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Steam to Drop Support for Windows XP and Windows Vista at the End of the Year

Valve has announced that Steam will drop support for Windows XPand Windows Vista from January 1, 2019. What this means is, if you're still on either OS, your Steam games will not be playable until you upgrade to a more recent version of Microsoft's operating system.

The reason for this is Steam works on an embedded version of Google Chrome that doesn't work on older versions of Windows either. With upcoming versions of Steam dependent on Windows features and security updates that don't support Windows OSes that predate Windows 7, it means upgrading is mandatory.

"Starting on January 1 2019, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. This means that after that date the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows. In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of Windows," a post from Valve reads.

"The newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows. In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 7 and above."

For the rest of 2018 Steam games will work on Windows XP and Vista though other features like the new Steam Chat won't work.

If you're a fan of video games, check out Transition, Gadgets 360's gaming podcast. You can listen to it via Apple Podcasts or RSS, or just listen to this week's episode by hitting the play button below.

News Technology

Foxconn Says Investigating Labour Conditions at China Factory Used for Amazon

at 10:02 am 0

Contract manufacturer Foxconn said on Sunday it is investigating a plant in China that makes devices for Amazon.com, after a US watchdog group criticised what it described as harsh working conditions at the factory.

A 94-page report by New York-based China Labor Watch that followed a nine-month investigation cited excessive hours, low wages, inadequate training and an overreliance on "dispatch" or temporary workers in violation of Chinese law at the Hengyang Foxconn plant in Hunan province, which makes Echo Dot smart speakers and Kindle e-readers.

"We are carrying out a full investigation of the areas raised by that report, and if found to be true, immediate actions will be taken to bring the operations into compliance with our Code of Conduct," Foxconn Technology Group said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

Taiwan-based Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, is the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer and employs more than a million people.

Foxconn, which also makes Apple iPhones, came under fire in 2010 for a spate of suicides at plants in China. Foxconn pledged to improve working conditions.

China Labor Watch said its investigation found that about 40 percent of workers at the plant were dispatch workers, far exceeding the 10 percent limit under Chinese law. Dispatch workers were paid at the same rate for regular and overtime hours, rather than time and a half as required, said China Labor Watch Program Officer Elaine Lu.

"They were underpaid," Lu said. "That's illegal."

Dispatch workers earned CNY 14.5 ($2.26) per hour, the report said. Workers also put in more than 100 overtime hours per month during peak season, far more than the 36 hours allowed by law, and some worked for 14 consecutive days.

Amazon said it audited the factory in March and found overtime and use of dispatch workers were "issues of concern."

"We immediately requested a corrective action plan from Foxconn," Amazon said in a statement. It said it is monitoring Foxconn's response and "compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct. We are committed to ensuring that these issues are resolved."

Foxconn said in an earlier statement that it "works hard to comply with all relevant laws and regulations" where it operates and conducts regular audits. "If infractions are identified, we work to immediately rectify them," it said.

Sports

Guardiola reveals why he will never manage Barcelona again

at 7:23 am 0

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said he would never manager Barcelona again, as his time at the Nou Camp has come and gone for good.

Guardiola won incredible 14 titles during a four-year spell as Barca head coach, including three La Ligas, two Champions Leagues and two Copa del Reys.

But the Spaniard admits he would not be able to live up to his own legacy, because he couldn’t recreate the unique circumstances that opened the door to their domination.

“As a coach (of Barcelona), it’s over. I am not the same, nor do they even look at me in the same way,” he said on Spain’s TV3.

“I was at a fantastic age in which I was taking on the world. We took it on with some incredible players, a young president (Joan Laporta), Txiki (Begiristain)… it was a generation of brutal players and the best player in the world (Lionel Messi). The stars aligned.”

Games Technology

Fortnite Nintendo Switch Release Date Possibly Leaked

at 6:50 am 0

While Fortnite for the Nintendo Switch is pretty much a given at this point thanks to multiple news outlets as well as 4chan with the icing on the cake being the game rated via the South Korean ratings board. Now we may just know Fortnite's Nintendo Switch release date thanks to celebrity artist Chance the Rapper who tweeted that Fortnite would be out tomorrow, June 11. However with Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation slated for a day later, we won't be surprised to see on June 12 if not later. Reason being, there's no point releasing the game on the Nintendo Switch and then showing it off at an event.

Nonetheless, you won't have to wait too long to play Fortnite on Nintendo Switch. The company recently loaded Fortnite Switch onto its servers, essentially confirming that we'll see the game soon enough. All that’s left is for Epic Games or Nintendo to officially announce Fortnite for the Nintendo Switch which we should see at E3 2018 at Nintendo’s conference along with a release date.

Fortnite on the Nintendo Switch should come as no surprise for a host of reasons. Earlier in the year Epic Games Worldwide Creative Director Donald Mustard has openly stated his admiration of the console’s potential for a Fortnite port. Plus, if Doom can make it to the Nintendo Switch, third-parties have no reason not to bring their biggest and best to the console.

Earlier in the year, industry insider and editor Marcus Sellars, both games are in the works for Nintendo’s hybrid console smash hit.

“Fortnite = Nintendo Switch”, Sellars tweeted. According to Sellars, the battle royale cooperative shooter will release around August or September. “Wouldn’t say fact as it’s not confirmed by the developer but yeah it’s happening,” he said in a later tweet.

Xbox Game Pass Gets Machine Learning Tech and New Games

at 1:55 am 0

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's Netflix-style games service is getting an upgrade called FastStart. According to the company, it will allow you to get into games twice as fast compared to the tech used in Xbox Game Pass right now. It will be made available for select titles in an update later this month.

In addition to this, big name games such as The Division, Fallout 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and The Elder Scrolls Online will be coming to Xbox Game Pass as well. Microsoft also reiterated that its upcoming titles like Forza Horizon 4 and Crackdown 3 will be coming to the service day one while third-party games such as Ashen and Warhammer: Vermintide 2 are on the way as well.

And while Microsoft touted the benefits of FastStart on stage at its E3 2018 event, the fine print suggests you'll need a 20Mbps line to get the best of it.

"Games will still download based on your local bandwidth, and you’ll need to have an internet connection with at least a 20Mbps download speed to take advantage of FastStart. That minimum speed helps maximize the number of users who can take advantage of FastStart while minimising the possibility of experiencing gameplay interruptions," reads a post from Jason Ronald, Principal Group Program Manager, Xbox Platform on the official Xbox site.

This caveat notwithstanding, the FastStart system uses machine learning and doesn't require developers to do any extra work to optimise their games for FastStart. That said, Ronald's post states that FastStart doesn't speed up download times. Instead, it identifies files needed to begin gameplay first and prioritises those over others, which could result in massive benefits over time.

"That means if a game previously took 30 minutes to download and play, you will now be able to begin gameplay after just 15 minutes. In addition, since FastStart takes advantage of machine learning, we will continue to improve our algorithm over time getting players into the fun as soon a ......

Games Technology

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One Gameplay Trailer Shows Off Puzzles and Story

at 1:37 am 0

During Microsoft's Xbox E3 2018 conference, Shadow of the Tomb Raider got an extended gameplay trailer. It showed off some welcome chunks of gameplay that saw series protagonist Lara Croft solve a puzzle in a Mayan temple followed by making an escape. The trailer reveals bits of the plot tied to her escapades in the temple as it triggers an event that referred to as the "cleansing".

This should lead into what we know about the game. In terms of setting, there’s a city ravaged by a tsunami, obvious Mayan influences and its villain is called Doctor Dominguez. The game begins in Cozumel, Mexico with her hunting down an ancient key. What we saw at the Xbox E3 event is probably the opening section of the game, or close to it. The game is out on September 14 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

Publisher Square Enix revealed Shadow of the Tomb Raider's frame rate and resolution for Xbox One X. On the Xbox One X, you can play Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 4K resolution at 30fps which the company calls "4K Resolution" mode or you can play it in what is described as "High Resolution" mode which is "targeting 1080p" at 60fps.

Additionally, Square Enix claims that both options "feature a wide variety of additional enhancements such as HDR, improved physically-based rendering, hardware tessellation, anisotropic filtering, additional dynamic foliage, and more." You can check out the E3 2018 trailer below.

It's an interesting choice of words with Square Enix stating its targeting 1080p at 60fps instead of saying Shadow of the Tomb Raider would run at 1080p locked at 60fps. Perhaps its considering options such as dynamic resolution to ensure the frame rate stays at a solid 60.

Current generation titles like Halo 5 and Wolfenstein 2 use similar techniques though they're fast-paced shooters and a stealth-adventure title like Tomb Raider prioritising 60fps over resolution is an odd choice.

Games Technology

Cyberpunk 2077's First Trailer Drops at Microsoft Xbox E3 2018 Event

at 11:19 pm 0

Microsoft’s E3 2018 was full of game announcements and this one may just have stolen the show. We got our first look at CD Projekt Red’s next game — Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red is the studio behind The Witcher series of role-playing games which have some of the best RPG storytelling ever seen in video games. Cyberpunk 2077’s trailer was cinematic so we didn’t get to see much in the way of gameplay but here’s what we saw in the trailer anyway.

The trailer of Cyberpunk 2077 begins with the narrator talking about the fact that the game is set in the USA in the year 2077. He says that in 2077 they voted his city as the worst place to live in America.

This is apparently because of widespread poverty and sky high crime rates. He tells us that everybody still wants to live there, as that city is the city of dreams. The narrator says that the city’s always got a promise for you, which might be a lie or illusion but it is there.

The narrator in the Cyberpunk 2077 trailer introduces himself as a big dreamer and we see some familiar sights such as a monorail, while there were a lot of futuristic elements such as holographic displays, sci-fi weapons, flying cars, and superfast cars. As the narrator had described earlier, we get to see some of the crimes being committed in the city as the trailer drifts into a montage.

The final part of the trailer had a lot of people being killed in various gory ways and that doesn’t tell us all that much about the story except that it’s going to be set in the future where there will be lots of killing. Make of that what you will, but we’re looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077 as it looks like a completely different game from The Witcher series.

Sports

2018 World Cup: Nigerian coach, Rohr reveals Super Eagles game plans against Croatia, Iceland, Argentina

at 10:11 am 0

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed that his side formation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be determined by how the opponents line up.

The German tactician has tested out the 3-5-2, 4-1-2-1-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations in recent friendlies against Congo DR, England and Czech Republic and also in training sessions.

Speaking about his game plans before the World Cup kicks off next week, Rohr told welt.de: ”Our offensive is well-known, that’s right. But I think we are already balanced.

”Our style of play also depends on the opponent. We beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly in November. It is not just about the results, but also about the appearance of the team.

”We want to give a good picture of the African continent – together with Senegal we are the only black African team in the tournament.”

The Eagles will be seeking their first win in their opening game of the World Cup in 20 years when they clash with Croatia next Saturday.

Sports

Salah fires back at Sergio Ramos over injury claims in Champions League final

at 6:12 pm 0

Liverpool winger, Mohamed Salah, has laughed off claims from Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, that he could have played through the pain barrier in the Champions League final.

Salah suffered heartbreak in Kiev, when he was forced off in the first half with a shoulder injury, after a tussle with Ramos.

Ramos then claimed Salah could have ploughed on with a pain-killing injection, but the Egyptian international has hit back at the Spaniard.

He told Marca: “Ramos’ comments? It’s funny.

“My comment is that it’s always okay when the one who made you cry first, then makes you laugh.

“Maybe he could also tell me if I’m going to be ready for the World Cup?

“He sent me a message, but I never told him it was ‘okay.’ Was it a normal challenge? I don’t know. Maybe?

“When I fell to the ground, I had a mixture of physical pain and a lot of worry. Also anger and sadness for not being able to continue playing the Champions League final.

“Moments later, I also thought about the possibility of not playing in the World Cup and that was a devastating thought.”

Games Technology

Vampyr and Life is Strange Developer Reveals New PS4 Game Twin Mirror

at 1:40 pm 0

During the PlayStation Countdown to E3 2018 event, Vampyr and Life is Strange developer Dontnod revealed Twin Mirror. It's a new PS4 game that's billed as a psychological thriller. Bandai Namco is the publisher and Twin Mirror is set for a 2019 release date. The game takes place in Basstown, West Virginia, you'll don the role of Sam who has returned home to attend the funeral of his best friend.

While recovering from a heavy break-up, Sam finds himself dejected and downtrodden as he interacts with former friends in his hometown. Things take a turn for the gruesome when Sam wakes up in his hotel room with a shift covered in blood. He has no recollection of the night before, making for a game that seems similar to Silent Hill and Indigo Prophecy.

As per the game's trailer Twin Mirror has a photorealistic style akin to Vampyr rather than Life is Strange, making for a darker game.

In a post on the official PlayStation blog, Cyrus Wesson, Community Specialist for Bandai Namco said:

"An exciting, story-driven adventure game, Twin Mirror is a compelling journey that explores the elements of choice and hypocrisy, while paving a players’ way toward the conclusion of their investigation."

"Truth, duality, and polarity will all become factors as players dictate their future through personal choices, while investigating the town the protagonist calls home."

"Twin Mirror is a psychological thriller wrapped around an investigation where your memories, choices, and relationships will determine Sam’s complicated fate. As he comes to terms with heartbreak, homecoming, and the perpetual struggle of adulthood, Sam will need your help exploring a dark and emotional adventure where the line between truth and deception is blurred."

We should see more of Twin Mirror at E3 2018. Perhaps at Sony's PlayStation E3 2018 event

Sports

Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon speaks on move to Liverpool after World Cup snub

at 1:24 pm 0

Genk forward, Moses Simon, has admitted he would like to play in the Premier League, amid speculations linking him with Liverpool.

The 22-year-old is back to full fitness, after being dropped from the Super Eagles squad to the 2018 World Cup.

Moses Simon was cleared to start running by Gent doctors three days ago.

In an interview with OwnGoalNigeria, the player reiterated his backing for his team-mates ahead of the World Cup.

“We have a very united team and that is largely due to the effort of the coach Gernot Rohr and the leadership of the NFF. A healthy spirit in camp is really important going into a major tournament like the World Cup,” he said.

‎Speaking on the rumours linking him with a move to Liverpool, Moses Simon added: “I am aware of the report linking me with Liverpool and all I can say is let us wait and see. Gent and my agent have also received offers from clubs in some other European countries. My wish is to play in England, we have to wait and see.”

Sports

Transfer news: Real Madrid prepare £300m bid to beat Manchester Utd for PSG’s Neymar

at 10:23 am 0

Real Madrid are ready to authorize a world-record transfer bid of over £300million to beat Manchester United to a deal for Paris Saint-German star, Neymar this summer.

Neymar, who became the most expensive player in history last summer, has been linked with a move away from PSG since joining the Ligue 1 giants from Barcelona in a deal worth almost £200m.

According to The Sun, UK, The Los Blancos have remained the frontrunners to secure a deal for the Brazilian international ahead of United, who were lining up a world-record move for the 26-year-old, with manager, Jose Mourinho desperate to bring the forward to Old Trafford.

It claimed that as part of Neymar’s move from Barcelona to PSG, a stipulation was included in the deal, allowing him to leave the Ligue 1 giants for £263m on September 1, the day after the transfer window closes.

It added that the reigning Champions League holders are hoping to sign Neymar this summer in a deal that will cost over £300m and don’t want to wait until January next year.

However, Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric was captured in a video exchanging shirts with Neymar outside the dressing rooms at Anfield after Brazil defeated Croatia 2-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly played last week Sunday in Liverpool Stadium.

And towards the end of the 42-second clip, Modric can be heard telling Neymar, “We are waiting for you, eh.” Neymar replied with a laugh before the video ended.

When asked after the match about Neymar potentially joining Madrid this summer, Modric told reporters after Brazil’s win over Croatia, “Let’s see what happens.”

Sports

Guti to become Real Madrid coach – Galvez

at 9:58 am 0

Real Murcia’s president, Victor Galvez has said his club was unable to hire Guti as their new coach because he is about to be appointed Real Madrid boss, Skysports reports.

Zinedine Zidane left his post at the Bernabeu last month after landing his third successive Champions League trophy.

In the aftermath of his departure, various names, including Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri have been linked with the job.

However, Murcia’s president says Guti, who is in charge of Real Madrid’s U18 side, will be the man to succeed Zidane

“Guti won’t become Murcia boss because he’s going to become Real Madrid coach.

“He was the guy I wanted, and it’s a shame Zidane didn’t take a couple of days longer to make his decision. Guti called me to thank me for my interest,” Galvez said.

Guti is a product of the Real Madrid youth system and enjoyed a glittering 15-year career at the club – lifting five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies and appearing 542 times.

If Guti is appointed, it would be the second “in-house” appointment made by club president Florentino Perez after Zidane made the step up from coaching Real Madrid B in 2016.

Guti, a former Spanish international, has never held a senior managerial position.

Technology

Gmail for Android Gets Customisable Swipe Actions With Latest Update

at 9:32 am 0

Gmail is rolling out a new feature that allows the Android app's users to customise actions for left and right swipes on emails. Available with the latest update version 8.5.20, it is currently uncertain whether the feature has been available since the latest version's release date or is a server-side update. Either way, Gmail users now get the freedom to change controls for left and right swipes - which were previously set to Archive on both by default.

This development was first spotted by Android Police and is claimed to have arrived with the latest update, which started rolling out on May 30. The ability to customise swipes is available under Settings > General Settings > Swipe actions. In this menu, users can choose between options such as Archive, Delete, Mark as read/ unread, Move to, and Snooze. You can also choose the None option to remove any actions from the particular swipe. Once done, the actions will be applicable across the app.

Interestingly enough, the changelog of the latest Gmail for Android update does not explictly mention this feature as an addition to the app. Instead, it focuses merely on trivial changes like bug fixes and improvements.

Back in April this year, Gmail had announced its biggest update in recent times, including a design refresh after five years. The update included the addition of new features such as email shortcuts, Smart Reply, Nudge for replies, Confidential mode, and native offline mode. While testing began after the announcement, the redesign is reported to roll out to all users in July, with every user being switched over by September.

Mobiles Technology

Huawei Y3 Prime (2018) Specs and Price in Nigeria

at 1:20 am 0

Here comes another budget from the hands of one of he biggest Chinese OEM and top selling smartphone maker at the moment with its hands in a number of other other tech gadgets around. The smartphone to be reviewed does not have much features but what it does have is a nice design and an affordable price to go with. Which brings us to consider how the specs offered justify the asking price rather than what feature it does and doesn’t have.

Huawei Y3 Prime (2018) Key Specs and Features

5.0-inch, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 854 x 480 pixels (196 PPI)
Android 8.0 Oreo (Go Edition)
Quad-core MediaTek MT6737M CPU with 1GB RAM
8GB built-in storage space, up to 128GB with a memory card
8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera
4G LTE
2, 280mAh non removable Li-ion battery

Design and Display

By default, entry level smartphone like the Huawei Y3 (2018) does not get much of the need to look stunning or to keep up with the latest trends. Sporting a 16:9 aspect ratio from the days of yore, the smartphone looks very much like a budget device a status that is emphasized by its plastic build.

Viewing on the smartphone is just on a downside like every of its peer with just a small sized display at that. Surrounded by quite obvious bezels, it is looks rather wide as opposed to the slender display seen in premium smartphones. Colours are not so vibrant because of the 854 x 480 pixels resolution.

Battery and Camera

Taking about battery power in low budget smartphones is not usually in the context of large as you mostly have what could just take you till the end of the day. Supplied power from a 2, 280mAh battery, the Huawei Y8 Prime (2018) charges through a MicroUSB port.

Taking pictures is left to an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP selfie shooter which does not offer much and can barely function in low light. However, it does take okay pictures in full light but don’t expect anything crisp at this price.

Hardware and Software

Running tasks on the Huawei Y8 Prime (2018) is the same as its predecessor with no changes made in this aspect. That being said, you have just a quad-core MediaTek MT6737M processor and a Mali-T720 MP2 graphics processing unit.

The similarity continues as it retains the same 1GB RAM ad an 8GB internal storage space as before on the Huawei Y3 (2017) and has 128GB expansion limit supported. Also, there’s the Go Edition of the latest Android 8.0 Oreo optimised for better performance on low specification.

Huawei Y3 Prime (2018) Pricing and Availability

The smartphone is on sale in various online stores for about 38, 000 naira depending on your location and the deal.

Huawei Y3 (2018) Specs

Here are a few specs of the Huawei Y3 (2018):

General Features

Platform: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
Processor: Quad-core Mediatek MT6737M
GPU: Mali-T720MP2
Memory: 1GB
Colours: Gold, White, Gray
Dimension: 145.1 x 73.7 x 9.5 mm
Weight: 175g
SIM Type: Nano sim
SIM Count: Dual sim

Display

Display: 5.0-inch, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 854 x 480 pixels (196 ppi)
Screen Protection: –

Camera

Rear Camera: 8MP camera, 720p Video
Rear Camera Features: phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Features Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
Front Camera: 2MP camera, 480p Video@30fps

Storage

Built-in Storage: 8GB
Memory Card Support: Yes, up to 128GB
Bundled Cloud Storage: –

Network Support

2G GSM: Yes
2G CDMA 1X: –
3G WCDMA: Yes
3G CDMA EVDO: –
4G LTE: Yes

Internet & Connectivity

GPRS: Yes
EDGE: Yes
3G/WCDMA/HSPA: Yes
HSPA+: Yes
CDMA EVDO: –
4G LTE: Yes
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct,
Wi-Fi Hotspot: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
NFC: –
Infrared Blaster: –
USB Port: MicroUSB 2.0

Messaging

SMS/MMS: Yes
Instant Messaging: Yes
Push Emails: Yes
Email Protocol: –

Entertainment

Music Player: MP3/eAAC+/WAV/Flac player
Video Player: MP4/H.264 player
FM Radio: Yes
Loudspeaker: Yes
3.5mm Jack: Yes

Navigation

Navigation: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
Maps: Yes

Sensors & Control

Digital Compass: –
Accelerometer: –
Proximity Sensor: Yes
Light Sensor: Yes
Barometer: –
SpO2: –
Pedometer: –
Heart Rate Monitor: –
Gyroscope: –
Fingerprint Scanner: –
Iris Scanner: –
Face Unlock: –
Intelligent Digital Assistant: –
Motion Sensing / Gesture Control: –
Voice Control: –

Other Features

Video Streaming: Yes
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
Wireless Charging: –
Built-in Mobile Payment: –
Water Resistant: –
Dust Resistant: –
Image Editor: Yes
Video Editor: Yes
Document Viewer: Yes
Document Editor: Yes

Battery

Battery: 2, 280mAh non removable Li-Ion battery
Talktime: –
Standby Time: –
Fast Charging: –

News Technology

Google Search, Google News Get New Features for 2018 FIFA World Cup

at 5:57 pm 0

Google has announced a bunch of updates to help people stay up-to-date with the happenings of the 2018 FIFA World Cup that is kicking off later this month. Among other changes, Google Search will include a new experience to give updates ongoing tournaments. There will also be the option to let fans watch live matches of their favourite teams. Google Assistant will also be uplifted to enable updates right with voice commands. The search giant will also add a dedicated World Cup Tracker on the Google News app along with a special 'spotlight' feature. Likewise, Google Maps will also be updated to help World Cup attendees find best local places to watch the games.

While Google Search already offers real-time score tracking, Google reveals in a blog post that during the FIFA World Cup, there will be a "new experience" on Search to let fans explore group tables, stats, and trending players all under one roof. The search engine will also include video recaps from select broadcasters featuring goals and highlights of major match moments within 30 minutes of the end of each game. Further, there will be the options to watch each match live and view scores updates using Google Search on mobile devices. A detailed timeline with updates, including in-game moments, live images, stats, and tweets, will also be surfaced on Google Search throughout the tournament. Google Search, Google News Get New Features for 2018 FIFA World Cup

Android users will get an option to pin real-time scores on their phone screen directly from Google Search using a web browser or from the Google app. Importantly, Knowledge Graph cards will include a 'Pin Live score' button to enable pinning of live updates. There will be a pill-shaped UI that will include country flags, scores, and match duration. The users will be able to place this new UI on anywhere on the homescreen. A single tap on the UI will open the full search list. Further, dragging of the UI to the bottom of the screen remove it from the screen. Google Search, Google News Get New Features for 2018 FIFA World Cup

Information from local broadcasters and national teams will appear via Posts on Google. Similarly, special Google Doodles will be available specifically in the countries that are competing in the forthcoming World Cup.

Google Assistant will additionally be upgraded to offer match-related answers. Google News app on Android, on the other hand, will have a dedicated World Cup Tracker that will include the 'spotlight' feature to visualise live scores, highlights, results, and schedules in an easy way. There will also be direct YouTube links to let football lovers watch video highlights of different matches. Notably, the tracker within the Google News app will be available for users in the U.S., Germany, France, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia.

YouTube will list FIFA World Cup moments and select video highlights from official FIFA broadcasters in over 80 countries. Also, YouTube TV in all its supported markets in the US will offer live broadcast of matches. Google Maps and Google Search will additionally include the "good for watching sports" highlight on business listings to help users find their best local places to watch the matches. This will be available starting June 14.

Sports

Fekir undergoes Liverpool medical as £53million move draws near

at 5:22 pm 0

Lyon midfielder, Nabil Fekir, has undergone his medical with Liverpool ahead of a £53million move.

Fekir is now expected to sign a five-year contract worth around £140,000 a week.

Afterwards, the France international will fly out with his national team for Lyon, to prepare for their final World Cup preparation game against the USA.

Anfield Sporting Director, Michael Edwards, negotiated a fee in principle of £49m for the Lyon attacker, which will rise to around £53m, with achievement-related bonus payments.

Liverpool were keen to complete the deal before the player departs for Russia.

He will now become Jurgen Klopp’s second arrival of this summer, following Fabinho’s move from Monaco.

Mobiles Technology

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Specs and Price in Nigeria

at 7:29 am 0

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus upgrade is here with a whole lot of new and interesting features that is worth putting your money on. The smartphone packs a large screen estate with a full HD+ resolution display and vibrant colour reproduction. It also features a nice design with a nice quality build and attractive aesthetics that catches the eye.

XIaomi Redmi 5 Plus Key Specs and Features

5.99-inch IPS Display, 1080 x 2160 pixels (403 ppi)
2.0Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 CPU with 3GB/4GB RAM
Android 7.0 (Nougat), MIUI 9
32GB/64GB built-in Storage, up to 128GB memory card
12MP Rear Camera and 5MP Front Camera
4G LTE Data
FIngerprint scanner (Front)
4,000 mAh non removable Li-Po Battery

Design and Display

One of the feature the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is nice aesthetics and well-curved edges and the recent bezel-less trend is also one the nice design that the smartphone comes with. The body is made of a nice Aluminium alloy with unibody design which is both durable and sleek. The smartphone is neither thick nor slim at 8.1 mm and weighs an average of 179g.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus come with a full HD+ display with no side bezels giving you more space to enjoy the view better. The 5.99-inch 1080 x 2160 pixel IPS LCD display has a pixel density of 409 ppi alongside an immersive color display with good viewing angles.

Camera and Battery

When it comes to taking pictures Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus offers a decent camera with a 13MP rear camera alongside a LED flash and a 5MP selfie camera. The camera should be able to take sufficiently decent pictures considering the additional features that comes with it like Xiaomi’s Smart Beauty 3.0 feature with face recognition. Often at times large pixel size does not usually translate to a better image so the camera should be a good one considering the other specs it features.

The battery capacity is fairly large considering that most smartphones have a little more than or exactly 3, 000mAh battery capacity. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus comes with 4, 000mAh battery capacity which should be able to last a day and some hours on light usage.

Hardware and Software

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is a fairly powerful device and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 that clocks at 2.0GHz to prove it. The smartphone is available in two variant, a 3GB/32GB and a 4GB/64GB model both of which offers a smooth performance.

Both models comes with the same software package, running the same Android 7.1 with the MIUI 8 skin on top. This feature some new tweaks, customization and gestures that offer some additional fun giving you another level of Android experience.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Price and Availability

The smartphone is currently available for sale in Nigeria and you can get it in retail outlets for a price ranging from 55, 000 Naira to 80, 000 Naira all depending on your ability to look for the best deals and your location.