Administrator – CHIPSVICTORY

Sony has made a PC adapter for the PlayStation VR2

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 11:19:03 +0000

In February, Sony confirmed plans to add PC support to its PlayStation VR2 headset and now, we have an idea of what that will look like.

As spotted by XR-focused YouTuber Brad Lynch, a March Korean filing by Sony points to an adapter that will allow the PS VR2, which is currently only compatible with a PS5 console, to run on a PC.

When Sony originally confirmed PC support, it said it was targeting a launch sometime in 2024. Therefore, a months-old filing would suggest that Sony is on track to meet that goal. It should be noted, however, that the filing doesn’t provide any details on how the adapter will connect to PC or even how much it will cost.

Still, Sony is no doubt hoping that the PC support will help the PS VR2. The device was released last year to overall solid reviews, although it was criticized for its steep $750 price tag and lack of launch games. The headset has also reportedly missed Sony’s sales targets by hundreds of thousands of units. It remains to be seen what benefit, if any, the PC support will bring.

In the meantime, Sony is running its latest annual big Days of Play promotion, offering $120 discounts on the PS VR2 as well as savings on PS5 consoles, games and more.

Distributed also on: Korea’s National Radio Research Agency Via: Brad Lynch

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YouTube Music app restructures paywalled features in Canada

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:19:06 +0000

YouTube Music in Canada will soon need a subscription to listen to music in the background and use CarPlay/Android Auto. To offset this, free users will now be able to enjoy fully on-demand music instead of shuffle only. These changes go into effect on July 8th, 2024.

YouTube is also tossing in its custom user-tailored playlists and the ‘Samples’ tab which isn’t a huge plus since it’s a weird TikTok-like scrolling video feed that only plays clips of songs. It is handy if you want to find a song or sound for a short video, but for music listening it’s not a huge addition.

All that said, while background play being disabled is a huge blow to free-tier users, I could see a world where unlimited on-demand makes up for it. Having access to more playlists and mixes is also something I expect free users to enjoy, but one of the joys of YouTube Music is the huge catalogue of user-generated playlists and songs so I’m not so sure having more YouTube-created playlists will be a big enough draw to offset the removal of background playback.

YouTube Music costs $10 per month in Canada, but if you jump up to $12 per month you also get YouTube Premium which removes ads from YouTube and allows you to use YouTube’s mobile picture-in-picture window or play videos while your screen is off. While I haven’t been a huge user of YouTube Music, in my experience it’s a serviceable music streamer and having access to songs that are uploaded as YouTube videos gets you a wider music collection than Apple Music and Spotify. That said, the main reason I still pay for it is because of how nice YouTube Premium is.

Virgin, Fido offering Pixel 8 for $15/mo financing

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:17:06 +0000

The Big Three flanker brands all have the Google Pixel 8 on sale for around $15/mo financing, making it cheaper than the newly launched Pixel 8a.

Since there are a few factors at play here, including the actual cost of the device and the plan, we’ve broken down the offer by provider below. But if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option, it’s technically Fido, though not by much.

It’s also worth noting that the Pixel 8 is currently on sale from the Google Store for $699 ($250 off), so depending on your current plan, it might be cheaper to hold onto that plan and buy the phone outright.

Virgin Plus

We’ll start with Bell-owned Virgin Plus just because it’s where I first saw the Pixel 8 deal. Virgin offers the phone for $15/mo financing for 24 months, which totals out to $360 paid for the phone. Additionally, Virgin offers two plan options to pick from:

$65/75GB 5G (up to 250Mbps)
$55/60GB 4G (up to 150Mbps)

It’s worth noting the $65/mo plan is “unlimited,” and Virgin throttles speeds to 256Kbps beyond the 75GB data cap. Aside from that, the plans otherwise offer the same features, including unlimited Canada-wide calling, unlimited international texting sent from Canada, and video streaming quality capped at 480p.

This means the lowest cost to get the Pixel 8 at Virgin is $70/mo or about $1,680 over 24 months. Based on my calculation, if you currently have a plan that costs $40 or less, you’re better off buying the Pixel 8 directly from Google while it’s on sale.

Learn more here.

Fido

Rogers-owned Fido also has the Pixel 8 available for $15/mo financing, down from the regular $46.17. Again, that totals out to $360 paid for the phone over 24 months. Plans include:

$54/50GB 4G (up to 150Mbps speeds)
$59/60GB 4G (up to 150Mbps speeds)

Notably, both those plans include a $5/mo discount for using automatic payments. Both plans include unlimited Canada-wide calling and international texting sent from Canada.

Since Fido’s cheapest plan is only $1 lower than Virgin’s plan, the calculation is just about the same. You’re looking at $69/mo for 24 months, or $1,656 total. While technically cheaper, you’d still be better off buying the phone outright from Google for $699 if you can get a plan that’s under $39/mo.

Learn more here.

Koodo

Finally, Telus flanker Koodo has the Pixel 8 available for $16.29/mo on Tab Plus ($390.96 over 24 months). Koodo only offers one plan for Tab Plus, a $54/50GB 4G option with speeds capped at 100Mbps. It includes unlimited Canada-wide calling and texting, plus a free perk option, such as an unlimited long-distance pack.

Thanks to the slightly higher cost for the phone, Koodo works out to be the worst option at $70.29/mo and $1,686.96 total after 24 months. If you have a plan that costs less than $41 per month, you’re better off buying the Pixel outright from Google during the sale.

Learn more here.

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro is $300 off until June 2

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:15:05 +0000

Google is discounting the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro for up to $300 off until June 2nd. This is a good time to buy if you want one of the latest Pixel flagships.

Here are the deals on the Google Store right now:

It’s worth mentioning that Amazon also sells the Pixel 8 Pro for $1,049.99, the Pixel Buds Pro for $179.99, and the Pixel Watch for $219.99.

Leaker compares Z Fold 6’s Cover Screen to the Z Fold 5

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:13:04 +0000

With the Galaxy Fold Unpacked on the way, Ice Universe has been leaking news about the upcoming Samsung foldables.

Galaxy Z Fold5 vs Galaxy Z Fold6Fold6 screen width =Fold5 screen width+right bezel width pic.twitter.com/cbIjMNjikV

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) May 30, 2024

According to the leak, the Fold 6 will have a slightly wider display that resembles the S24 Ultra. Ice Universe says that the width of the Fold 6 equals the width plus the right bezel width of the Fold 5.

I like the Fold 6’s wider screen, but I was hoping it was slightly wider, similar to the OnePlus Open or even the Pixel Fold. However, this is definitely a welcomed first step.

Samsung is rumoured to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6 alongside the Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Ring at its upcoming Unpacked event in July.

Distributed also on: Ice Universe

World of Warcraft lands on Nvidia GeForce Now

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:08:55 +0000

World of Warcraft is coming to Nvidia GeForce Now this week.

The ‘Classic’ version of Blizzard’s massively popular MMORPG, as well as its new expansion, Cataclysm Classic, are some of the game streaming service’s latest additions.

The full list of this week’s new GeForce Now games is as follows:

The Rogue Prince of Persia (New release on Steam) — May 27th
Capes (New release on Steam) — May 29th
Lords of the Fallen (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) — May 30th
Soulmask (New release on Steam) — May 31st
Path of Exile (Steam)
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight (Battle.net)
World of Warcraft Classic (Battle.net)
World of Warcraft Cataclysm Classic (Battle.net)

Additionally, here are four extra games that recently came to the service on top of the 24 that Nvidia had already confirmed:

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) — May 21st
Serum (New release on Steam) — May 23rd
Palworld (Steam, and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)

Finally, here’s what’s coming to GeForce Now in June:

Autopsy Simulator (New release on Steam) — June 6th
Chornobyl Liquidators (New release on Steam) — June 6th
SunnySide (New release on Steam) — June 14th
Still Wakes the Deep (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) — June 18th
Disney Speedstorm (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
Farm Together 2 (Steam)
Resident Evil Village (Steam)
Star Traders: Frontiers (Steam)
Street Fighter 6 (Steam)
Torque Drift 2 (Epic Games Store)

The free version of GeForce Now features ads and a one-hour limit on streams. However, the Priority membership ($13.99/month) removes ads and gives you up to six-hour, 1080p/60fps streams, while an Ultimate subscription ($25.99/month) also removes ads and nets you up to eight-hour, 4K/240fps streams.

All of the memberships can be viewed here.

Image credit: Nvidia

Distributed also on: Nvidia

Samsung devices won’t get Android’s new Instant hotspot feature

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:08:24 +0000

Android is getting a new ‘Instant hotspot’ feature that should make it more seamless to connect an Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s data connection. However, Samsung devices won’t get the feature.

Instant hotspot will roll out as part of the recent Android feature drop and will allow people to easily and quickly share their Android phone’s hotspot with tablets or Chromebooks. The feature will save people time by skipping steps like turning on the hotspot on your phone or entering a password on your Wi-Fi-only device.

However, Android Authority spotted fine print on an image of the feature saying it’s “not available on Samsung devices.” It’s not immediately clear why, but the publication speculates Samsung might have opted out of Instant hotspot since it already offers its own version of the feature, but exclusively for Samsung phones and tablets.

Samsung’s hotspot feature, coupled with the fact that Chromebooks already have an ‘Instant Tether’ feature for easily connecting to a phone’s hotspot, means not getting Instant hotspot won’t be a huge loss for Samsung users.

Still, it’s a bit odd that the feature isn’t coming to Samsung devices since it’s part of Google Play Services, which is available on all Android devices certified by Google.

Distributed also on: Android Authority

The Red Car Theory

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 09:18:37 +0000

This is a short blog with a simple message: Opportunities are all around you, but you have to be looking for them in order to take advantage of them. Here is a 30-second video that illustrates this point.

Joe’s Perspective: I can’t state it any better than she did. “That’s how opportunities work. When you go through life and you are not looking and you are not aware, opportunities just pass you by and you don’t even notice. Anything can turn into an opportunity, but you have to be aware and you have to keep looking.” So, keep your eyes open and be open to new opportunities. This reminds me of a great quote, “Instead of waiting for your boat to come in, swim out to it.” No line is going to form in front of you that says, “Opportunities here, come and get it.” If you want to be successful, you have to be your own advocate. Be willing to take the bull by the horns. Seize the day. Take some risks.

Your Turn: What are your thoughts on today’s blog and how can it positively impact your life?

Mastering Conversation Starters is One of the Best Sales Strategies

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 09:05:51 +0000

What do you want out of your first conversation with a potential customer? One of the best sales strategies is to structure a relationship. Additionally, you can gain valuable insight or instill a sense of trust.

Whatever your goal, you must realize that conversation is not a competition. However, improving your skill at initiating a conversation is. But, if you’re trying to be the most interesting person in the room, you’re doing it wrong.

Building rapport with casual conversation is a prerequisite for nearly all social settings. Still, when you find yourself among potential business prospects it pays to have an agenda. Your goal is to gain information to segue into a more substantive business discussion.

Nevertheless, jumping directly into business is awkward and can be a turnoff. A better approach is to be relevant and bring things up in context. Communications instructor, Matt Abrahams, suggests it’s about curiosity.

Bridging topics and setting hooks for conversation requires active listening and emotional intellect: two more best sales strategies. Still, the smartest shift to learning more is to ask appropriate questions.

Small Talk Can Produce Large Relationships

Small talk lets us learn more about others, see parallels and collaborate — if only for a few moments. Occasionally, these fleeting exchanges add to our friendship network. Consider how many friends you initially met through small talk.

The same thing goes for professional relationships. Open-ended questions about a person’s role or industry can be revealing. With several well-placed questions you can move toward your goal.

Everybody’s Favorite Topic

The easiest thing to talk about is something you know. Adrian Ward, writing for scientificamerican.com, found that people spend about 60 percent of conversations talking about themselves. The simple reason: it feels good.

This Harvard neurological study confirmed that humans gain pleasure from talking about themselves. Therefore, people generally welcome the opportunity to share of themselves more so than other topics.

Armed with this information while seeking the best sales strategies, smart sellers can leverage personal communication to their advantage.

The Goal is to Be Interested, Not Interesting

Ultimately, this could be a challenge for the outbound, unrestrained, never-met-a-stranger salesperson. Hence, keeping a lid on enthusiasm long enough to actively listen may be a chore. As humans we are all subject to the findings of the Harvard study.

Matt Abrahams maintains, “A lot of us put tremendous pressure on ourselves to be interesting.” He likens the banter to a tennis match where we volley and try to score. Better is to envision Hacky Sack where the goal is to serve, have it handled and returned.

Engaging prospects by discussing surroundings, the event, their interests, hobbies, or passions is a creative beginning. Sincere compliments and simple curiosity can compel people to reveal themselves. But remember, it’s not all about you. Rachel Greenwald, author and matchmaker says, “the goal is be interested, not interesting.”

The Transition from Small Talk to Sales Pitch

Using phrases such as: “That reminds me of…”, or “Speaking of…” can redirect the flow toward your goal. Remember to be genuine in your approach and authentic in your purpose.

Much like your eventual sales pitch, be clear in your delivery and take a sincere interest in their pain. Once you’ve engaged the prospect, be bold in your quest for discovery. This is often a good time to test their interest in a follow-up conversation.

Curiosity and a genuine interest in the person comprise one of the best sales strategies for mastering conversation. Skills developed during casual exchanges will pay huge rewards.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto Pexels.com

3 Most Important Attributes in a Teammate

Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 09:01:48 +0000

I have to be honest. I have no idea who this guy is. My guess is he is a special forces guy in the military. My guess is he is part of an elite fighting force. My guess is he has had more training and leadership development than any of us will ever receive.

Given all that, he says there are three things that he looks for in a teammate. 1) Dependability – be where you say you are going to be when you say you are going to be, 2) Skilled – that you are very good at completing the task that you are charged to do, & 3) Selflessness – making sure the needs of others are taken care of before you take care of your own.

And, the one he says is the hardest to do and the most important to do is selflessness. Putting the needs of others before yourself – not once in a while or when it is convenient, but when it matters.

Your Turn: On a scale of 1-10, how selfless are you? How well and how often do you put the needs of your teammates/classmates/friends/family ahead of your own?