 2017, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Samsung Display’s remaining capacity, which is expected to output another 80 million AMOLED panels in 2017, will be used to supply orders from Samsung Electronics and its other smartphone clients, but the panel maker is expected to keep some flexibility in case Apple places additional orders, the sources noted.

The manufacturer will be capable of outputting another 80 million AMOLED panels this year, but that half will be focused on orders from Samsung Electronics and other, non-Apple smartphone clients. Sources did say that if Apple were to increase its orders, Samsung Display “is expected to keep some flexibility” in its supply chain to cut down orders elsewhere and compensate its output for the Cupertino company.

In a separate article posted online this week, speculative renders shared by iDropNews have taken a look at what the iPhone 8 might look like running iOS 11. The renders have kept the overall same look as ones posted online in May, but now offer glimpses into what new iOS 11 features — like peer-to-peer Apple Pay, the redesigned Control Center, new Lock Screen, Apple Music, and more — could look like on iPhone 8.

The new renders continue the rumors that iPhone 8 will include Touch ID embedded underneath the iPhone’s display, and not on the back of the device or in the lock button. Facial/iris scanning and wireless charging are also potential inclusions on the new iPhone 8, and a vertical dual-lens camera has been suggested by multiple sources over the past few months, making it one of the more likely features of the OLED iPhone.

The sensor bar at the top of the device houses the iPhone’s front-facing cameras, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and earpiece, and remains one of more uncertain aspects of the iPhone 8’s design, according to iDropNews.

It’s still unknown which iOS design choice Apple will implement regarding the unusual top half of the iPhone X’s display, which is covered partially by the bar. Apple could go one of two ways with this design – 1.) iOS could employ the entire display, ignoring the bar, (as shown in the photos provided) to display full-size pictures, backgrounds, screensavers, apps, and more. This would be the most striking and unique option, however that could be a tricky prospect for app developers who would be required to navigate app or game interfaces around the center bar.

2.) The second, and more conservative, option would to black-out or white-out the portions of the display that are separated by the center bar, and use contrasting color icons for battery, signal strength, Wi-Fi strength, time etc., leaving a traditional rectangular display beneath.

Exactly when users will be able to get their hands on the iPhone 8 is still up in the air. In DigiTimes’ report today, analyst Luke Lin said that the 5.8-inch iPhone will see shipments between 50-55 million units in the second half of 2017. The catch is that mass production on the iPhone itself — not just its components, like today’s display and chassis report — “is unlikely to start until after mid-September.” In the third quarter specifically, production volumes are expected to only be around 3 million iPhone 8 units.

This news largely falls in line with reports from earlier this year that said the iPhone 8 will be hard to obtain in 2017, with Ming-Chi Kuo stating in April that the OLED iPhone would face “severe supply shortages” for some time, and believing production ramp up for the device won’t begin until as late as October-November.

This would put iPhone production two months behind previous ramp-ups in August-September — a belief also supported by Bloomberg, analysts from Barclays, and Brian White. Still, not all analysts believe there will be delays, as Morgan Stanley said in May that its Greater China Technology Research colleagues have “not yet seen delays in the supply chain.” Morgan Stanley believes iPhone production will start on time for most components, leading to a typical launch window for the new iPhone.

The other two iPhone models are predicted to be more easy to obtain, with combined shipments of the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 and iPhone 7s expected to reach 25-30 million units in the second half of the year.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iOS 11
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