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More than 50 speakers from leading developers to feature at DevGamm Lisbon 2025

by admin October 1, 2025

DevGamm Lisbon 2025 has announced its full speaker list, featuring developers from Sandfall Interactive, Warhorse Studios, and 11 Bit Studios.

The B2B conference, which takes place November 6-7, 2025, at the Myriad Hotel in Lisbon, will feature more than 50 speakers from leading developers. These include:

Raphaël Joffres, Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
Petr Peka&rcaron;, Warhorse Studios (Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2)
Gabriela Siemienkowicz, 11 Bit Studios (The Alters)
Jennifer Estaris (Monument Valley 3)
Nikola Stoyanov, Ubisoft Sofia (Assassin’s Creed Shadows)
Abby LeMaster, Riot Games

DevGamm Lisbon 2025 will also feature speakers from Unity Technologies, Miniclip, Giants Software, Scopely, Sybo Games, and GSC Game World, covering titles such as Battlefield 2042, Far Cry 2, Subway Surfers, and Stalker 2.

The full list of speakers for this year’s conference can be found here.

22cans founder and creative director Peter Molyneux will be the keynote speaker for the conference.

In a fireside chat hosted by games media veteran James Binns, Molyneux will “explore the power of conviction in game development, offering insights on creativity, resilience, and building great games even under tighter budgets and production cycles.”

The conference is part of DevGamm Week in Portugal this November, which includes the Madeira Games Summit from November 3-4.

Tickets for DevGamm Lisbon 2025 are available here.

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October 1, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Twitch finally catches up to YouTube with highly-requested Stream Rewind feature

by admin September 26, 2025

Twitch is finally giving viewers the power to rewind and catch up on moments of live broadcasts they may have missed in a new feature they’ve dubbed ‘Stream Rewind.’

Twitch is one of the internet’s most popular live streaming services, attracting numerous high-profile content creators who have made a name for themselves on the website.

Over the years, it’s introduced a slew of helpful features for both broadcasters and their viewers, such as the ability to clip streams or support streamers by gifting bits and subscriptions.

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However, one feature that was sorely missing was the ability to rewind an ongoing broadcast. If you were watching something live, you wouldn’t be able to directly go backward to see what you missed or rewatch a funny moment — instead, you’d have to clip the broadcast or watch the VOD when it was all said and done.

Twitch introduces long-awaited rewind option for streams

On September 25, 2025, Twitch revealed that this is finally changing. As told in a Twitch support article, the platform is rolling out ‘Stream Rewind,’ which is exactly what it sounds like — the ability to rewind a stream as it plays in real time.

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Viewers can pause, resume, or scrub back at any point in the stream if they so choose, and get right back to the live broadcast by clicking the ‘live’ button on the video player. Additionally, live chat will continue despite pausing and rewinding, helping to avoid missing out on any important moments.

However, broadcasters have to manually enable this feature on their channels for viewers to use it. On top of this, Stream Rewind is solely available for Affiliated or Partnered broadcasters, and is currently limited to viewers who are subscribed to a streamer’s channel or Turbo subscribers on web only (sorry, mobile users).

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According to a statement from Dan Clancy in a September 24 Patch Notes stream, the rollout for Stream Rewind is being limited to subscribers until the platform figures out a way to prevent it from being used to avoid ads.

“We are launching initially for channel subs and Turbo subs,” Clancy explained. “We are working to make it available for everyone. The reason we are limiting it initially is because there’s work we need to do to make sure ads still work with ad blockers and it doesn’t become a way to get around ads, and that’s important to our streamers to help them sustain their revenue. That takes a little more work.”

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With this latest update, Twitch has now caught up to YouTube, which has allowed viewers to rewind live streams on its site for some time now, as long as creators had the feature enabled – without fans having to pay to use it.

Twitch had initially announced this feature all the way back in June, and over three months later, it’s finally here.

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September 26, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Apple warns of more feature delays in Europe

by admin September 25, 2025

Apple says it’s having to delay bringing some product features to Europe because it’s struggling to make them compliant with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a statement published on Wednesday, Apple said that DMA rules have created “more complexity and more risks for our EU users,” blaming the obligation to open Apple features to third-party devices for the delays.

Features impacted include AI-powered Live Translation for AirPods, iPhone Mirroring, and Visited Places and Preferred Routes on Apple Maps. While interoperability requirements under the DMA specify that companies make proprietary apps and device features available on third-party hardware, Apple says it hasn’t found a way to make these features available on non-Apple devices without compromising users’ data security and privacy.

DMA requirements to make it easier to pair, transfer data, and display notifications between iPhones and third-party devices are bearing some fruit, however. The latest iOS 26.1 beta suggests that a “notification forwarding” feature will allow iPhone notifications to surface on non-Apple devices, such as smartwatch competitors to the Apple Watch. The beta also includes references to a feature that will make it easier to pair iPhones with third-party accessories.

Despite its ongoing opposition to the DMA, Apple insists that it’s “spending thousands of hours” to be compliant with the law’s requirements, and that the “list of delayed features in the EU will probably get longer” due to these impediments. The EU has given Apple until the end of this year to open up most of these features if it makes them available to European users, or risk facing additional fines under the DMA. The company was hit with a $580 million penalty in April after the App Store violated anti-steering requirements under the rulebook.

The iPhone maker has called for the DMA regulation to be repealed “while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place,” according to a feedback submission seen by the Financial Times.

While Apple’s concerns around user security may hold merit, the company is also motivated to see the DMA scrapped to prevent the legislation from tearing down the walled garden that incentivizes consumers to stay in its product ecosystem. Denying Europeans access to features over DMA compliance concerns may help Apple keep its user base on-side in its argument with the EU.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Primate review: Fun creature feature with a diabolical villain

by admin September 20, 2025

Primate is a fun-filled horror flick that pits chimp against annoying teens, and thanks to some superb practical effects work, the movie delivers on the promise of that premise.

‘When animals attack’ is a fine horror genre, that has given us the satisfying ‘when pets go bad’ sub-genre, of which 1983 Stephen King adaptation Cujo is the gold standard.

Primate journeys into similar territory, using rabies as a way to turn a beloved animal into deadly killing machine.

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But rather than a sweet St. Bernard, it’s a chimp that turns evil in this instance, resulting in an antagonist with brute strength, big teeth, and an even bigger personality.

What is Primate about?

Paramount Pictures

The film kicks off with a prologue that sees Ben the chimp go on the attack, precipitated by a bite from a rabid mongoose.

Proceedings then jump back 36 hours to introduce Primate’s cast of characters/victims. And they’re a bunch of largely interchangeable youngsters, heading to Hawaii for some post-finals drinking and partying.

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Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) is our protagonist, with the group vacationing at her father’s beautiful house on the shore. And standard teen stuff follows, involving crushes, jealousy, arguments, and a spot of recrimination and resentment.

That’s the drama, while horror rears its head in the shape of rabid Ben. The visitors aren’t sure what to make of a primate being part of Lucy’s family, but she assures them that he’s fine.

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Which he very much isn’t, as the rabies starts to mess with his mind, turning Ben homicidal, and triggered by the sight of water. Which becomes a problem when Lucy’s friends go for a late night swim in the pool, precipitating a wildly entertaining battle between man and beast.

Magical practical effects

Ben is brought to life by Miguel Torres Umba in a monkey costume, and complemented by some truly magical creature effects.

Umba’s performance, combined with Ben’s expressive face, beautifully bring the character to life, the chimp seeming sweet in the film’s early scenes, then struggling with his impulses as the rabies takes hold, before leaning into that rage, and bringing chaos and death.

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But Ben has brains, outsmarting his frequently dumb prey in increasingly ingenious ways. While he also has a dark sense of humor, resulting in big laughs during some of the more outlandish kills.

Is Primate good?

Like the chimp at the center of the story, Primate is a lean, mean, killing machine, clocking in at a very reasonable 89 minutes, which ensures the movie doesn’t outstay its welcome.

Lucy is a likeable lead, while scenes with her father – played by the wonderful Troy Kotsur – give the movie emotional weight, so you actually feel something when the animal attacks.

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And while it doesn’t bring much new to the sub-genre, Primate is a monster movie with big laughs and great kills, making it a genuine crowd-pleaser.

Primate score: 4/5

Primate is a monster movie that works because the monster in question is likeable, memorable, and truly diabolical.

Primate was reviewed at Fantastic Fest and will hit screens on January 9, 2026. For more scary stuff, check out our list of the best horror movies ever.

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September 20, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

American Express Offers NFT Passport Stamp Feature For Customers

by admin September 16, 2025

Payments company American Express has launched blockchain-based stamps for customers as a digital keepsake of their travels.

Each travel stamp will be stored as an ERC-721 non-fungible token on the Ethereum layer-2 Base to preserve their travel history and their favorite overseas memories, according to the company’s website.

“Part of the magic of travel is reminiscing about past getaways, and commemorative keepsakes are a powerful way for travelers to relive their favorite trips,” Amex Digital Labs Executive Vice President Luke Gebb said on Monday.

“As physical passport stamps continue to disappear, Amex Passport creates an opportunity for Card Members to celebrate their travels.”

Each stamp can be customized to highlight the best experiences from each trip, such as a special attraction, standout meal, or hotel stay, or favorite activity, Amex said.

Only those holding a US Amex consumer card linked to their online account are eligible for the Amex Passport, and the NFTs cannot be transferred.

Examples of Amex passport stamps. Source: American Express

Each stamp will only show the country or region of the stamp, stamp description, and the date of when the stamp was earned, Amex said, adding that personal information and trip details won’t be visible on Base.

Data from Base’s block explorer, BaseScan, shows that the Amex travel stamp smart contract was created 25 days ago.

The development is the latest example of a public blockchain helping corporations and their users securely store data without a centralized server.

Last month, the US Department of Commerce said it would start publishing economic statistics, including gross domestic product data, on the blockchain.

NFT travel stamps coincide with demand for digital keepsakes

Demand for new travel stamp solutions is strong, too, according to a recent Amex survey, which found 73% of respondents wanted more ways to commemorate past trips digitally.

Another 56% said they missed receiving passport stamps when arriving in a new country.

Examples of hotel stamps for Amex customers traveling overseas. Source: American Express

Amex travel stamps can be shared on social media or saved to a camera roll, and trips booked through Amex up to two years ago will be automatically added for customers.

Crypto is slowly being integrated into the tourism sector

The crypto travel industry remains relatively niche but has picked up the pace in recent months.

Related: Blue chip NFTs sink double digits as ETH retreats from record highs

In February, crypto-native travel platform Travala integrated crypto payment options for 2.2 million hotels on Trivago, a hotel metasearch engine that allows users to compare accommodation prices from various booking sites.

Data from Travala in May showed crypto users typically spend three times more for an average hotel stay and typically stay longer in a certain place to accompany their flexible and remote working lifestyles.

Meanwhile, Triple-A data states that 14% of crypto transactions were spent on travel and hospitality in 2024, while more airlines started accepting crypto for bookings.

Magazine: Can Robinhood or Kraken’s tokenized stocks ever be truly decentralized?

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Apple’s Best New iOS 26 Feature Has Been on Pixel Phones for Years

by admin September 10, 2025

Ever since I was a child, I’ve despised answering the phone when an unknown number calls. Who could be on the other end? Literally anyone: an acquaintance, a telemarketer, a serial killer who’s menacingly breathing into the mouthpiece.

While Apple’s upcoming Liquid Glass refresh in iOS 26 is likely to be the most immediately noticeable aspect of the software update as it starts rolling out to the public on September 15, I believe a smaller addition in iOS 26 might even have a bigger impact on how iPhone owners use their devices.

The iPhone is finally getting call screening. Hallelujah. At launch, the feature will support calls coming in from nine languages, including English, Spanish, and Japanese.

Once your iPhone updates to iOS 26, you can opt in and have the software automatically screen calls that come from unknown numbers. In this case, an unknown number is any phone number you haven’t interacted with before.

When your phone automatically picks up the call, a robotic voice asks the caller for their name as well as why they want to get in contact with you. Only after that information is collected, the iPhone will ring and show you these details in a notification bubble so you can decide whether to answer.

I was ecstatic to see this new option as I experimented with a beta version of iOS 26. I’m constantly getting calls from so many unknown numbers that I’ve completely given up answering the phone for anyone not saved in my contacts list.

With the imminent release of iOS 26, I can make informed decisions to ignore or answer these calls. And while most of the calls will still be ignored, I no longer have to wait until the caller starts leaving a voicemail and the live transcription appears on the screen to make a decision.

Call screening will be new for iPhones owners this fall, but users of some Android smartphones, like Google’s Pixel, have had a version of this tool, named Call Screen, available to them for years. Lyubov Farafonova, a product manager at Google, says in a statement emailed to WIRED that millions of Pixel users are using the feature in the US alone. “It is one of our fan favorite features,” she says.

Since its release of call screening in 2018, Google has worked to make the synthetic voice sound more natural for incoming callers. It’s also started showing relevant replies as tappable options while the screening is in progress so users can easily communicate with unknown callers without actually answering the phone. Further leaning into this feature, Google plans to roll out call screening to additional markets this fall.

“Pixel 10 owners in India can start experimenting with the beta version of manual Call Screen. This feature will be initially working in English and Hindi, with more languages and dialects on the way,” Farafonova says. “It will have a functionality to not only transcribe but also translate what the caller says to the Call Screen bot, to make life easier for those who don’t speak the same language as the caller.” Options for call screenings, manual or automatic, are coming soon to Pixel owners in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK as well.

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September 10, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Bluesky finally has a private bookmarking feature

by admin September 9, 2025

Bluesky has added a built-in bookmarking feature so users finally have a way to privately save posts on the platform. The update is out now on Bluesky’s website and app.

Bookmarks on Bluesky work pretty much like they do on any other service. Save a post and you can revisit it later from the “saved posts” section of the app and website. It’s overall a basic feature — there’s currently no way to organize your saves into folders, for example — but it’s a very long overdue addition to the platform.

Up to now, Bluesky users have technically been able to save posts via a workaround. Bluesky developer Jaz created a custom “pinned” feed that allowed subscribers to save posts by replying with a 📌 emoji. But while this provided a handy way to save posts in the absence of an official bookmarking feature, it wasn’t private since it created a public reply for every save. Now, though, there’s a handy tool to convert your previously “pinned” posts into private bookmarks. You can also opt to delete your public “pins” or leave them as is.

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September 9, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

iPhone 17 Pro: Every New Feature We Know

by admin September 8, 2025

The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max could get a price increase in the US.
The iPhone 17 Pro might have a rear camera bump that stretches across the entire phone.
iPhone 17 Pro rumors point to camera upgrades and a telephoto lens with up to 8x optical zoom.
The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are expected to be released Sept. 9, 2025.

Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event is Sept. 9, and we expect to see new iPhone models, including the iPhone 17 Air. But according to rumors and leaks, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are also due to arrive with plenty of upgrades and new features.

Last week, MacRumors reported (citing a Trendforce report) that the base iPhone 17 Pro will cost $1,199, $200 more than the iPhone 16 Pro, but will have twice as much storage: 256GB instead of the standard 128GB. The entry-level iPhone 17 Pro Max will also have 256GB, but the price will start at $1,299 ($100 more than the 16 Pro Max).

This pricing news follows a recent alleged image of the iPhone 17 Pro’s aluminum chassis that appeared on the Chinese social media site Weibo, as reported by MacRumors. The photo shows an unfinished aluminum frame with cutouts for the cameras and a full-body wide camera bump (which lines up with other rumors). It’s impossible to know if this is indeed an actual body for an iPhone 17 Pro or just a mock-up that someone made. But if it’s true, it validates previous rumors that Apple could be changing the iPhone Pro models’ frame from titanium to aluminum, which is much lighter.

Although speculation about an ultrathin iPhone 17 Air has hogged the spotlight, the Pro models tend to have more upgraded features. In addition to the camera, the Pro could get a surprising new color and the much-coveted scratch-resistant, antireflective display.

A rumored video of the iPhone 17 Pro surfaced on X via @skyfops, though it’s unclear whether the clip shows the real device or just a dummy model:

I just spotted a test development iPhone in the wild 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/iS3PtKWqxJ

— Fox Pupy 🦊🧡 (@Skyfops) July 28, 2025

Apple hasn’t announced anything or confirmed any rumors, and we likely won’t find out for sure until the next iPhone officially comes out. Until then, we’re tracking all the biggest leaks and rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro and sharing what we’ve heard so far.

Read more: I May Upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro Max If These 6 Rumors Are True

Watch this: iPhone SE 4 vs. iPhone 17 Air Rumors: Does Size Matter Over Cost?

06:50

iPhone 17 Pro’s rumored camera bump redesign and movable telephoto lens

The iPhone 17 Pro’s camera has been the subject of multiple rumored changes, but recent ones come from an anonymous tipster.

MacRumors says a tipster who claimed to be familiar with an iPhone Pro commercial revealed features that included a telephoto lens — upgraded to 8x optical zoom from 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro — that can apparently move. A moving lens could allow continuous optical zoom at various focal lengths, according to MacRumors.

CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland, who’s been reviewing phones for CNET since 2016, noted that Sony, which for years made the sensors for the iPhone, had a couple of phones with a variable zoom lens that worked like an actual camera zoom lens. While Apple may not use the exact same technology as Sony’s, Holland notes, it could adapt some of it for the iPhone 17 Pro.

MacRumors also reported the iPhone 17 Pro could have an additional Camera Control button, which would be in addition to the bottom-right edge camera button the iPhone 16 models sport, as well as a new camera and video app.

In January, Bu posted a leaked image on X suggesting that the phone could feature a pill-shaped camera bar that looks a lot like the camera bar on Google’s Pixel 9 phone.

That raised the question of whether the iPhone 17 Pro would align the three camera lenses in a single row or leave them stacked in a pyramid design, as it did with the iPhone 16 Pro.

In February, Bu posted CAD renders of what could be the iPhone 17 lineup, and Front Page Tech also shared iPhone 17 Pro renders in this video on YouTube (Apple filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser, featured in this video, over leaks about the iOS26):

Both showed horizontal camera bars for the iPhone 17 Pro models that keep the stacked lens layout.

Pu wrote in March that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature a 48-megapixel telephoto rear camera, up from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 Pro models. That would mean all three cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro models — wide-angle, ultrawide and telephoto — would be 48 megapixels.

And as for your selfies, analyst Jeff Pu reports that the front-facing camera will be upgraded from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 24 megapixels on all iPhone 17 models.

Front Page Tech reported in April that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max may also add a built-in video feature that allows you to record with the front and rear cameras simultaneously. The feature would let you overlay a shot of your face over an outward-facing video. A video upgrade from the already stellar iPhone 16 Pro could add some serious value for video creators considering the iPhone 17 Pro.

Read more: Apple, Please Don’t Let AI Ruin the iPhone 17’s Camera

Pro displays could get an antireflective upgrade

On July 16, MacRumors cited a “reliable source” in reporting that the Pro and Pro Max could get a scratch-resistant antireflective display, reversing itself on previous reports that Apple had to scrap plans due to scaling issues. If the latest rumor proves true, the upgrade from Apple’s Ceramic Shield display could prove an enticing feature for the Pro and Pro Max.

Holland called the antireflective display one of the best attributes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Apple Insider reported in May that the iPhone 17 could get a larger display than the iPhone 16. DSCC founder and Counterpoint Research VP Ross Young posted on X that the base iPhone 17 will be 6.3 inches, an upgrade from the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch display. In theory, that means the iPhone 17 would have the same screen size as the iPhone 17 Pro.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to continue with a 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display, respectively, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Rumored design changes for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

The latest rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max design include colorful developments and a new frame composition.

Orange among the Pro color lineup

Rumors of a new color for the iPhone started in April, when Twitter user and leaker Majin Bu (not the Dragon Ball Z character) posted that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could get a sky blue option.

But on July 14, Bu posted that Apple is ditching sky blue for the Pro Models, with only the rumored iPhone Air claiming the hue. Then on July 29, Bu posted a video on X of Pro mockups in four colors:

black
silver
dark blue
orange

What’s your favorite iPhone 17 Pro color? pic.twitter.com/yVck0lXuss

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 29, 2025

Digital blogger Weibo said that one of the colors is “related to the liquid glass design of iOS 26,” saying it would be white but with different visual effects depending on which light it was in.

For reference, the iPhone 16 and Plus made a splash last year when they debuted pink, teal and ultramarine color options, alongside the standard white and black. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max introduced a new color, desert titanium — a restrained shade of peach — alongside the classic natural titanium, white titanium and black titanium options.

The Pro models have traditionally featured more muted colors, so the prospect of an orange or glass-inspired color could offer an exciting new look for the Pro.

Apple logo moving lower

The Apple logo on the back of the phone may be moving lower on the Pro models, as shown in a Bu post on X of an iPhone 17 mockup:

iPhone 17 Pro design: logo moves lower.
Here’s why
Full Article:https://t.co/xeC6d0oBeN pic.twitter.com/Q8QwkT56IL

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) June 28, 2025

The change in location is reportedly coming to make room for the larger camera bump design.

Improved audio quality

On June 2, wccftech, said the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would get longer earpieces, citing a post on X from @duanrui1205. In theory, that could signal improved audio clarity. At the Worldwide Developers Conference later in June, Apple said audio quality will improve with software updates in AirPods with H2 chipsets. CNET got to learn firsthand how Apple tests, calibrates and tunes the audio (and video) on an iPhone. Additional improvements in audio quality could potentially elevate an already impressive feature.

More RAM for iPhone 17 lineup

Apple Intelligence and AI are likely to play more prominent roles with the iPhone 17. To support the new features, all the iPhone 17 models will step up to 12GB of RAM, tipster Digital Chat Station reported in April. Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air and Pro models would get that increased 12GB of RAM, but not the base model.

Considering that the iPhone 16 lineup had 8GB of RAM across all models, this could be a big upgrade for the iPhone 17.

Aluminum frames for all, except Air

There’s been plenty of discussion about whether the iPhone 17 Pro will ditch its titanium alloy frame for an aluminum one. In February, MacRumors said Pu predicted that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have all-aluminum frames or potentially part glass, part aluminum for better durability. The iPhone 17 Air would stick with Apple’s current titanium frame — or possibly a mix of titanium and aluminum.

Dynamic Island size in question

Pu predicted in May that all iPhone 17 models will use a new metalens technology for the proximity sensor, which could result in a smaller Face ID sensor and Dynamic Island, according to a report by 9to5Mac. However, Pu’s report contradicts Kuo, who said that the iPhone 17’s Dynamic Island would remain “largely unchanged” compared with the iPhone 16.

Dimensions

According to a report by 9to5Mac in May, the iPhone 17 Pro line may be thicker, 8.725mm, compared with the iPhone 16 Pro, which clocks in at 8.25mm thick. That larger size could potentially make room for more battery.

In a post on X on July 11, Majin Bu showed a video of a case for a thicker iPhone 17 Pro model, with the design likely based on the iPhone 17 Pro’s rumored dimensions:

New Magsafe Case Design for iPhone 17 Pro pic.twitter.com/ynavEmiPam

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 11, 2025

New A19 Pro chip could improve performance

There’s been some back and forth about the chip for the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, but rumors have consistently given the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max the A19 Pro chip.

More recently, MacRumors reported that a Weibo account known as Fixed Focus Digital said the iPhone 17 Air will also come with an A19 Pro chip, like the Pro models. But the Air would have a 5-core GPU, according to the rumor, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would get a 6-core GPU. An upgraded GPU could improve graphics and video rendering.

Battery life could get a big boost

What good is a new phone if it doesn’t last all day, right? The iPhone 17 Pro Max will get the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, the Weibo leaker known as Instant Digital said in a post on X, as reported by MacRumors. However, the site noted Instant Digital’s spotty record with Apple rumors. If the Pro’s dimensions are identical to the Pro Max’s, as they’re rumored to be, it stands to reason that the Pro could get the bigger battery, too.

And Majin Bu posted on July 3 that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature a vapor chamber cooling system, which could help prevent the bigger battery from overheating.

iPhone 17 Pro release date expected in September

Apple is holding an event on Tues. Sept. 9. We expect the iPhone 17 series to be announced along with new Apple Watches and AirPods. Preorders for a new iPhone typically begin the Friday after an announcement, with the phone shipping a week later. Based on the Sept. 9 event date, the preorder date could be Sept. 12.

Tariffs could raise the price, but there are other factors

Trump has raised, lowered and paused tariffs a dizzying number of times since February, all of which could affect the cost of the iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple, which says it could move much of US iPhone production from China to India, has escaped many of the tariff hikes thanks to a reciprocal tariff exemption list that includes many phones, laptops and other electronics that Apple produces.

However, all the reprieves appear to be temporary so reciprocal tariffs could still affect prices by the time the iPhone 17 is released.

Trump threatened Apple with a 25% tariff on all iPhones made outside the country in a social media post on May 23. Later that day, he said that all smartphones — not just iPhones — would be hit with the 25% tariff by the end of June if they don’t move operations to the US.

Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple plans to raise iPhone prices later this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. Apple apparently plans to ascribe the price increase to better features and design costs so it can avoid pointing the finger at tariffs and incurring the wrath of Trump (like Amazon temporarily did).

Holland points out that the iPhone is overdue for a price bump. He noted that Apple has never increased the price for an iPhone Pro ($999) since the iPhone X was first introduced in 2017.

So yes, you should expect to pay more for the iPhone 17, regardless of tariffs.

Read more: Thinking About Buying a New iPhone? Here’s Why You Should Wait

Are new iPhone rumors and leaks to be trusted?

Here’s the part where I come in and say: Everything’s a rumor until Apple officially releases the next iPhone. Rumors and speculation leading up to the iPhone’s release are often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from teams working on the iPhone’s designs, but those designs are works in progress — not necessarily the final product.

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September 8, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Upcoming Destiny Rising patch boosts Exotic drops & adds major new feature

by admin September 4, 2025

Destiny Rising’s latest patch notes make big adjustments across nearly every part of the game, bringing boosts to Exotic drops, combat balancing, new features, and more.

Headlining the patch notes are adjustments to Activities like Gauntlet: Onslaught and Nexus Interface, which have had their difficulty tuned down. Meanwhile, Exotic drops are now more generous in both Pinnacle and Basic Rewards.

An artifact archive has also been introduced, activity previews have been added to the Acclaim system, and the Black Market has been overhauled with a higher Favor cap. Quality-of-life improvements also hit weapon perks, emotes, and sprays, making the game more transparent and easier to navigate.

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There are even changes to character progression, with Xuan Wei’s Weapon Mastery getting a rework, Tan-2’s abilities have been adjusted, and new lore entries have been expanded upon. So, here’s the full rundown of everything included in the latest Destiny Rising patch notes.

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Netease

Optimizations & Adjustments

Combat & Balancing Adjustments

[Activity Difficulty] Lowered the difficulty of Gauntlet: Onslaught – Issakis’s Tabernacle.
[Activity Difficulty] Lowered combat intensity in Strike – Nexus Interface.
[Combatant Adjustments] Weakened Ogres’ Rampage Recovery ability, making it easier for Lightbearers to deal damage and trigger Knockout.
[Event Mechanics] If a Front Line event isn’t completed within 30 minutes, combatants will now reset.
[Activity Mechanics] Gift of the Nine: Boxer now deals additional fixed damage.
[Weapons] Improved the display of Exotic weapon Heir Apparent’s heating progress.
[Weapons] Added damage effect descriptions to weapon perks’ vector allocation display.
[Weapons] Fixed a balancing issue where Sidearms had lower DPS than other weapons of equivalent range.
[Game Performance] Improved screen-shake and vibration when taking blast damage.

New Features & System Improvements

[New Feature] Added an artifact archive.
[New Feature] Added activity and feature unlock previews to the Acclaim system.
[System Improvement] Improved tips for character-exclusive emotes and weapon-exclusive sprays.
[System Improvement] Improved filter logic for character recommendations in Realm of the IX.
[System Improvement] Improved Black Market bounty issuance and raised the merchant’s Favor cap.

Characters & Narrative Content

[Character Customization] Added a fourth skin tone to character creation.
[Narrative Content] Added lore entries tied to character quests for Tan-2, Finnala, and more.
[Character Abilities] Adjusted Xuan Wei’s Weapon Mastery. Aftermath now triggers an extra weapon damage instance instead of granting increased damage.
[Character Abilities] Added a 0.1s cooldown to Tan-2’s Phosphorus and Efficient Conversion Flare Energy mechanic.
[Character Abilities] Changed the unlock requirement for Weapon Mastery Lv.5 to Acclaim Lv.25.

Economy & Resource Cost Adjustments

[Pinnacle Rewards] Increased Exotic weapon drop chances from Pinnacle Rewards in activities like Strikes, Gauntlet: Blitz, and Shifting Gates at Reward Lv.6+. Legendary Campaign missions adjusted similarly.
[Basic Rewards] Added a chance to receive Exotics as Basic Rewards in Strikes, Gauntlet: Blitz, and Shifting Gates at Reward Lv.5+.
[Basic Rewards] Added Exotic weapon drops as Basic Rewards in Singularity: Chaos at Reward Lv.6+.
[Basic Rewards] Morgran’s Prey (Heroic) now grants Mod Fragments at Reward Lv.6+. Normal difficulty rewards adjusted.
[Basic Rewards] Slightly increased Basic Reward quantities across all activities.

Artifact System Improvements

[Weapon Boost] Changed effect to grant a flat weapon damage bonus instead of a timed buff.
[Quick Equip] Added a Wishlist button that applies recommended artifact loadouts to your Singularity: Chaos wishlist.
[Artifact Attributes] High-value artifact marker split into Gold (best) and Silver (good).
[Artifact Refactor] Added warning pop-up if Refactor Again would skip a stronger artifact.
[Artifact Dismantle] Equipped and Unequipped tabs added to the dismantle screen. Equipped artifacts can now also be dismantled.

Fixed Issues

Environment & Level Issues

[Sparrow Racing] Fixed incorrect ranking displays.
[NPCs] Fixed quest-tracking requirement for interacting with NPCs.
[Game Performance] Fixed controller performance bug on iOS with Device Vibration enabled.

Character & Ability Issues

[Abilities] Fixed Ning Fei’s Lightning Strike overpenetrating high-tier combatants.
[Abilities] Fixed Attal’s reticle icon display for Weapon Mastery triggers.
[Abilities] Fixed Wolf’s Flames tracking time to match cast time.
[Abilities] Fixed Tan-2 gaining unintended excess energy from Allocation Vector.
[Abilities] Fixed Weapon Mastery extra damage bug when defeating low-health combatants.
[Talents] Fixed Ning Fei’s Talent 6: Astral Projection not activating correctly.
[Talent Tree] Fixed Wolf’s 6th Talent dynamic avatar unlock prompt.

System & Feature Issues

[Artifact System] Fixed obstructed artifact descriptions.
[Artifact System] Fixed artifact dismantle list display.
[Results System] Fixed clear time display bug when failing a stage.
[Acclaim System] Fixed real-time reward claiming issue.
[Payment] Fixed Japan payment blocks due to age verification.
[Redemption Codes] Fixed redemption issue for some bundles.
[Events] Fixed reward claim bug for Event: Memento Mori.

While you wait for the patch to go live, be sure to check out our Destiny Rising tier list, codes page, and best weapons that will give you an advantage.

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September 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Libby is adding an AI book recommendation feature

by admin August 29, 2025

Overdrive’s digital book lending app Libby is adding — you guessed it! — AI. The new Inspire Me feature is an AI-fueled discovery tool tuned to your local branch’s collection. Following a soft launch this month, it will be officially available in September.

To avoid the pitfalls of a full-on chatbot, Overdrive is limiting the discovery process of the feature. Instead of typing freely into a prompt box, you’ll start by answering several canned preference questions. These include categories (such as fiction and biography), age groups (adult or child) and preset adjectives (like “clever” and “silly”). You can also let it make recommendations based on your previously saved titles.

The AI will then spit out five suggestions from your local library. Overdrive says Inspire Me prioritizes ebooks and audiobooks that are immediately available. Each recommendation will include a brief explanation of how it aligns with your stated interests.

Some in the library community reacted sharply to the feature. “Smoke is pouring out of my ears,” librarian Rachel Storm posted on Bluesky (via TechCrunch). “I’m honestly surprised it took this long for them to enshittify Libby,” Orion Kidder responded.

Libby’s AI privacy policy states that Inspire Me only sends tags connected to “a random selection of titles you have saved” to the model. The policy says it only sends the book titles, not any other details about you or your device. Overdrive says it designed the feature to minimize energy impact and will monitor its footprint over time.

As long as there isn’t anything sneaky tucked in beyond that, this sounds like a relatively tame (and potentially handy) use of AI. Then again, I sometimes spend my work hours writing about the truly disturbing shit, so take my perspective as you will.

Regardless of your perspective, the feature will roll out broadly in September. You’ll find it by tapping the Libby icon in the app menu.

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August 29, 2025 0 comments