Category: news

Hogwarts Legacy release date, characters, story and trailer

Hogwarts Legacy is a new Harry Potter open world game releasing next year across all major platforms, Warner Bros. announced on Wednesday as part of Sony’s PlayStation 5 price reveal live stream event. The game, developed by Disney Infinity developer Avalanche Software, is set in the 1800s at the iconic Hogwarts from the book series, but given its time period it will not involve playing as the series’ titular character. Instead, the trailer gives the impression that players will create their own character and engage in all manner of wizard and witch-related activities.

In a press release, Warner Bros. describes the game as an “open-world, single-player, action role-playing video game set in the 1800s wizarding world,” where “players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before, as they live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.” The release says players will “grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions and taming fantastic beasts,” adding that the game will include familiar locations like the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village.

Hogwarts Legacy

Does Hogwarts Legacy have a release date?

During the Sept. 16 presentation, Sony announced that the PlayStation 5 will release on Nov. 12, 2020 for the U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Parts of Europe, including the U.K., will see it a week later. However, Hogwarts Legacy will not be a launch title for the system. 

The Hogwarts Legacy reveal trailer listed the launch window as 2021, while the 2018 leaks imply it’s been in development for several years already. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier said to expect the game in the later part of the year. So, it may be several months before players can don those distinctive Hogwarts robes and enter the iconic school.

Schreier additionally reported that developers are concerned that the backlash against J.K. Rowling due to controversial comments made by the author might affect the game’s financial outlook. It seems Rowling has not had much direct involvement with Hogwarts Legacy, which could influence the decisions of potential buyers.

Which characters are in Hogwarts Legacy?

In an open-world Harry Potter RPG; it seems almost certain you’ll get to pick your house and explore the setting as a Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. The Sorting Hat even makes a brief appearance in the reveal trailer. Essentially, Hogwarts Legacy promises to deliver what so many fans have wished for: a chance to live and play in the Wizarding World as a central part of the action. 

Don’t expect to see too many familiar faces. Hogwarts Legacy, after all, takes place over a century before the events of Harry Potter. The headmaster will be different, as will the teachers. Hagrid, Tom Riddle, and Newt Scamander didn’t exist at that time. Still, many of the magical creatures and locations certainly did. And some ghosts, such as Nearly Headless Nick, may be roaming about the castle.

“We are always asking ourselves how we can draw from the rich library of characters, creatures, and themes — and imagine how those details would influence the school more than a century before Harry Potter’s arrival,” said head of story Adrian Ropp in a blog post.

Hogwarts Legacy

What is the story of Hogwarts Legacy?

According to the official Hogwarts Legacy website, the game will involve a “journey through familiar and new locations as you explore and discover fantastic beasts, customize your character and craft potions, master spell casting, upgrade talents, and become the wizard you want to be.”

Players take on the role of a 19th century student who holds the key to a dangerous secret. After arriving at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, players discover they have the unique ability to master Ancient Magic. Apparently, they’ll then be given the choice to protect that secret for the good of the Wizarding World; or take a darker road. 

Hogwarts Legacy allows players to make friends and obtain companions, battle enemies in combat, and take on missions that feature difficult choices. They will decide the future during a quest to discover a long hidden truth, which is where the “legacy” part of the title comes in to play.

Is there a trailer?

According to the detailed Harry Potter lore created by Rowling, the Hogwarts Express did not start operation until about 1830.  That means the opening of the reveal trailer, which features a flying carriage full of suitcases and an owl, could be representative of one method students used to reach Hogwarts before that locomotive centralized transportation to the school from King’s Cross station. 

The environments are certainly similar to those used in the Harry Potter movies, but don’t appear exactly the same. So it seems Avalanche is putting its own mark on the spaces fans have come to know from the films. You can spot new and familiar creatures in the trailer, along with a Dark wizard wearing a skeletal mask. You even get a hint of how your classes are going to work as you learn to ride a broomstick; meet magical beings, and create new potions.

The reveal trailer makes it clear that Hogwarts Legacy players are in for a fun and occasionally harrowing experience.

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[Apple Event] How To Watch Apple’s September 2020 Event

What to Expect From Apple Event. Apple’s annual device showoff is here, ready to tease drooling gadget lovers with the latest toys in Apple’s arsenal. Unfortunately, a new iPhone doesn’t appear to be on the menu, but viewers can taste what’s coming for the Apple Watch and iPad Air.

The event may also serve as the launchpad for iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, bringing significant design changes to both platforms as seen throughout the beta. MacOS 11 “Big Sur” may come out of beta sporting the biggest visual overhaul since Mac OS X made its debut.

apple event

When is the Apple Event?

Apple’s big event is set for September 15, starting at 10 a.m. PT ( 1 p.m. ET) within the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

The link to watch Apple’s September 2020 event:

Watch the Time Flies event on YouTube

As before, Apple is streaming the event on YouTube, making it even easier than ever before to watch the momentous occasion. Click the video above to watch it on your phone, desktop, or laptop in the YouTube app or YouTube desktop site. It streams from Apple’s YouTube channel.

How to watch the Time Flies event on a PC or Mac

When Apple pulled the plug on Safari for Windows, that void made watching Apple’s event difficult on Windows-based PCs. Now Apple streams the event on YouTube so viewers don’t need a specific browser to watch. However, here are the browsers that can stream the event from Apple’s website:

Windows 10

– Microsoft Edge
– Google Chrome
– Mozilla Firefox

MacOS (Sierra or newer)

– Safari
– Microsoft Edge
– Google Chrome
– Mozilla Firefox

Chrome OS

– Google Chrome
– YouTube web app

How to watch the Time Flies event on mobile

In this case, use dedicated apps rather than open browsers to access the stream. Apple discontinued the Apple Events app and merged the functionality into Apple TV.

iOS/iPadOS

– Apple TV app
– YouTube app

Android

– YouTube app

How to watch the Time Flies event on smart TVs, set-to-boxes

The same rule applies to the Apple TV set-top-box, Roku, and app-based smart TVs. Apple discontinued the Apple Events app and merged the functionality into Apple TV.

– Apple TV app
– YouTube app

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Poco Launched A Trimmed Down Version Of Poco M2 Pro

Poco M2 Pro will go on its first sale today in India. The smartphone comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, 6 GB RAM and a 13 MP quad-camera setup. It is now all set to go on its first-ever sale.

The Poco M2 comes in two variants. It comes with a price tag of Rs. 10,999 for 6GB of RAM – 64GB of storage variant and Rs. 12,499 for 6GB of RAM – 128GB of internal storage model. And then, the sale begins at 12PM on e-commerce platform Flipkart. Customers can avail no-cost EMI options well.

Poco M2 Pro specifications and features

The Poco M2 is touted as India’s most affordable smartphone with 6GB of RAM. The device has a 6.53-inch Full HD+ display with a waterdrop notch. The display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The smartphone is power by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 processor. There is the option of expanding the storage using a micro SD card as well.

For connectivity, the handset comes with dual-SIM capability, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, IR blaster, and a USB Type-C port. Above all, the battery is rate at 5,000mAh with 18W fast charging, and runs MIUI 11 based on Android 10.

Poco M2 Pro specifications and features

In the camera department, the device gets quad rear cameras (13MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, 5MP macro lens, 2MP depth sensor). For selfies and video calling, there is an 8-megapixel camera at the front. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and the phone is equip with a P2i nano-coating that makes the device splash-proof.

As predicted, the phone comes in new colour options that are different from the Redmi 9 Prime. In addition, customers can buy the Poco M2 in Pitch Black, Slate Blue, and Brick Red colour options.

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The Google Pixel 5s, explained

The 2020 Pixel story took an interesting turn earlier this week, with the emergence of an apparent “Pixel 5s” variant. An apparently turbocharged version of what could be one of the year’s best Android phones. The images, leaked on Twitter, show an EVT Google phone resembling a Pixel 4a with dual cameras and slimmer bezels. EVT means this is a very early device intended to iron out bugs in the Pixel’s hardware before moving onto the later stages of development. A sticker on the back of the device points to a manufacturing date of April 8. We can also tell it’s an older unit because it’s running a pre-beta version of Android 11, which in the photos is still calling itself “Android R.”

*EVT: Engineering Validation Test

Google Pixel 5s
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central

We’ve seen this kind of pre-production Pixel leaked before, with the Google “G” logo on the back twisted into something from an alien alphabet, and other identifying marks to thwart leakers.

The conventional wisdom when this “Google Pixel 5s” first leaked was that it could be a higher-end version of the Pixel 5, possibly with millimeter-wave 5G tech built-in. But the fact that this is an old unit, clearly running old firmware, gives us clues as to its true origins.

Another clue came to Android Central recently, as news of the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G’s arrival broke. Our sources revealed that, in fact, the names of Google’s 2020 Pixels had changed throughout 2020, as the company grappled with delays to the Pixel 4a’s rollout caused by COVID-19.

Google’s fall 2020 phones started out as Pixel 5 and Pixel 5s.

The original plan, we’re reliably informed, was for the Pixel 4a 5G (codenamed Bramble) to arrive as the Pixel 5; while the second, more premium Pixel (codenamed Redfin) would carry another name to signify its higher status. Based on the timeframe for Redfin entering the EVT stage. And the fact that this device is running old firmware, I’m pretty confident we’ve solved the riddle of the Pixel 5s. At some point the plan was for Redfin to ship as Pixel 5s — a smaller and more premium version of the base model Pixel 5 (Bramble, the phone we now know as Pixel 4a 5G).

We’re told the names for Bramble and Redfin changed multiple times throughout the phones’ development. Indeed, XDA’s Mishaal Rahman found evidence that Bramble at one point was called Pixel 4a XL.

So the timelines for both devices might’ve looked something like this:

Bramble:
Pixel 5 -> Pixel 4a XL -> Pixel 4a 5G

Redfin:
Google Pixel 5s -> Pixel 5

The original naming convention — Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 5s — makes more sense in the alternate-universe good timeline of 2020, where there’s no COVID and the Pixel 4a launched on-time at a jam-packed Google I/O. The 4a could enjoy a solid four months of sales before the premium Pixels arrived. But in our current, bad 2020 timeline, Pixel 4a phones are just now making their way out to customers, only three weeks before the expected arrival of the two new models.

It’s a weird year for Pixels in general, as Google hits the reset switch.

Google, understandably, might have felt that launching two phones with “5” in their name so soon after the Pixel 4a would make the latter seem unnecessarily dated.

What’s more, it’s just a weird year for Pixel hardware in general. As Google hits the reset switch on the traditional “small” plus “XL” dynamic used in every previous Pixel release cycle; and eschews a Snapdragon 800-series chip in its higher-end models. Bramble and Redfin defy Google’s usual Pixel naming conventions.

Although all three 2020 Pixels share design similarities; the internal hardware of Bramble and Redfin are close enough to basically make them two variants of the same phone — we’re expecting both to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G chipset, for instance.

But with its plastic body, 60Hz refresh rate and larger screen borders, Bramble also has quite a lot in common with the Pixel 4a. The naming was always going to be awkward, with Bramble straddling both Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 territory. Hence the slightly clumsy compromise name we ultimately ended up with: Pixel 4a 5G. (And as such, the Pixel 5s reverts back to just plain old Pixel 5.)

As for the Google Pixel 5s name, this week’s leak shows us that Google was, until recently; still grappling with how its new and very different lineup of phones should be presented to the world.

Best phone battery life in 2020: Which phone has the best battery life?

Smartphones offering a wide variety of functions that help to simplify daily life while helping us stay connected to each other. These daily connections and simplifications have become essential to our everyday lives. Being well aware that phone battery life is a major selling point for any device. So, smartphone manufacturers now tout how long a battery could feasibly last given its technical specifications. Despite this type of specificity, how do we know for sure that a phone’s battery will last for as long as the manufacturer claims?

 

We’ve handpicked some of the phones with the best phone battery life that are currently available. Opt for one of these phones to help avoid suffering the pain of running out of juice midway through an important Zoom call or epic Netflix binge. Or not making it to the end of the working day without having to plug in your phone.

Huawei P40 Pro

Huawei P40 Pro

If battery life is your be-all and end-all, you’ll find no better option than the Huawei P40 Pro. With its huge 4,200mAh battery, it promises up to two days of battery life. The battery lasting for around 18 hours streaming video and up to 94 hours on standby. Fast wired charging takes the battery from 5% to full in one hour 10 minutes. And it also supports wireless charging and smart charging, which means plugging it in for an overnight charge will see the phone reduce its charging speed to gradually reach full battery by sunrise. The P40 Pro also boasts a dreamy camera and excellent hardware.

If we had to say anything negative, it’s a little chunky at 9mm thick, not to mention heavy at 209 grams. And the phone doesn’t come with the Google Play store.

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro

If you’d rather have an iPhone than an Android handset, the iPhone 11 Pro is your best bet for phone battery life. It lasted 12 hours in battery test — streaming a 1080p video over Wi-Fi at maximum screen brightness. So, you’ll easily get a full day of usage, including overnight. And you won’t need to charge your phone until you get to work the next day. If you’re a lighter user, you’ll see around a day and a half of usage before it needs to be charged. The 11 Pro is bundled with an 18-watt charger and reaches full charge from 0% in around two hours. Beside, the 11 Pro has a class-leading camera and offers excellent day-to-day performance.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus Best phone battery life in 2020

Packing a beefy 4,100mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus may be a little unwieldy to hold. But what it lacks in compact size it more than makes up for in battery life and performance. With medium to heavy use, you’ll easily get a full day’s use from this phone. And it lasted for 12 hours 40 minutes in standard playback tests — streaming 1080p video at max brightness on Wi-Fi. Lighter users may be able to stretch the battery use to two days. Where the S10 Plus falls down though, sadly, is its charging speeds. It only supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0. Meaning it takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to fully charge from 0% using the cable in the box — although it does support wireless charging. On the plus side though, it has Wireless PowerShare, which lets you wirelessly charge other Qi-enabled products by placing them on the back of the phone. With its excellent battery life, powerful performance, and expansive HDR10+ screen. This is one of the best offerings from Samsung if you don’t want to worry about charging your phone before the day is out.

Google Pixel 3a XL

Google Pixel 3a XL Best phone battery life

While you might be tempted to pick up the Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL. But the Pixel 3a XL is the clear leader of the pack in terms of phone battery life, packing a hefty 3,700mAh battery. In tests, it managed an impressive 10 hours and 45 minutes before giving up the ghost. And medium use should easily see you through a whole day with plenty of battery life to spare. If you don’t fancy shelling out $479 for the 3a XL. The $399 Pixel 3a boasts similar battery life, clocking in at 9 hours and 12 minutes in tests. The 3a XL comes bundled with an 18W USB-C charger, taking around 90 minutes to reach full charge from 15%. It doesn’t support wireless charging, but if you can overlook this for the sake of impressive battery life and a fantastic camera. This is a great phone for the money.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Best phone battery life in 2020

Samsung’s lavish S20 Ultra may look the part with its 7-inch display and 120Hz refresh rate. But its battery life won’t fail to impress either. Its huge 5,000mAh battery lasts for around 11 hours 58 minutes in 60Hz mode. But this drops rather dramatically to just over 9 hours in 120Hz mode. In comparison, the S20 Plus will see you through around 10 hours and 30 minutes in 60Hz mode, and just shy of 9 hours with 120Hz mode turned on, while the S20’s 4,000mAh battery lasted for around 9 hours 30 minutes in tests. So the Ultra is still the best of the bunch when it comes to battery life — just stick to 60Hz mode. However tempting that smoother refresh rate may seem. Heavy users should easily get a full day out of the S20 Ultra. While with light usage the battery should last around a day and a half.

When it’s time to recharge, the Galaxy S20 Ultra comes bundled with a 25W charger that fully charges the phone’s battery from empty in an hour. There’s also the option to pick up a 45W charger, although the difference in charging speeds is negligible. The S20 Ultra also supports 15W fast wireless charging 2.0. Despite its extravagant $1,400 price tag. The S20 Ultra’s stunning screen, zoom lens, beefy battery, and 5G compatibility with all the major networks ensure it offers plenty of bang for your buck.

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