Samsung’s more refined Galaxy Z Fold 4 goes on sale August 26th starting at $1,800

While many other smartphone makers have yet to even attempt selling a foldable device, Samsung is already four generations deep. And on the new Galaxy Z Fold 4, instead of redesigning the entire device, Samsung is tweaking its formula to create a faste…

Samsung’s Z Fold 3 durability one year in: Tougher than you might think, but with one big caveat

Foldable phones are still kind of awkward, unproven devices. But over the last three generations (with a fourth presumably on the way), Samsung has made major strides with its designs, paving the way for innovative (though sometimes quite pricey) alter…

OnePlus 10T review: Speed above all

When OnePlus does a mid-year refresh of its phones, typically you end up with a slightly snappier device with a handful of slight refinements. But with the new OnePlus 10T, it feels like a lot was sacrificed for the sake of going all-in on speed. Updat…

Lenovo Yoga 9i review: Possibly 2022’s best 2-in-1

Lenovo was one of the first companies to really nail 2-in-1 design, and ever since it’s been refining the formula for its top-notch convertibles. And while there are a couple small variables I’m not fully on board with for this year’s edition, there’s …

‘Kirby’s Dream Buffet’ looks like a mash-up of ‘Fall Guys’ and ‘Mario Party’

Even though there’s already been one major Kirby game this year, Nintendo’s lovable pink puffball is making a second appearance sometime later this summer in Kirby’s Dream Buffet. 

While Nintendo’s official description is a bit sparse, Kirby’s next adventure is billed as a four-player party game that will see gamers “roll through a smorgasbord of food-themed stages” while bulking up on strawberries. At the end of four rounds, players will battle it out in a “fruity fight atop a floating platform” to determine which Kirby reigns supreme. 

Based on footage from Nintendo’s trailer, Kirby’s Dream Buffet features obstacle courses reminiscent of Fall Guys, but without the massive 60-player lobbies you get in Mediatonic’s popular battle royale-style platformer. In addition to four human players, it appears you’ll also have to compete against NPCs in the form of computer-controlled Waddle Dees. You can gain advantages by using various power-ups like speed boosts or Kirby’s signature copying ability, while some glimpses of the final round look like an evolved version of Mario Party’s classic Bumper Balls mini-game. 

So far, Nintendo has yet to provide an official release date for Kirby’s Dream Buffet, only specifying that the game will be released sometime this summer on the Nintendo eShop. Pricing is also still to be determined, though based on the scope and nature of the game, I’m not expecting it to feature a full $60 price tag like you usually get with big tentpole Nintendo titles. 

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 review: When two screens are better than one

Whenever I’m away from my desk and dual monitors, it feels like an out-of-body experience. I’m constantly yearning for just a little more screen space. But when you’re traveling, what are you supposed to do? Sure, you can get a portable monitor, but th…

Ubisoft is killing online support for 15 games on September 1st

If you have fond memories of older Ubisoft games with online components from the early 2010s, you might want to check in on them soon. That’s because on September 1st 2022, Ubisoft is dropping support for online services in 15 different games including Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.

In a post on Ubisoft’s website, the company says it’s decommissioning online services in some of its older games in order to “focus our resources on delivering great experiences for players who are playing newer or more popular titles.” Depending on the title, gamers will no longer be able to access multiplayer modes or even download and install additional content (DLC). 

Affected games are spread across various platforms including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, HTC Vive, Oculus and Wii U, with notable titles including Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, the 2012 release of Assassin’s Creed 3, Anno 2070 and more. And in some cases like Space Junkies, which is a multiplayer-only title, the game will be completely unplayable. Meanwhile, for others such as Ghost Recon Future Soldier, you’ll need to put your console in offline mode just to play the solo campaign. 

While most of these games enjoyed 10 to 12 years of support since their release, it’s still a bit sad to see Ubisoft drop support for online services for some of its most iconic franchises — especially in titles where DLC will no longer be accessible. For a full list of games that are being decommissioned on September 1st, please visit the company’s help page here for more information. 

Apple plans to let you pay for gas using CarPlay

Apple has a big update to CarPlay slated for sometime later this year, but in the meantime, the tech giant has begun working with partners to support a new feature that will let users pay for gas directly inside the company’s infotainment platform. 

While the ability to purchase fuel using CarPlay was first revealed during developer sessions at WWDC earlier this month, it didn’t get a ton of attention until recently when energy company HF Sinclair announced plans to implement the feature at its gas stations in the U.S. 

HF Sinclair told Reuters that more specific details will be released in the coming months, but the basic idea is that instead of needing to swipe your credit card at the pump, users will be able to buy gas via an app in CarPlay. However, there will be some initial setup, as you’ll need to download the app and enter your payment info first. Once everything is set up, you’ll be able to select a specific pump from your navigation screen and refuel without needing to pull out your wallet. 

Ahead of a major update to CarPlay, Apple’s push to support buying gas digitally comes amidst larger efforts to integrate more third-party services as the company looks to expand the role of its automotive platform. In a statement given to Reuters, Asymco analyst Horace Dedie said given the reach of CarPlay, this strategy could have an even greater impact than Apple’s long-rumored efforts to design its own EV. 

“Forget about Apple Car – Apple CarPlay is a bigger deal,” Dediu said. “It’s very likely to scale to millions and millions of cars, if not hundreds of millions.” However, with Google also eying a number of upgrades to Android Auto, it appears the competition among in-car infotainment systems is just beginning to heat up.