Chevy Bolt EV goes on sale nationally a month early

Chevrolet has been slowly rolling out the Bolt EV to more states ever since the car’s introduction last December. Originally, the Bolt was supposed to go on sale in all 50 states as of September 2017, but General Motors has moved up its plans. GM representative Fred Ligouri confirmed recent reports that the Bolt EV will be released nationally in August. He also mentioned that cars will be delivered to an additional five states at the end of this month for a total of 21 states since the December launch.

For a car that has only been available in less than half of the United States, the Bolt EV has been selling pretty well, at least compared with Chevy’s other plug-in – the Volt hybrid. From January 2017 to May 2017, the Bolt EV has sold 5,950 units. The Volt, which is available everywhere, has sold 9,187 units in the same time frame. Expanding the Bolt EV’s availability will likely improve the car’s sales substantially.

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Via: Automotive News

Apple now offers Business Chat to help you talk to your customers

Why it matters to you

Businesses have long been leveraging social media to communicate with customers, and now, Apple is getting in on the game, too.

Sending iMessages isn’t just for friends. It’s for business owners and their customers, too. That’s the case now more than ever thanks to Apple’s new Business Chat, described as a “powerful new way for businesses to connect with customers directly in Messages.” If you’re peddling goods or services and need to stay in touch with your users, Business Chat can be crucial in helping you answer questions, resolve issues, and complete transactions on any one of your Apple devices (yes, including the Apple Watch).

While plenty of businesses currently use social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter to communicate with their customers, Apple is hoping to become the messenger of choice. The new feature will come as part of iOS 11, and with it, customers will be able to open an iMessage window from Safari, Maps, Spotlight, or Siri, and strike up a conversation with you, the business owner. At the most basic level, Business Chat will allow for conversations to take place, but Apple also offers support for other relevant interactions, like appointment scheduling. After all, Apple points out that a number of customer service platforms have already integrated with Business Chat, including LivePerson, Salesforce, Nuance, and Genesys. Customers could even make purchases with Apple Pay via the new feature.

The interface of Business Chat looks familiar, of course. At least, on Apple’s Develop Preview page, it appears that chat bubbles are shades of grey, instead of the customary blue and grey. Otherwise, however, the chat bubble format is the same as it would be for any other chat exchange through iMessage.

Already, you can sign up and apply for early access to Business Chat, though developers can go ahead and preview the feature. If you’re up for it, you can start getting connected, integrating with your contact center, and otherwise preparing for Business Chat’s public release.

If you’re a GameStop customer, you may want to check your credit card bill

Why it matters to you

If you’ve shopped at GameStop between August of 2016 and February of 2017, you may be at risk for credit card fraud as a result of a GameStop breach.

GameStop customers, beware. The retailer has confirmed that your credit card information may have been stolen. This weekend, the game purveyor released a statement noting that it “recently received notification from a third party that it believed payment card data from cards used on the GameStop.com website was being offered for sale on a website.” The company assured customers, however, that it hired a “leading security firm” the same day in order to investigate the claims. “GameStop has and will continue to work non-stop to address this report and take appropriate measures to eradicate any issue that may be identified,” the retailer said.

GameStop sent affected customers an email earlier this week, admitting that hackers could have made away with names, addresses, and credit card information from just about anyone who “placed or attempted to place orders on our website from August 10, 2016 to February 9, 2017.”

The email continued, “We are notifying you because you placed or attempted to place an order on http://www.GameStop.com during this time period using a payment card ending in [number].”

The security blog KrebsOnSecurity actually noted that a breach had taken place as early as April of this year, and reported that information as granular as credit card CVVs (the three-digit security codes on your cards) was compromised. This was particularly concerning because online retailers aren’t supposed to store CVV data, but if hackers have malicious software, they can actually copy the data before it gets encrypted and processed.

 “We regret any concern this situation may cause for our customers,” GameStop concluded. “GameStop would like to remind its customers that it is always advisable to monitor payment card account statements for unauthorized charges. If you identify such a charge, report it immediately to the bank that issued the card because payment card network rules generally state that cardholders are not responsible for unauthorized charges that are timely reported.”

States vow to block any vehicle emissions standards rollback

California isn’t the only state that will openly defy the White House if it rolls back any of the vehicle emission standards set by the Obama administration. The attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington District of Columbia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont have sent a letter to EPA chief Scott Pruitt, warning him that they will sue the the agency if it abolishes those rules.

Under Obama’s deal with automakers back in 2011, the companies have to work on doubling their current average fleet-wide fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025. The parties involved agreed to complete mid-term evaluations by April 2018 to determine if they needed to make adjustments. Since the evaluations were ahead of schedule under former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the administration was able to decide not to make any adjustments before President Obama stepped down.

Earlier this year, however, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and VW asked President Trump to re-evaluate the efficiency guidelines. The new president agreed and ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review the fuel efficiency standards a month after that meeting. Pruitt is firmly on Trump’s camp, calling the standards “costly for automakers and the American people.” He also told Governor Edmund Brown of California that the rules’ mid-term evaluation was flawed and rushed, something the coalition of states refuted in their letter.

Since the Clean Air Act gives the state of California a waiver to set its own emission standards, it finalized the rules Obama’s administration set. The attorneys general who wrote the letter warned Pruitt that they’ll follow in California’s footsteps and will “vigorously pursue appropriate legal remedies” to block any changes to those regulations:

“In his March 15 letter, Governor Brown said California was prepared to take all necessary steps to preserve the current standards. In our view, EPA’s midterm evaluation was lawful and fully supported by the record. And in light of the critical public health and environmental benefits the standards will deliver, if EPA acts to weaken or delay the current standards for model years 2022-25, like California, we intend to vigorously pursue appropriate legal remedies to block such action.”

Source: Reuters, Consumerist

The Switch version of ‘FIFA 18’ doesn’t have a story mode

If you were wondering how Switch versions of conventional sports games would compare to their PS4 and Xbox One counterparts, you just got your answer. EA has detailed the Switch edition of FIFA 18, and it’s evident that you’re getting a full-fledged console title… with a notable exception. You’ll get modes like FIFA Ultimate Team, a career mode and women’s soccer, but there’s no mention of a story mode — sorry, you can’t follow Alex Hunter’s story while you’re on the bus. EA hasn’t explained the absence at this point, but we wouldn’t rule out storage concerns when all those cutscenes are bound to take up tons of space.

As it stands, this still promises to be miles above other portable footie games in terms of quality. We have yet to get hands-on time (we’ll hopefully try it soon), but it’s already apparent that EA isn’t cutting the core gameplay mechanics: you’re still getting detailed graphics and physics, and the title will play at 1080p when docked at home. Also, the Switch-specific local multiplayer is a definite advantage: even if your friends don’t have a Switch, you can still square off in tabletop mode (you’ll need two Switches for local seasons mode, mind you).

The Switch version won’t be delayed, either, as it’s arriving on September 29th like the other FIFA 18 releases. And that’s promising all by itself. While it remains to be seen how other games and developers treat the Switch, this suggests that you’ll get a truly deep (if not always feature-matched) sports experience without having to wait longer than your TV-bound friends.

Source: EA Press Room

The biggest competition to Samsung and Apple Pay? Walmart Pay, of all things

Why it matters to you

Shopping at Walmart just got even easier now that Walmart Pay added instant credit cards.

It’s a dinosaur in the world of retail, but Walmart is showing that its age and its size certainly isn’t keeping it from keeping up with the times. The retail giant rolled out its Walmart Pay feature almost a year ago, and as per a new study published by Infoscout and PYMNTS.com, the mobile wallet is actually the third most frequently used option behind Samsung Pay and Apple Pay. This is particularly surprising, given that Walmart Pay can only be used at, you guessed it, Walmart.

But nevertheless, the feature (which can be accessed in the Walmart app) is now available to all of the company’s more than 4,600 stores, and Walmart is doing everything it can to ensure that it keeps attracting more and more users.

Its latest feature comes in the form of Walmart Credit Cards. If you’re a frequent shopper at Walmart and apply for the credit card, you no longer need to wait for the physical piece of plastic to arrive to start taking advantage of your new payment method. Instead, Walmart says, “from the moment they are approved, customers can use their new Walmart Credit Card at all Walmart store locations and on Walmart.com.” It’s the latest in the company’s quest to ensure that customers can spend money (and Walmart can make money) more easily (and more securely) than ever before.

And of course, shopping by way of the Walmart app gives customers access to perks and deals that they might otherwise miss.

“We’re always looking to the future and how we can better serve our customers,” the firm said in a press release. “By bringing together all of the conveniences of Walmart — great stores, convenient pickup, easy checkout and a top-notch app – we know that we’re delivering one seamless shopping experience for customers in a way no other retailer can.”

EA reveals ‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ online multiplayer gameplay, and it’s epic

Why it matters to you

EA provided a tasty chunk of what’s to come in Star Wars Battlefront II through a 30-minute assault on Naboo’s Theed Royal Palace.

During Electronic Arts’ E3 2017 press conference, the company waited until the last 30 minutes to reveal online multiplayer gameplay in the upcoming game Star Wars Battlefront II. The scene: 20 players serving for the Separatists and 20 for the Galactic Republic, battling for control over the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo. The battle spanned three stages, with the Separatists first plowing through the Clone Army on the open streets of Theed, then fighting to gain access to the palace in the second stage. The showdown proved successful for the Separatists as they cleared out the Clone Army.

The battle, called Assault on Theed, was epic to say the least, with players both on the ground and in the air. On the ground, we saw the AAT-1 Hover Tank (Separatists), the Multi-Troop Transport (Separatists), and the AT-RT used by the Republic. In the air, players took control of the V-Wing (Republic), the N-1 Starfighter (Separatists), and the Vulture Droid (Separatists).

In the first stage, the Separatists had to push back the Galactic Republic on the streets of Theed so that the MTT and AAT-1 could reach the palace front doors. In one scene, we saw the hover tank enter siege mode, which locks the vehicle down into one position, but boosts its firepower so it can do more damage.

The first stage was complicated given the air support. While players were fighting each other using various weapons on the ground, they were having to avoid attacks from the sky, which would wipe out an entire group with one hit. Meanwhile, these assaulting vehicles in the air were both on offensive and defensive mode to make sure the Separatists do or do not (there is not try) reach the palace, depending on the team. All the while, these 40 players were earning Battle Points as they play

Battle Points can be used to purchase weapons, vehicles, special characters, heroes, and so on. This system replaces the pickup tokens provided in the original Battlefront game. For example, once the battle moved into the second stage, players began to use the B2 Super Battle Droid, Darth Maul, Boba Fett, Rey, and even our favorite scoundrel himself, Han Solo.

For the record, Darth Maul is just what you would expect: a deadly two-bladed force with a spin attack, choke hold, and a “furious throw” ability. Ray has a special mind trick that confuses opponents, and Boba Fett has a few new abilities up his sleeve (gloves) as well.

Note that the B2 Super Battle Droid’s specialty is to consistently attack thanks to a unique cooling system. It has a high durability, but only a medium range of fire. Another special class is the “death from above” Clone Jump Trooper, which has the much-loved jump jets from the original Battlefront, and joins Boba Fett on the backpack-wearing roster.

As for player classes, we first saw the Assault class, which is considered the best entry for gamers new to the Star Wars Battlefront arena. They’re the frontline flanker attacker, providing the typical run-and-gun action. However, the Assault Class’ signature ability is a shotgun for going in and clearing out a batch of opponents rather quickly.

We also saw the AT-RT in action, which is extremely quick on foot (like a chicken, honestly) and has an Ion charge ability for doing heavy damage. This could become troublesome if the Clone Army manages to pull out three of these walking vehicles to quickly exterminate the Separatists like fleeing bugs in the light. The drawback is that they’re not enclosed, so expect a quick death if you’re knocked off in a firefight.

Also shown during gameplay was the Officer, which serves as a support class. The Officer can buff up the player’s stats as well as his/her teammates, such as extra health for pushing through the oppression faster. The Officer can also use a turret that’s placed on the ground to mow down the enemy in waves. Meanwhile, the Specialist class is capable of deploying various traps (trip mine, etc) in addition to wielding a sniper-type weapon.

Along with the Assualt on Theed campaign demo, Electronic Arts said that Star Wars: The Last Jedi content will be free for Battlefront II owners after the movie hits theaters. The company said Finn and Captain Phasma will be playable characters in free downloadable content for Battlefront II this holiday season.

What’s important to note here is that Electronic Arts set out to address all the complaints stemming from the 2015 Star Wars Battlefront. That meant bringing in some of the best Battlefront players to help shape the sequels’ outcome. This move led to revamped gameplay, revamped weapons, and ripping out the token-based system for Battle Points. If the Assault on Theed demonstration is any sign of things to come, Star Wars Battlefront II will be an epic experience for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC on November 17.

Until then, everything you need to know about the game can be found here.

Google needs to build a Chrome tablet

Developers needs the right tool to get their products ready for the future of computing, and Google is the company that needs to build it.

Many people reading this will have paid at least a passing interest to Apple’s WWDC 2017 announcements. Among all the hyperbole and salesmanship in the keynote address there was one thing that became clear: the iPad is closer than ever to the only “computer” most of us need. Apple is serious about making a tablet that’s productive but simple to use, and this is going to evolve into the standard for regular consumers. At least Apple thinks so, and it’s probably right.

That means Google needs to get on board and help define the future of this new-but-not-really-new thing. The good news is that it has a helluva head start with Chrome OS.

The software on a Chromebook is a good starting point for a next generation operating system.

A lot of people will disagree, but chances are a decent Chromebook is the only computer you need. Sure, content creators will need something with extra horsepower and the software tools to work with, but for the computer you buy for goofing around at home or doing your school work a Chromebook will probably work out fine. Hell, I spend most of my work week in front of one because I have everything I need and it’s set up the way I like it. Chromebooks are great for the now but need some adjustment to be ready for the future.

Chrome already works on a tablet. Mostly. We know this because so many Chromebooks can be flipped around and turned into one. I still think my little Chromebook Flip is the best Android tablet you can buy because it has every app you need from Google Play and a real web browser. But it’s thick and clunky to use as a tablet and some of the Chrome apps don’t work as well with a touch interface as they need to. And let’s be honest, the display isn’t on par with a good tablet from Samsung or even the Pixel C. But the core experiences — a touch interface that works and an on-display keyboard — are in place and usable.

It’s easy to take what we have now in the Chromebook Flip (or any other convertible Chromebook) and turn it into something better. We know it’s easy because Microsoft and Apple are doing it and a device that attaches to a keyboard isn’t a new idea. The Transformer series of tablets from ASUS is a great example of that. Hardware isn’t an issue, though money probably is.

The company who can build a good Chrome tablet needs to be able to lose money on it. That means Google.

A good tablet isn’t cheap to build, and that makes it expensive when it gets put on a shelf. The Galaxy Tab S3 or the latest iPad isn’t priced the way it is just because. And, to be honest, people who will be willing to adopt a “new way to computer” aren’t going to be satisfied with anything less. A good great 10-inch display with a high resolution, a decent processor and enough memory to hold a bunch of apps and web apps, and at least 128GBs worth of storage, is the minimum for a device that’s supposed to make us all give up our real laptops. And make sure it has a decent keyboard and a sturdy way to attach it.

Samsung’s not going to build this. It shouldn’t because Android on a tablet isn’t good enough to justify the price, but Chrome might be. At least when the Android runtimes are sorted and Android 8.0 becomes a thing and applications work better than they do now. The software needs to be sorted before it makes any sense to build an expensive Chrome tablet. That means Google needs to build it so there is real hardware to use when sorting out the new software.

It turns out that developers weren’t willing to spend the time and money to make tablet apps for Android.

Google can afford to be that loss leader for a “new” hardware category. It’s done it numerous times and tried to do it for Android tablets. While it worked for Android TV or Android Wear (mostly) it failed for the tablet because of the software. Developers don’t have to do anything for their app to work on a tablet, but there’s a difference between just working and working well. Making a great tablet app takes extra time and money that few companies are willing to invest. It’s hard enough to make money with an app for a phone, let alone spending more to build an interface for a much smaller tablet market. It seems like Google expected developers to just do it, and it was wrong.

That’s why Google now has to try and fix it. On a 10-inch screen, multiple apps doing their thing at the same time is pretty standard. Android 7 introduced new ways for developers to make things better in this situation, and Android 8 is going to help us use apps that weren’t updated. Things won’t be perfect, but they will be better and help the people making new apps see what they can do to cover both the small screen on a phone and the big screen on a tablet. Since Android apps run native in Chrome, everything a developer does also will apply here.

I still think we’ll eventually see a single OS from Google that scales with the display and type of user input. You can call that Andromeda or Fuchsia or whatever you like. But to get there, Google needs to get started now so developers can be ready. With a Chrome tablet, we all can get started and whatever the future of Google’s operating systems is, it will be better because developers are ready for it, too.

Best accessories for Porn in VR [NSFW]

Adult entertainment in VR gets even better with accessories.

VR has brought porn into a whole new realm. Now, you can watch your adult entertainment, in a venue where you are completely surrounded by it. So, it’s only natural that accessories can bring it up a notch even further. You may not have even considered the fact that there are accessories built specifically to better enjoy porn in VR.

That’s where we come in, we’ve got the details on some of the best accessories currently available to you.

Read more at VRHeads.com

Best EA trailers from E3 2017: Anthem, FIFA 18, A Way Out, Star Wars Battlefront 2 and more

EA does things a little differently for the world’s largest gaming show: it doesn’t present at the official E3 grounds. Instead it hosts an off-site live event to showcase its latest games and get the them in the hands of the gamers.

For 2017, with a new location at the Hollywood Palladium, EA didn’t just unveil its usual sports franchise titles, it teased an upcoming game from BioWare, and showed off Star Wars: Battlefront 2 in depth.

• E3 2017: Rumours, press conferences and what to expect from the games show

Here are the best game trailers from the EA showcase at E3 2017.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2

First revealed in April 2017, the EA showcase gave more info about the Star Wars sequel, including some details about a single player story mode that would “help bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Fore Awakens”. Interesting. 

The core focus at the showcase was the multiplayer game, which we played in a 20 vs 20 team match. There are special characters – think Darth Maul, Han Solo and others – and abilities cards this time around, which can be “bought” by earning in-game combat points.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 will be released 17 November 2017 for PS4, Xbox One and Windows.

FIFA 18

The footy franchise has been built from the ground up this year, with Christiano Ronaldo providing his skills for motion-capture perfection.

There’s also an updated story mode, following the ongoing career of Alex Hunter, in The Journey: Hunter Returns.

• FIFA 18: Release date, what’s new and everything you need to know

Anthem

Introduced as BioWare’s new IP, the crowd had a big reaction for this one.

EA wasn’t saying much more, however, as the game was due to be shown in more detail the following day at Microsoft’s pre-E3 press conference.

A Way Out

It’s not all sport and gun fights, with EA Originals and Hazelight showing off this cooperative-only title, set around escaping from a prison. Yep, it can only be played split screen by two players at once – whether online or in the same room.

The dynamic introduced by the split-screen and, therefore, watching the interaction between both players’ co-operative game, is very clever indeed. Looks like one of the most original games from the show already.

Madden NFL 18

Football fans – well, American football fans – are treated to a FIFA-style story for Madden NFL 18. It’s not just about the play, it’s about emotional involvement.

Interestingly, the company made a particular point about how the game will look particularly special on Microsoft’s Project Scorpio – a console we expect to learn much more about at Xbox’s press conference.

• Xbox Project Scorpio: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Other titles

In addition, EA showed off NBA Live 18, Need For Speed: Payback, the DLC content for Battlefield 1. Looks like a bumper array of content for 2017 and beyond.