Technology News for Monday 13th June 2022

1. Microsoft unveils new titles as Xbox Game Pass builds momentum

Microsoft also spotlighted Activision Blizzard Inc.'s Overwatch 2, which will enter early access in October with a free-to-play competitive multiplayer mode, and Diablo IV, which arrives in 2023.

2. 5 most important software updates coming to Apple devices in 2022

iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura and WatchOS 9 brought significant changes, including high-end iPads to better multitask and enable iPhones to be transformed into web cameras with their Macs. Of all the new ...

3. LaMDA: The program that a google engineer thinks has become sentient

Google engineer Blake Lemoine was placed on administrative leave after he claimed that LaMDA, a language model created by Google AI, had become sentient and begun reasoning like a human being. The news was first reported by the Washington Post and the ...

4. Apple's iPhone 14 will likely get a massive front camera upgrade

Apple typically makes significant upgrades to its iPhone's rear cameras with each iteration, but the front camera has been somewhat neglected over the years. This might change with the upcoming iPhone 14, likely scheduled to launch this year.

5. Engineers build LEGO-like artificial intelligence chip

The new design is stackable and reconfigurable, for swapping out and building on existing sensors and neural network processors. Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office.

6. 2023 BMW M2 teased before October unveiling – G87 to get 450 PS M4 engine, manual option, RWD only

Protruding squared-off elements dominate the design of the M2, including the large double kidney grille (they are at the very least in their normal size and come with horizontal rather than vertical slats) and the air intakes that flank the rectangular ...

7. All the things Apple Sherlocked at WWDC 2022

Meanwhile, a company called Karelia Software had a finder app named Watson — priced at $29 — with some superior features like plug-ins for better internet search. In 2002, Apple released Sherlock 3 with similar features to Watson, making Karelia redundant ...

8. Apple resizes the iPad's workflow with Stage Manager

I had a chance to talk briefly with Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi last week about the new iPadOS features aimed at enhancing multitasking and multi app work. We chatted about the timing, execution and reactions to these announcements.

9. iPhones in Australia may end up with different chargers following EU's universal push

Now the familiar iPhone charger may be about to be unplugged for good. Key points: The EU is mandating a single type of charger for smartphones and similar electronic devices ...

10. Five Things Google's AI Bot Wrote That Convinced Engineer It Was Sentient

(Bloomberg) -- Blake Lemoine made headlines after being suspended from Google, following his claims that an artificial intelligence bot had become sentient. The Alphabet-run AI development team put him on paid leave for breaching company policy by ...

11. Forza Motorsport Returning to Xbox, PC in 2023 Looking More Realistic Than Ever

The new Forza Motorsport features new tracks such as the South African Kyalami Grand Prix circuit and a fictional Japanese high-speed course called Circuit Hakone. Fuel and tire management and increased car customization options are said ...

12. 2023 Bentley Flying Spur S Looks Sportier, Sounds Louder

Its available 542-hp twin-turbo V-8 and 536-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrains are the same as those found on other Flying Spurs, and this marks the first time an S-badged Bentley is offered as a hybrid.

13. Apple Lays Out More Pieces of Its Future AR Headset Puzzle

Apple didn't announce a virtual or augmented reality headset at its WWDC developer conference, but some new software tools were announced that push AR and social connection further. Why it matters. Apple's expected ...

14. The Persona series is coming to Xbox and Windows PC

A press release shared with Eurogamer states: "These beloved games will also be heading to Steam and PlayStation 5". However, without a release date, this could be a timed exclusive for Xbox and PC.

15. iPhone 13 deals: Get an absolutely BONKERS data boost

You'll also get unlimited minutes and texts thrown in for free. As you can see from the table below, these are extraordinary offers that hugely undercut the mobile network competition. Here's a roundup of ...

16. Police Investigate Fatal Rollover Crash

On June 12, 2022 at approximately 6:21 AM, Fort Collins Police were notified of a single vehicle roll over collision that happened in the 5400 block of S. Shields St., which is just south of Hilldale Drive. When officers arrived on scene, ...

17. What Will Overwatch 2's Battle Pass Look Like With The Free-To-Play Move?

Yesterday's Xbox and Bethesda showcase included the news every Overwatch fan has been waiting for: a release date for Overwatch 2. Also, Blizzard announced the game, or at least the PVP side of it, will be free-to-play.

18. Sony's New PlayStation Plus Tiers Are Live In The US, Here's What You Get

This is effectively the same as the current PS Plus subscription in every way: Two monthly free games; Exclusive discounts; Cloud storage; Online multiplayer. Tier 2 ...

19. Crypto Market Crash: Is It The Right Time To Buy The Dip?

UPDATE: 13 June, 2022: Cryptocurrency prices crashed again this weekend, with Bitcoin dropping to its lowest level since December 2020. The drops come after similar price moves just one month ago (see original story below).

20. 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V First Drive: A Big SUV Gets a Big Performance Upgrade

This newest Escalade adds a bonkers amount of horsepower and performance-focused handling to this unlikely luxury hotrod. The V-Series is an exclusive lineup of Cadillac vehicles that blends all the luxury and refinement of ...

21. The 16 biggest games announced at the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase: from Hideo Kojima to Starfield

Fake E3 has been and gone. What used to be the busiest and most exciting week of new games, all beamed out from a single convention center in Los Angeles, is now a disconnected series of digital livestreams with no human element to speak of.

22. Has Google's LaMDA artificial intelligence really achieved sentience?

A Google engineer has reportedly been placed on suspension from the company after claim that an artificial intelligence (AI) he helped to develop had become sentient. “If I didn't know exactly what it was, which is this computer program we built ...

23. Sony's new PlayStation Plus is live in North America

No, and, well, sort of. The higher-priced tiers do offer a catalog of new and classic games for subscribers, much like Xbox's service. However, Sony has said it doesn't plan to add new, first-party releases to PlayStation Plus the day they come out — a ...

24. Rune Labs gets FDA clearance to use Apple Watch to track Parkinson's symptoms

June 13 (Reuters) - San Francisco-based startup Rune Labs on Monday said it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to use the Apple Watch to monitor tremors and other common symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.

25. Microsoft Teams now uses AI to improve echo, interruptions, and acoustics

Microsoft has spent the past two years adding flashy new productivity features to Teams, and now the company is overhauling how the fundamentals work thanks to AI. We've all been on a call where someone has poor room acoustics making it hard to hear ...

26. Sony's new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers are now live in the US

Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus tiers are now live in the US, offering benefits like access to select PS4 and PS5 games, cloud-streamed games, and a collection of retro titles, depending on which tier you subscribe to. PlayStation Plus Essential costs ...

27. Forza Motorsport reboot is coming Spring 2023

While series wild child Forza Horizon has been racking up millions of active players, OG Forza developer Turn 10 has been studiously working away on the next simulation Forza game, arriving spring next year. First teased way back in July of 2020, ...

28. iOS 16: From sleep tracking to medications, Apple is trying to keep you healthy

Last Monday, during the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple detailed several software updates coming this fall changing how you use an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and MacBook. While many of those features will help Apple ...