Technology News for Wednesday 19th January 2022

1. Activision Sexual Misconduct Fallout Prompted Microsoft to Pursue Deal

Late last year, as employees at Activision Blizzard Inc. and Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick were reeling from accusations that Kotick knew of sexual harassment at the company for years, a group of Microsoft Corp. senior executives suggested that ...

2. Man rescued by Campbell River firefighters after getting trapped in cargo ship

Campbell River firefighters conducted a rope rescue Monday when a man was trapped in a cargo ship after a loading chute collapsed into the hold. Fire Chief Thomas Doherty said crews were called about 8:20 a.m. ...

3. 'New Eyes': Gamers Greet Microsoft's Activision Deal With Guarded Optimism

When Drew Bienusa began playing Call of Duty, a first-person shooter game published by Activision Blizzard, he was immediately smitten. He loved how immersive having a digital avatar was, and the game was a favorite among his friends.

4. AT&T and Verizon Delay 5G Service Near Some Airports

The broader expansion of 5G — which provides much faster access to the internet than current wireless technology — is set for Wednesday after multiple delays. Aviation regulators and airlines repeatedly raised concerns that the new technology would ...

5. Mophie Debuts $150 MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Travel Charger

Mophie says that the charger is using Apple's official components and has gone through the MFI process, so the hardware included can charge the ?iPhone 12? and 13 at the fastest wireless speeds possible. Many of the ...

6. Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G launched in India with Snapdragon 888: All you need to know

Xiaomi today launched another flagship device in India, the Xiaomi 11T Pro. The Phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and comes with other flagship features like a 108MP camera, a 5000mAh battery with 120W fast charging and more.

7. Microsoft bought Activision because gaming is the new social media

If the 2010s were the decade of social media in the tech industry, there's reason to think the 2020s are the gaming decade. On Tuesday, Microsoft said it plans to buy the gaming giant Activision Blizzard — maker of the Call of Duty, World of Warcraft ...

8. Microsoft HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset now available in India

As per the company, the headset augments the jobs of first-line employees in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and education. The HoloLens 2 is an enterprise product and is available in India via commercial authorised resellers Softline ...

9. Samsung leaks new notched tablet on its own website

Reports suggest this new tablet will be called the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, and it may be announced as early as next month. The design shown in the image on Samsung's site corresponds with unofficial renders ...

10. Apple Lowers Value of Android Smartphones for iPhone Trade-In

Apple today reduced the estimated maximum price that customers can get when trading in several different Android smartphones for an iPhone. As part of the reduction of Android smartphones, Apple also adjusted prices for certain iPad and Mac models.

11. 2022 Porsche Taycan gets Sport Turismo estate option

The Sport Turismo offers more cabin space than the Taycan saloon, with the taller roofline providing an extra 45mm of headroom for rear-seat passengers. The driver's seat can also be raised by an additional 9mm, and boot access has improved thanks to the ...

12. Nobody Saves the World is now available on Steam and Xbox

DrinkBox Studios have finally released their much-anticipated action RPG game, Nobody Saves the World on the Xbox systems and Windows PC via Steam. The title comes from the creators of popular platformer, Guacamelee!, and features a shapeshifting ...

13. Sony slides on Microsoft-Activision Blizzard tie-up plan

Shares in Japanese technology giant Sony have slumped in Tokyo trade after Microsoft said it plans to buy mega games company Activision Blizzard. The deal worth $68.7bn (£50.5bn), would be Microsoft's biggest ever buyout and the largest deal in gaming ...

14. Microsoft's historic $96b deal comes with a lot of games - and a spotty reputation

When the 2023 version of Call of Duty releases, gamers may face an unusual choice; pay $120 to play it on PlayStation, or pay essentially nothing to play it on Xbox or PC if they're already subscribed to Microsoft's $11-per-month Game Pass subscription ...

15. BharatPe's Ashneer Grover takes voluntary leave from company

“For now, the board has accepted Ashneer's decision, which we agree is in the best interests of the company, our employees and investors, and the millions of merchants we support each day,” the fintech startup says.

16. Sony shares tank over 12% after Microsoft and Activision's $68.7 billion tie-up plan

Investors fear Microsoft's announced acquisition of Activision will bring more competition to Sony's PlayStation division and take away key games from the Japanese giant's platform. Key Activision games like Call of Duty could help power Microsoft's ...

17. Galaxy S22 Ultra rumors: What to expect from Samsung's next high-end phone

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Sarah Tew/CNET. Samsung hasn't launched a new Galaxy Note since 2020, but that doesn't mean fans should lose hope. With rumors suggesting a built-in stylus and gigantic screen are in store for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, ...

18. Motorcyclist killed in San Carlos Park crash

A van driven by a 62-year-old Fort Myers man was traveling west on Alico Road, in the left turn lane. The van attempted to turn left onto Phlox Drive in front of the approaching motorcycle, which then collided with the van.

19. YouTube introduces annual plans for Premium and Music Premium in India: Check details

Google has so far not shared what the revised prices will be, once the discount period ends. Monthly subscriptions for YouTube Premium start at Rs 129 a month, and the Family Plan which allows for a joint account of five family members costs Rs 189 a month ...

20. Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal poses 'monumental challenge' to Sony

New Delhi (CNN Business) Microsoft's blockbuster purchase of video game developer Activision Blizzard could pose a serious threat for Sony. Shares of the maker of the PlayStation console, a major rival to Microsoft's Xbox, plummeted nearly 13% in Tokyo ...

21. Why your 5G phone concerns the airline industry: What we know about the impact on travel, flights and more

This came after the CEOs of the major airlines, along with FedEx and UPS, asked the Biden administration including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department on Monday to address concerns about activating new 5G network ...

22. Xiaomi launches 11T Pro starting at ?34999 in India. Goes on sale today at Amazon

The Xiaomi 11T Pro features Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset. The Chinese smartphone maker has packed it with a 120W fast charger inside the box. Xiaomi had already launched it in Chinese market with a different name along with two other smartphones ...

23. Xiaomi 11T Pro with 120W fast-charge tech, AMOLED display of 120Hz launched

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi on Wednesday launched in India a premium 'T' edition smartphone in its flagship number series. Named the Xiaomi 11T Pro, the smartphone boasts a 10-bit AMOLED display of 120Hz refresh rate, stereo speakers powered by ...

24. Apple's Covid-19 Booster Mandate Is the Best I've Seen Yet

Employees will be required to get the booster shot within four weeks of their eligibility, or they will be required to undergo frequent testing before they'll be allowed to enter Apple's retail stores or corporate offices.

25. With Activision, Microsoft is one gigantic step closer to game subscription dominance

This weekend, I noticed that my PS5 and Switch were literally collecting dust — and realized that's because I've been playing my games almost exclusively on Xbox Game Pass instead. The service has an incredible wealth of titles; in just the past couple ...

26. The Rings of Power: Amazon Names Its New Lord of the Rings Series

It will delve into the Second Age of Middle-earth, which is when Sauron rose to full power and countless civilizations fell, creating the landscape of ruins fans have read about in Tolkien's books and seen onscreen in the Peter Jackson films.

27. A guide to Microsoft's Xbox game studios empire

With the impending purchase of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion dollars, Microsoft is now the third-largest video game publisher in the world by revenue. It owns several of the biggest gaming franchises of all time, including Minecraft, The Elder ...

28. Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G Review

Gigabyte's take on AMD's Radeon RX 6500 XT budget GPU provides nearly rock-solid 1080p PC gaming performance in AAA and multiplayer titles, but it runs hot and packs unneeded ray-tracing cores. MSRP $199.99. PCMag editors select and review products ...

29. What's Notch to Like? Samsung Accidentally Leaks Its New Flagship Galaxy Tab

Notches on Samsung smartphones have appeared in the past, but this is the company's first flagship tablet device to feature one. The small cutout sits at the top of the display when in landscape orientation, and ...

30. Why my Xbox should worry about Samsung's next phone

Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra. Sarah Tew/CNET. Samsung's Galaxy S22 is just around the corner, and the company has already launched its new flagship processor that will almost certainly be inside the new phone. The Exynos 2200 will sit at the top of ...

31. BharatPe MD Ashneer Grover takes voluntary leave till March-end

Earlier this month, an audio clip surfaced on social media with claims of Mr Grover abusing and threatening a Kotak Mahindra Bank employee for missing out on share allotment during the initial public offering (IPO) of FSN E-Commerce Ventures, which ...

32. Apple says Android phones worth less when traded in for iPhone

As spotted by MacRumors, Apple has changed the estimated trade-in value for users that want to turn in their Android phones for a brand-new iPhone. Previously, you could get up to a $545 discount at Apple Store, and now the maximum you can get is $405.

33. How Microsoft Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Video Games

If you had told investors back when Satya Nadella took over as Microsoft Corp. chief executive officer in 2014 that his biggest acquisition would be a video game company, they would have been horrified. And yet ...

34. Netflix's newest game is a Hearthstone-style card battler

Netflix's foray into the mobile gaming subscription market is showing no signs of slowing down. This week it added a pair of new titles to its service, a card-battling roguelike called Arcanium: Rise of Akhan, and a hidden object game called Krispee ...

35. Europe rolled out 5G without hurting aviation. Here's how

London/Paris (CNN Business) Major international airlines are canceling flights to the United States over aviation industry fears that 5G technology could interfere with crucial onboard instruments. But it's business as usual in Europe, where the latest ...

36. Is Microsoft building a gaming monopoly?

Yesterday morning, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, publisher of games ranging from the Call of Duty series to Candy Crush Saga, for $68.7 billion. Microsoft says the move would make it the third-largest gaming company by ...

37. Microsoft's Biggest Acquisition Ever Is A $69 Billion Bet On The Future Of Video Games

Microsoft MSFT -2.4% announced an agreement Tuesday to acquire famed but scandal-stricken video game publisher Activision Blizzard ATVI +1.9% for $68.7 billion in cash, the clearest sign yet of the company's ambitions to become a giant in the world of ...

38. First, COVID sick calls, now 5G rollout: Travelers face more flight cancellations

The industry got a reprieve on Tuesday when AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay the rollout of 5G within two miles of airports. But that doesn't mean travelers are off the hook. Several international airlines ...

39. New iPhone SE Likely to Launch in April Based on Production Timeframe

Apple suppliers will begin producing display panels for the third-generation iPhone SE this month, with final assembly of the device likely to start in March, according to information shared by display industry consultant Ross Young. iphone se 2020 top

40. Microsoft's Activision deal has gamers wondering what's next

Gamers, however, couldn't care less about the tech industry's latest buzzword and are far more concerned about the consolidation in the gaming industry and what this means for their ability to play their favorite games.

41. Xiaomi 11T Pro vs Vivo V23 Pro: Specs, features, and price in India compared

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. It is offered with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There's a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate on Xiaomi 11T Pro. As for cameras, it has a 108-megapixel main sensor and a 16- ...

42. How 5G Clashed With an Aviation Device Invented in the 1920s

The potential for interference between 5G signals and the radio altimeters long used by pilots has divided the telecom and aviation industries.

43. Halo Infinite gets a hotfix to address Big Team Battle problems, but it hasn't helped

Hey everyone - The Hotfix was deployed at 10AM PT today for Xbox and PC and included a fix for an issue with Oddball but also was hoped to address the ongoing matchmaking issues affecting Big Team Battle.

44. It's Not Complicated. Microsoft Wants Activision for Its Games.

It is inevitable now that when a big tech company makes a significant, strategic decision — like Microsoft's plan to spend $70 billion on the video game giant Activision Blizzard — it invokes the metaverse. The vision for the metaverse, a virtual world ...

45. AT&T and Verizon Now Rolling Out C-Band 5G Spectrum

As for Verizon, the company earlier this month announced plans to expand its 5G Ultra Wideband service to 1,700 cities later in January, and that expansion started today with the launch of C-Band spectrum. Verizon ...

46. Instagram is testing paid subscriptions with a small group of creators

Fans will pay a monthly fee to access subscriber-only content from creators they follow, like exclusive Lives and Stories. Subscribers will also get a purple badge by their username that signals their status to the creator.

47. Belkin's Boost Charge Pro is a $60 MagSafe puck with a kickstand and braided cable

Belkin's new Boost Charge Pro wireless charging pad takes Apple's MagSafe puck and ... well, makes it “pro” with a 2-meter-long braided cable and a kickstand for propping your phone up to make it easier to see while it's charging (via MacRumors).

48. Apple Says Option to Stay on iOS 14 Was Always Meant to Be Temporary

When ?iOS 15? was released, Apple's feature page said that the company would provide a choice "between two software update versions" in the Settings app, and that it would offer security updates for iOS 14 until people were prepared to upgrade.

49. Instagram launches early test of creator subscriptions in the US

Subscribers will also receive a special badge that will help them to stand out in the comments section and creators' inboxes. At launch, only 10 total U.S. creators have gained access to the new feature, ...

50. Fortnite guide: Klombos and Klomberries

Fortnite Klombo locations map. Fortnite Klombo locations map and Klombo dinosaur spawn points. Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Epic Games via Polygon. Klombos are huge ...

51. Netflix's gaming service adds two more titles on iOS and Android

The first game is called Arcanium: Rise of Akhan and is an open-world single-player card strategy game. The game was developed by Rogue Games. Netflix says the game merges the roguelike and deckbuilding genres in new ways.

52. Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' to Chronicle Sauron's Rise, Reveals Title

Amazon's mysterious The Lord of the Rings TV series has revealed its title and new storyline details. The eagerly anticipated, multi-season drama is called The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. As the name suggests, the story follows the forging ...

53. It's Not Complicated. Microsoft Wants Activision for Its Games.

Activision helps Microsoft broaden its influence over players who like shooter games like Call of Duty, those who participate in competitive video gaming leagues devoted to games like Overwatch and Hearthstone, and the massive audience of mobile gamers, ...

54. How to update your iPhone apps in iOS 15

Updating apps is still simple, just a little hidden. Jason Cipriani/CNET. Updating the apps on your iPhone or iPad is a quick and easy way to gain new features, new levels in games or fix bugs and security issues in the apps you use.

55. Google launches beta of Android games on Windows PCs

Google is launching a limited beta of its app to bring Android games to Windows PCs. Google Play Games will be available in beta in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan today, allowing Windows PC owners to play popular Android games like Mobile Legends, ...