Steam no longer accepts bitcoin for game purchases

Have you been stockpiling bitcoin to go on a Steam shopping spree? You’ll need to change your plans. Valve has stopped accepting bitcoin due to a combination of high transaction costs (up from 20 cents in the beginning to $20) and “volatility” in the cryptocurrency’s value. While the virtual cash has never been especially stable, its worth has taken a roller coaster ride over the past few months. Its value has been skyrocketing lately (one bitcoin is worth $13,300 US as of this writing), but it has also crashed hard — Valve cited a 25 percent drop “over a period of days” as an example. That fluctuation creates a huge problem if you make a purchase and it doesn’t complete before the usual bitcoin price guarantee elapses, as you may have to pay an outstanding balance and a second transaction fee.

Valve isn’t completely ruling out a return to bitcoin in the future, although it’s clear that won’t happen unless bitcoin settles down. There’s no mention of opening the door to Ethereum and other digital currencies, either. And no matter what, this underscores a very real problem for cryptocurrency no matter the format. Retailers need predictable costs and payments to run their businesses, and they may be loathe to support technology like bitcoin if it leads to unpaid debts and unhappy customers.

Via: Polygon

Source: Steam Blog

Netflix locks down ‘Stranger Things’ producer for future series

Both seasons of Stranger Things have been colossal hits for Netflix. So it’s no surprise that the company just locked down the show’s producer Shawn Levy, which sources tell Variety is a four-year, eight-figure agreement. He will create TV projects exclusively for the streaming entertainment company.

In addition to executive producing Netflix’s retro horror show, Levy has directed and produced the Night at the Museum films and produced last year’s lauded sci-fi hit Arrival. His acquisition follows Netflix’s deal to bring acclaimed showrunner Shonda Rhimes to the streaming network for similarly undisclosed terms.

Though Netflix secured long-running successes like Orange is the New Black for the near future, it’s hungry for more hits. Especially since the network has had to jettison stars Kevin Spacey and Danny Masterson following sexual harassment and rape allegations, respectively.

Via: Variety

Source: Netflix

Apple Releases iTunes 12.7.2 With Minor App and Performance Improvements

Alongside of the release of macOS High Sierra 10.13.2, Apple today released an updated version of iTunes for Mac machines.

iTunes 12.7.2 is a minor update, and according to Apple’s release notes, it introduces minor app and performance improvements.

Today’s iTunes update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free using the Software Update function.

iTunes 12.7.2 follows iTunes 12.7.1, an October update that also focused on minor improvements. iTunes 12.7, released in September, was the last major update to iTunes, eliminating the built-in App Store to focus solely on music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Tag: iTunes
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Best emerging tech product of 2017

Every year, Digital Trends editors hand pick the most exciting products we’ve had the privilege of handling this year. Make sure to check out award winners in categories from cars to computers, plus the overall best product of 2017! Read on for the emerging tech products that floored us this year. 

Winner

Formlabs Fuse 1

Truth be told, you’re probably never going to use this 3D printer. Hell, there’s a good chance you’ll probably never even lay eyes on it. Though it may not show up under your Christmas tree this year, the Fuse 1 has some pretty massive implications for the future of 3D printing, which is why we’re giving it our product of the year award for Emerging Technology.

So what exactly is this thing? Simply put, it’s a 3D printer that uses a technology called selective laser sintering (SLS) to create parts. SLS printing works very differently than the filament- and resin-based printers you’ve probably seen before. To create an object, an SLS machine flashes a laser over a bed of superfine powder, fusing the particles together to form a thin, solidified layer. The machine then sweeps more powder over the top of that finished layer, and repeats the process until the object is complete.

SLS printing has a number of big advantages — but arguably the most significant is that objects printed with the Fuse 1 are actually durable and detailed enough to be sold as end-use parts. That’s what makes this technology so special. Whereas FDM and SLA printers are good for prototyping, SLS printers can make objects that are nearly as good as parts created through injection molding, milling, and other traditional manufacturing processes. In other words, they can make high-quality stuff that’s ready to use (and even be sold) straight out of the printer.

SLS printers can make high-quality stuff that’s ready to use (and even be sold) straight out of the printer.

But believe it or not, SLS tech isn’t what makes the Fuse 1 so revolutionary. The most groundbreaking part is that it only costs $10,000. Now, that might sound like a lot of money, but before Fuse 1 came along, even the cheapest SLS printers generally cost upward of $100,000 — meaning they were generally out of reach for hobbyists and small-scale manufacturing operations. The Fuse 1 changes that, and finally brings this technology down to a more approachable level.

This is a big deal because it means that instead of outsourcing manufacturing to a giant factory in Shenzhen, a startup could ostensibly just buy a fleet of Fuse 1 printers and use them to produce all prototypes and end-use parts in-house. So while you probably won’t see one in your workshop anytime soon, there’s a chance your next Kickstarter purchase might be produced with one.

Read more on the Formlabs Fuse 1

See it

Runners Up

If there’s one thing DJI is good at, it’s stuffing a ton of features and functionality into increasingly small drones — and nothing showcases this talent more than the Spark. Despite the fact that the drone’s hull is roughly the size of a Twinkie, DJI somehow managed to cram in many of the same goodies you’d find under the hood of the Spark’s bigger, bulkier, and more expensive brothers. In addition to its ultra-portable form factor, this pint-sized powerhouse boasts gesture recognition, obstacle avoidance, and a plethora of intelligent flying modes. Good luck finding that combo anywhere else.

Read our full DJI Spark review

See it

DJI Spark

At the beginning of this year, Future Motion released a new-and-improved version of its iconic OneWheel, which was originally released in 2015 — and while it’s definitely more of an evolution than a revolution, we’re honoring it as one of the best products of the year for one simple reason: fun. Of all the gadgets and gizmos we tested this year, nothing brought us as much pure, unadulterated joy as riding the OneWheel Plus around PDX. Electric skateboards be damned — this is the best bit of rideable tech on the planet.

Read our hands-on review of the OneWheel Plus

See it

OneWheel Plus

Editors’ Recommendations

• How do 3D printers work? Here’s a super simple breakdown
• The best 3D printers you can buy (or build) in 2017
• Best smart home product of 2017
• Best car of 2017
• The 20 best Nintendo Switch games you can buy today

Best computing product of 2017

Every year, Digital Trends editors hand pick the most exciting products we’ve had the privilege of handling this year. Make sure to check out award winners in categories from cars to outdoors, plus the overall best product of 2017! Read on for the computing products that floored us this year. 

Winner

Microsoft Surface Pro

When Microsoft introduced the original Surface in 2012, it founded a new class of device, one that was equally usable as both a PC and a tablet. The first model didn’t deliver on that promise. Neither did the, second, third, or even fourth. Each came iteration came closer – but it’s the new Surface Pro that finally fulfills it.

There are many reasons why the Surface Pro is superior to its predecessors, but portability tops the list. Past 2-in-1 devices, including Microsoft’s competitors, have compromised significantly on battery life. Not the Surface Pro. It lasted over 10 hours in our video loop test, and over five hours in our most demanding battery run-down. These figures easily defeat most alternatives, and they’re long enough to make the new Surface Pro an all-day companion.

Yet that gain wasn’t made at the expense of performance, or function. In fact, the Surface Pro’s fastest configuration actually smokes many other laptops, and the latest iteration on the Surface keyboard is the best yet.

The Surface Pro fulfills the 2-in-1’s promise and easily outpaces its competition.

Windows 10 deserves credit, too. The latest updates have expanded support for the Surface Pen while also improving reliability. It’s now possible to use the Pen with numerous built-in apps and expect a responsive, reliable experience. Tablet use is not just possible. It’s enjoyable.

Price remains our only complaint. The Surface Pro isn’t affordable, and it doesn’t come with the Surface Pen or a keyboard. Add those, and you’ll pay at least $1,050 for an entry-level model with just 4GB of RAM. Still, we think it’s worth digging into your wallet. The Surface Pro fulfills the 2-in-1’s promise and easily outpaces its competition.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro review

See it

Runners up

The Matebook X isn’t a 2-in-1. It doesn’t have a pen. It doesn’t fold or detach or spin. It’s a thin, light, small laptop, much like Apple’s MacBook. Except it’s faster than the MacBook, has a better keyboard than the MacBook, and sells for several hundred less than the MacBook.

Huawei’s laptop doesn’t start a trend. That’s OK. It rightly wears it simplicity as a badge of honor. It’s strange, really – one of the best classic laptops you can buy in 2017 comes from a company known mostly for smartphones.

Read our full Huawei Matebook X review

See it

Huawei Matebook X

Monitors have improved in leaps over the last few years. 4K, ultrawide, HDR, and more can now be had on the best screens. Yet Samsung’s CF791 pushes the envelope even in this rapidly evolving field, combining Quantum Dot technology with an ultrawide panel to achieve spectacular results.

The CF791 dominated all of our tests, from contrast ratio to color gamut, besting competitors with ease. And while its $750 retail price may seem high, it actually undercuts competitors, which can exceed $1,000. If you’re looking for a top-tier monitor right now, stop right here. Samsung’s CF791 is for you.

Read our full Samsung CF791 review

See it

Samsung CF791

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple MacBook 12-inch review
• Black Friday wasn’t the end, check out the best Cyber Week tech deals
• The Best Laptops for College You Can Buy
• Microsoft takes on Apple’s prestige: Surface Book 2 15-inch vs. MacBook Pro 15
• The best laptop brands

Best phone of 2017

Every year, Digital Trends editors hand pick the most exciting products we’ve had the privilege of handling this year. Make sure to check out award winners in categories from cars to computers, plus the overall best product of 2017! Read on for the mobile products that floored us this year. 

Winner

Apple iPhone X

It has been a spectacular year for smartphones, from the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 to the Google Pixel 2 and OnePlus 5T. Modern phones look great, perform brilliantly, and have cameras that take stunning photos — but only one rolls off every tongue: The iPhone X.

Most phones released this year are iterative improvements over 2016, but the iPhone X is a whole new beast, and the changes introduced set the bar for the next decade of iPhones. Gone are the chunky edges flanking the screen, and the iconic home button. In their place, say hello to a gorgeous bezel-less OLED screen, and Face ID, a futuristic and far more secure way to unlock your phone. It’s not as convenient as Touch ID yet, but it is improving day by day.

Face ID makes interactions with your phone seamless, from unlocking the screen to accessing secure apps and making payments. The iPhone X is also sandwiched by glass, which allows support for wireless charging. While both of these technologies have been on other phones before, expect them to be a highlighted feature in smartphones next year.

But the iPhone X isn’t just the best because it’s so different from its predecessors — it maintains the crown in key areas. The A11 Bionic processor is a powerhouse that easily bests the Android competition. ARKit, Apple’s augmented reality platform, uses this processor to bring the world around you to life, and there’s a respectable growing list of apps that are actually useful.

When Apple implements a feature, expect it to become standard.

iOS 11 introduced a drastic and great redesign of the App Store, a faster way to send money through Messages with Apple Pay Cash, and more. It’s all better on the iPhone X, because of the new way to fluidly interact with the operating system with gestures. The animations are slick and satisfying.

Throw in immediate iOS version and security updates for quite a few years, a great camera with fun Portrait Lighting features on both the front and rear lenses, as well as excellent customer support, and the iPhone X a phone that’s nearly unmatched.

The iPhone X is revolutionary. When Apple implements a feature, expect it to become standard not just for the smartphone industry, but for many others: Bezel-less screens, wireless charging, and facial unlocking are the future, and so is the iPhone X.

Read our full iPhone X review

See it

Runners up

You may have missed Huawei’s latest offering, the Mate 10 Pro. It’s one of the most beautiful smartphones of 2017, and it hits all the right notes. It’s fast, runs Android 8.0 Oreo, and you can connect it to a TV to launch a productive desktop mode.

Whether you want to shoot in portrait mode, or take photos with the monochrome camera, this phone is versatile. It has a camera we keep wanting to use, and it’s the only phone in its class with a two-day battery life.

In a year where every flagship phone had some flawed features, the Mate 10 Pro excels in every way that counts.

Read our full Huawei Mate 10 Pro review

See it

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Almost every major smartphone in 2017 featured a dual-lens camera, but Google managed to have the best with just one on the Pixel 2. It just shows that dual-lens cameras shouldn’t mean an automatic improvement, and it also reveals Google’s software prowess.

Google’s Pixel 2 can match and sometimes beat out the iPhone X’s Portrait Mode — with the selfie or the rear camera — but its dynamic range is where it excels.

An excellent camera is paired with a brilliantly simple software experience, and a guarantee to fast Android version and security updates make this a smartphone that’s tough to beat.

Read our full Pixel 2 review

See it

Google Pixel 2

Editors’ Recommendations

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Apple iPhone X: Battle of the dual cameras
• The iPhone X may be expensive, but you’ll regret cheaping out with an iPhone 8
• You’ve spent a grand, now don’t skimp on the best iPhone X screen protectors
• Razer Phone vs. iPhone X: Android newcomer takes on Apple’s finest
• Our 7 favorite iPhone X case deals to keep your new device safe

Honor 7X vs. Moto G5 Plus: Which cheap phone gets the most bang for your buck?

The Honor 7X is rushing into a market filled with strong competition. With a premium design we’ve rarely seen at this price point, and a powerful Kirin processor, Huawei’s newest entry into the Honor range looks set to take on the best. But Motorola’s phones have long ruled the budget roost, and though superseded by a successor, the G5 Plus is still a great choice for your budget phone. How does the Honor 7X fare against the Moto G5 Plus? We pitted them against each other to find out.

Specs

Honor 7X

Moto G5 Plus

Size
156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6mm (6.18 x 2.96 x 0.30 inches)
150.2 x 74 x 7.7mm (5.91 x 2.91 x 0.30-inches)
Weight
165 grams (5.82 ounces)
155 grams (5.47 ounces)
Screen
5.93-inch IPS LCD display
5.2-inch IPS LCD display
Resolution
2160 x 1080 pixels (407 pixels-per-inch)
1920 x 1080 pixel (424 pixels-per-inch)
OS
EMUI 5.1 (over Android 7.0 Nougat)
Android 8.0 Oreo
Storage
32GB, 64GB
32GB, 64GB
MicroSD card slot
Yes, up to 256GB
Yes, up to 256GB
NFC support
No
No
Processor
HiSilicon Kirin 659
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM
3GB, 4GB
2GB, 4GB
Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Camera
Dual sensor 16MP & 2MP rear, 8MP front
12MP rear, 5MP front
Video
1080p @ 30 fps
2,160p @ 30 fps
Bluetooth
Yes, Bluetooth 4.1
Yes, Bluetooth 4.2
Audio
Headphone jack
Headphone jack
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Water resistant
No
No
Battery
3,340mAh
3,000mAh
Charging port
Micro USB
Micro USB
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Colors
Black, Blue, Gold, Red
Lunar Grey, Fine Gold
Availability
HiHonor

Amazon, Motorola

Price
$200
$230
DT review
4 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5 stars

The Moto G5 Plus is equipped with a Snapdragon 625 processor that makes day-to-day performance smooth and silky, one of the key reasons we recommended the phone in our Moto G5 Plus review. But it’s going to be hard for the aging Snapdragon 625 in the G5 Plus to compete against the Kirin 659 in the Honor 7X. When we tested the 7X’s predecessor, the Honor 6X, back in March 2017, we noted that the Kirin 655 in that phone was roughly equivalent to the Snapdragon 650. The tests in our Honor 7X review revealed that the Honor phone is the slightly stronger performer. But it’s closer than we’d have thought.

Moving on to memory, and we see some more close calls. Both handsets have options for the amount of RAM, and both top out at 4GB for the top model (though it’s the international model of the Honor 7X offering 4GB). The Honor 7X does have a slight edge here, offering a 3GB model as the baseline, rather than the 2GB on the Moto G5 Plus, but since the impact RAM has on performance is debatable, we’d prefer not to let this dictate too much of the final score. It’s all square in the storage stakes as well, with both phones offering models with 32GB and 64GB (on the international Honor 7X) of internal storage. If that’s not enough, you can expand either of these handsets by up to 256GB with a MicroSD card.

Connectivity-wise, there’s still not a lot to separate the two. As is annoyingly common for budget devices, both lack NFC, so there’s no Android Pay. The G5 Plus has a small edge in Bluetooth, having Bluetooth 4.2 instead of the 4.1 on the 7X. But that’s such a minor difference as to not really matter.

Both of these are great, snappily performing devices, with tons of available storage and the sort of power that should last for a while. But when the competition is this tight, the smallest advantage matters. The Honor 7X wins with a slightly more powerful processor.

Winner: Honor 7X

Design and display

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

As much as we hate to admit it, the Moto G5 Plus looks dated, and more than a little bland. It’s very similar to the previous generation, the Moto G4 Plus, and while it’s not the ugliest phone around, the chunky feel and large bezels really detract from an otherwise good phone. Thankfully, there’s a pretty good 5.2-inch LCD display that we enjoyed using. The look is otherwise minimal, with few manufacturer logos, and little to distract from the phone’s style. The back cover is removable, which is a plus for those who miss being able to replace their own battery, though Motorola does warn that replacing it yourself will void your warranty.

Sadly, the few things the Moto G5 Plus’s look does have going for it are heavily overshadowed by the style of the Honor 7X. Huawei has thrown itself wholesale into the edge-to-edge trend that’s defined much of 2017, and its budget range is no different. The Honor 7X is the first Honor phone to come with Huawei’s Fullview display, and it’s a stunner. At almost 6 inches, it stretches nearly the full length of the phone, with slight bezels and a small forehead and chin at the top and bottom of the front housing the phone’s sensors. The metal unibody covering the phone adds more grip than you’d expect and adds a premium feel to a budget phone.

In terms of durability, there’s not much to differentiate the two. Both phones are clad in reasonably resistant metal, and their screens are covered in Gorilla Glass. That said, the Honor 7X’s screen is significantly larger, so there’s a larger chance of that suffering damage, but we still reckon you should cover up with a protective case. The Honor 7X does win some points back with impact-resistant corners that act as a buffer against damage — though Huawei were quick to label that as “life-proof”, rather than “shockproof”.

The Honor 7X’s design is just too strong for the Moto G5 Plus to win here. The gorgeous Honor 7X made us forget we were looking at a budget phone, and that wins it this round.

Winner: Honor 7X

Camera

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Peer at the back of either of these phones and you’ll find some decent budget snappers. The Moto G5 Plus is packing a single 12-megapixel lens with an f/1.7 aperture. Impressively for a budget phone, it comes with phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus, and dual-LED dual tone flash. It’s a pretty solid camera, and it produces some good images. It does suffer more than a little in low light though, and although it’s pretty much at the same level as other phones in the same price range, it doesn’t necessarily exceed the standard.

The Honor 7X definitely exceeds the standard set for budget smartphones. Like its predecessor, the 7X is packing two lenses: A 16-megapixel monster, and a 2-megapixel lens that helps to create the DSLR “bokeh” effect that many premium smartphones are aping through dual lenses or software trickery. Working together, these two lenses create some amazing pictures for a budget handset — it impressed us so much we advocated buying the phone for the camera alone.

It’s night and day here — and only the Honor 7X has the photography chops to take decent night shots. The Honor 7X takes it.

Winner: Honor 7X

Battery life and charging

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Battery life is becoming increasingly important, and while neither handset has the incredible two-day battery life of the Moto E4 Plus, both the Honor 7X and the Moto G5 Plus sport hefty batteries with enough juice to keep you going.

The Moto G5 Plus comes with a 3,000mAh battery that saw through the day with 30 percent left after fairly heavy usage. Lighter use saw it reduce to 50 percent, and most users should see a day-and-a-half from the phone. When you finally end up plugging it in, you shouldn’t be hanging around for too long either — Motorola claims its TurboPower charging tech should see the battery charge up to 80 percent in 35 minutes. An impressive boast.

The Honor 7X comes with a heftier 3,340mAh battery that, like the Moto G5 Plus, should last the day from a single charge. However, it didn’t exhibit as strong a performance as the G5 Plus, and heavy usage saw the battery drop to around 20 percent by late evening — not as good as the G5 Plus, but close. The larger screen is likely the culprit behind this mismatch in battery size and performance, but despite that, it’s still a good showing.

Despite the slightly smaller battery, we have to hand this round to the Moto G5 Plus. It does wonders with a lower capacity, and the TurboPower fast charging is just too much for the Honor 7X’s own fast charging.

Winner: Moto G5 Plus

Software

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Android phones are a varied bunch. For sure, they share a common ancestry, but look at these two phones running side by side and you might be hard pressed to tell. The Moto G5 Plus is running close to stock Android, as Motorola prefer to roll. There are a few small quality-of-life additions, such as Moto Display, which opens the lockscreen and shows notifications when it detects the phone has been picked up, and Moto actions, which allows you to use simple screen gestures instead of the navigation buttons — much like the iPhone X. The real star here is the fact the Moto G5 Plus is running the latest version of Android — Android 8.0 Oreo. Android adoption rate is traditionally slow, so it’s always a good sign when a manufacturer can get updates out fast.

In contrast, the Honor 7X is currently running an older version of Android — Android 7.0 Nougat, with Huawei’s Emotion UI (EMUI) over the top. It’s a disappointment that the 7X doesn’t come with the latest version of EMUI 8.0, and though EMUI 5.1 is feature-rich (including features like split-screen mode, and better performance across the board), it’s always a shame when a new phone is launched without the latest upgrades. Doubly so when it’s as good as the Honor 7X.

Despite the additional oomph offered by the implementation of EMUI, we can’t help but be disappointed by the lack of Android 8.0 Oreo on the Honor 7X. The Moto G5 Plus takes this one with a clean and smooth implementation of near-stock Android.

Winner: Moto G5 Plus

Price and availability

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

The Moto G5 Plus is currently available, with prices starting at $230 for 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, while getting 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage will cost you an extra $70. You’ll be able to pick this phone up from Amazon, but note your phone will come with lockscreen ads, and it’s a Prime member-exclusive — but that seems silly when it’s available to buy from Motorola for the same price, and ad-free.

The Honor 7X will be available from the HiHonor store starting December 15, priced at $200. Getting the version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage will require you to buy it from an international seller, and get it imported. The lack of a CDMA band means that the Honor 7X will not work on Sprint and Verizon — so if you’re locked into those carriers this is one to avoid. Still, you can’t argue with that value for money.

Winner: Honor 7X

Overall winner: Honor 7X

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The Moto G5 Plus puts up a titanic struggle, but the strong camera, the smooth performance, and those good looks just can’t be toppled by Honor’s monolith. The Moto G5 Plus has a lot of great things going for it: It’s a good performer, it’s cheap, and it works on every carrier. But the dated design and standard camera mean that the Honor 7X is simply the better overall phone.

Sure, if you’re a Sprint or Verizon customer then you’ll be wanting to avoid it, but otherwise the great camera, the gorgeous design, and the smooth performance mean that the Honor 7X is an absolute steal for $200.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Honor 7X vs. Moto E4 Plus: Big-screen budget battle
• Honor 7X review
• Nokia 6 vs. Moto G5 Plus
• Lenovo Moto G5S Plus review
• Huawei Nova 2S: News and rumors

‘PUBG’ release in China may be behind the surge of Windows 7 use on Steam

Despite all the work Microsoft is dumping into Windows 10 to make it the best gaming platform on the planet and seamlessly link it with the Xbox One consoles, PC gamers appear to prefer the 64-bit version of Windows 7 once again. That revelation stems from the November edition of the Steam Hardware and Software Survey, which shows 69.89 percent of Steam’s customers using Windows 7 (64-bit) and 23.65 percent using Windows 10 (64-bit). Windows 8.1 (64-bit) comes in a distant third with 2.47 percent.

The data collected by Steam isn’t conducted through a voting system. The software takes a snapshot of a PC’s current specifications and then asks permission to send that data back to Valve Software. The data is optional and anonymous, and allows the company to determine “technology investments.” The resulting collection of numbers are published each month and contain statistics about processor use, memory amount, primary display resolution, and more.

At first glance, PC gamers appear to be reverting back to Windows 7 instead of using the newer, gaming-focused Windows 10. In September, the survey’s numbers saw Windows 10 usage drop five percent while Windows 7 number increased six percent. By October, fewer than 30 percent of Steam’s customers were using Windows 10 versus the number of Windows 7 users shooting past 60 percent. The gap grew even wider in November.

April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Win 7
30.86
32.26
32.05
32.91
35.01
41.01
63.60
69.89
Win 10
50.08
49.05
50.33
49.59
50.03
45.37
28.23
23.65

So what’s going on? As the chart shows, around 50 percent of Steam’s customers relied on Windows 10 until September, and the platform’s usage is obviously spiraling downhill. That puts the start of the decline around the time Fall Creators Update began to roll out to the mainstream audience. But speculation instead points to the Chinese market where gamers may simply be relying on Windows 7 instead of Windows 10.

Based on November’s survey, 64.35 percent of Steam’s customers use Simplified Chinese while English falls into second place at 17.02 percent. But in September when Windows 7 use rose over 40 percent, the top language was English at 34.64 percent followed by Simplified Chinese at 29.54 percent.

April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Chinese
13.97
12.09
16.95
16.64
21.63
29.54
56.37
64.35
English
41.80
43.95
40.13
40.53
38.56
34.64
21.24
17.02

As the chart shows, Steam’s Simplified Chinese customer base more than quadrupled in size over the last six months, most of which likely still use Windows 7. Although piracy is a global problem, blaming the sudden rise of Windows 7 machines on Steam can’t be solely attributed to the widespread problem. Many gamers residing in China may simply not have access to Windows 10, thus they’re stuck with the older platform. Windows 7 may also be the gaming platform of choice in a country with more than 1.4 billion residents.

That said, the big operating system and language spikes were between September and October, possibly packing eager gamers wanting to get their hands on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds once its cleaned up and localized by Chinese gaming company Tencent Holdings. Previously, China’s content regulator warned in October that the game could be banned for its violent content, thus sparking interest in the game as seen in the Steam surveys. Tencent will make the game more suitable for Chinese gamers.

Editors’ Recommendations

• ‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ may be behind recent Windows 7 surge on Steam
• Looking for PCs, consoles, and more on Black Friday? Dell’s deals have begun
• Here’s your chance to get in on the ‘Call of Duty: WWII’ open multiplayer beta
• iMac Pro: Everything you need to know about Apple’s professional desktop
• What is Linux? It’s a free operating system you may already use without knowing

Social media algorithm pops filter bubbles by presenting ideas you disagree with

Using algorithms to analyze our metadata can personalize everything from our searches on Google to the products we’re recommended on Amazon to the news stories Facebook thinks we’ll be interested in. But personalization isn’t always good. The so-called “filter bubble” effect can mean we get stuck in online echo chambers, never presented with news that conflicts with our own world view. That’s a problem a new algorithm aims to help with.

Developed as a collaboration between researchers from Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland and University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy, the algorithm is designed to make sure that social media users are presented with views that don’t necessarily conform with their own, as a way of helping to “solve” the increasingly polarized nature of discussions around controversial topics.

The algorithm works by first representing people and their connections on a network, in which two users are connected if they are either friends or if they have interacted with one another in the past — such as liking one another’s posts or sharing similar information. The algorithm then works out who belongs on which side of a debate, and clusters the different perspectives to find two opposing viewpoints. Next, it then uses a so-called “greedy algorithm” that analyzes a list of possible users and singles out influential ones who are both more balanced in their views, as well as sufficiently connected to a broad number of people. These “tastemaker” users are the ones who could be most valuable in sharing different takes on controversial subjects.

“In this research, we develop a proof of concept to show that polarization in the society could be reduced by using an approach to balance information exposure,” Garimella Kiran, a final-year doctoral student at Aalto University who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. “We also show that our algorithm works efficiently, and can select good influential users for large social networks. In terms of demonstrating it in practice, we are limited by the availability and access to data. Companies like Facebook or Twitter only provide limited access to information about who reads and shares what information. So the real practical implementation could be done only by these organizations.”

It’s definitely a neat idea, not least because it would maintain the social aspect of social media — rather than, for example, simply flashing up random Republican ads on a committed Democrat’s Facebook page. While it still raises issues (who would approach these users to get them to share the information? And would they be willing to share news stories on command?), it’s a unique approach to solving a growing problem in society.

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Don’t call it a gimbal — Freefly Movi is a ‘cinema robot’ for iPhone shooting

Freefly is known for creating the gimbals used in Hollywood, from Captain America to Game of Thrones, but the company’s latest gimbal isn’t for big Hollywood directors — it’s a $299 device for smartphone creatives. Oh, and the newest Freefly Movi not exactly a gimbal, but a “cinema robot” packed with both stabilization and preset camera effects.

Launched on Wednesday, December 6, the Freefly Movi for iPhone brings the company’s cinematic effects in earlier models like the $2,700 model for DSLRs into a compact form for shooting smartphone shots. The mobile version uses a backward L-shaped handle with a set of controls at the top that allows users to pan or tilt the camera around with the press of a button. On the bottom end of that L, a smartphone cradle that can adapt to different cases and add-on lenses sits on top of the electronics that control the stabilization and camera movements. The design also means you can just set the entire unit down on a table without needing a tripod or any extra supports.

The Freefly Movi mobile uses a gyroscopic system to stabilize video, but Freefly is calling the system a cinema robot, because like other Movis, it does more than just take out the camera shake. Used with the iOS app, the Freefly Movi contains a number of different shooting modes that imitate Hollywood-level camera effects with a smartphone and a single operator.

Echo mode allows videographers to select a start and end spot and a duration, allowing the system to move between the two points at a steady place while immobile or even while the operator is moving as well. An orbit mode helps rotate around subjects. Time-lapses and moving time-lapses can also be programmed inside of the app.

Settings inside the majestic mode offer more controls over how the Movi stabilizes the shot. Videographers can, for example, turn off the horizontal stabilization to create rolling effects or to shoot the scene at a diagonal.

Freefly says the Movi for mobile incorporates much of the technology of the pro-level rigs in a size and price point for iPhone videographers. The Freefly Movi for iPhone lists for $299 and is available for pre-order, with shipping expected sometime during the second quarter of 2018.

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