#Opinion
83 Stories
I Tried Arc on Windows: Likeable but Can It Replace My Current Browser?
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Arc browser is a new browser with unique UI and features like Spaces, vertical tab navigation, colorful themes, split view, and more. It's still under beta on Windows and some features are missing, but it has the potential to be a good Chrome alternative. Read my piece to understand why.
5 Android Features That Make Switching to iOS Impossible (For Me)
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There are some features on Android that make so much more sense, and they've been missing on iPhones for now. While naming them all could be challenging, here are my five favorite features on Android that stop me from making the switch over to iOS.
A Look at Google’s Tablet Strategy: Time for a Course Correction?
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The Pixel tablet released last year was supposed to be Google's redemption in the tablet market but it did not work out for them. So for their next tablet, they should go back to the drawing board and put efforts in improving the hardware and software features while also ditching any gimmicks.
Who Knew Backrooms Break Is the Virtual Rage Room I Needed
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Backrooms Break is the newest kid on the block and that combines the concept of backrooms with a swing your hammer at entities fantasy. Put in charge of escaping the infamous backrooms, I had my fair share of fun running around endless hallways and defeating creatures corrupted with Black Mass. Besides the destructible environments, the game packs a dedicated weapon and tactical system along with a whole lot more. Check it out here!
Valorant Wishlist: 8 Features Riot Should Add ASAP
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Valorant has made its mark as a top-tier tactical FPS game. The game's competitive and casual sides are constantly updated with new content. Despite that, the game should add things that can make it even better on quality and experience. That is why I compiled a list of things that I think Valorant should add in the game.
10 League of Legends Characters I Want to See in 2XKO
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As someone who is overly excited about Riot's fighting game 2XKO, I am eagerly awaiting EVO Japan in hopes of more news about the game. With the event underway, I decided to sit down and list the League of Legends characters I hope to join the upcoming fighting game's roster. These include some popular choices along with ones I feel can make a difference.
Anti-Social Social Media App ‘Palmsy’ Is a Big High-Five to Self-Validation
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Palmsy is a new app in the block that aims to be a social media detox app by 'forging' the experience. It does so by faking the likes you get on your posts on the platform. Super strange and unique, right? That's what got me too, and I just had to give it a try. I will say this, the app certainly has its own weird way to getting you to validate yourself.
Honkai Star Rail First Anniversary: A Lookback on the Game’s Player-Driven Approach
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Honkai Star Rail is celebrating its one year anniversary on April 26, 2024. The game has improved a lot in multiple aspects over the years, from story telling to QoL features. Honkai Star Rail has taken a player-first approach in their first year and it has lead to a solid player base.
Does Nothing’s Ultra XDR Improve Photos? We Tested It Out!
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The Ultra XDR feature in Nothing OS 2.5.5 is a format that allows for more detail in bright and dark areas of images. It's a rebrand of the Ultra HDR feature found in Android 14 and above. The feature can be enabled in the camera settings and results in brighter images with more detail, but at the cost of larger file sizes. It's not exclusive to Nothing devices, with Samsung and OnePlus using similar features.
Stellar Blade Review: More than a Pretty Face
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Stellar Blade focuses on EVE and her companions as they arrive on the ruins of a devastated Earth. Not long after, EVE finds herself alone and trapped by all sides by Naytiba, the game's main villains. The game features an action packed story combined with beautiful characters and amazing voice acting. The blazing fast combat system kept me on my toes while the dynamic soundtrack calmed me down at once. Keep reading to find out about all the other elements that make this game great along with our Verdict in this Stellar Blade review.
With Solo Leveling’s Success, the Breaker Manhwa Deserves an Anime Next
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As we see more Korean Manhwas and Webtoons get adapted into anime, I think we should also hope for an adaptation of the Breaker Manhwa and Webtoon. The premise of the story and its pacing benefits it getting adapted into an anime, fitting perfectly into arcs. Furthermore, as more martial art anime get popular, an adaptation of the Breaker will heavily benefit it to find its fan-base.
The Rise of Open World Games in the 2000s
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Open-world games have been in the industry for over three decades now with the concept evolving ever since. From the modern open-world of GTA 3 to the current waves of Cyberpunk 2077, or The Witcher 3, it has been going through huge upgrades ever since beginning. Let us dive deep into the evolution of open-world games from the last 20 years and talk about what can come in future.
Llama 3 vs GPT-4: Meta Challenges OpenAI on AI Turf
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Meta released its Llama 3 models recently so we have taken the liberty to compare the 70B model with the flagship GPT-4 model. Surprisingly, Llama 3 performs as good as the GPT-4 model despite being a smaller model. In advanced reasoning tests, it demonstrates intelligence and does better than GPT-4 in following user instructions.
What Does Google’s AI-Hardware Merger Mean for Your Next Android Phone?
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Google has decided to merge AI and Hardware teams, and for those wondering, here's what this decision could mean for Android. This could mean users will get faster updates, better ecosystem features on Pixel, better AI features, and improvements to existing AI features.
After Years of Ban, Retro Games Are Now Playable on iPhones; Here’s How
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After receiving flak from EU, Apple has finally allowed game emulators on iPhones and it means you can now play retro games like Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania on your iPhone without jailbreaking it. Riley Testut's Delta Emulator is now available on the App Store and it supports all the popular game systems along with save state functionality.
Snapdragon X Elite Can Redefine the Future of Windows Computing
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In the build-up to the launch of Snapdragon X Elite, we take a look at the x86 architecture, and how different is the ARM architecture. Can the Snapdragon X Elite fix poor battery life and thermal performance, mostly seen on Windows laptops? We tackle all these questions and try to understand the future of ARM-based PCs.
Wait for the PS5 Pro? Nah, I’m Buying the PS5 Right Now
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GTA 6 is coming in 2025 and it will not be available for PC. Fearing I would miss out, I decided to get a PS5. While I first thought about the PS5 Pro, my thoughts immediately changed knowing about its speculated specifications. Now that industry experts are also saying it will run GTA 6 just as the standard edition, I think PS5 at a discounted price will be more value for money.
This Essential New Chrome Feature Will Shield Your Account From Hijacking
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Cookie theft aka session hijacking has become a security menace where attackers gain access to users' online accounts without requiring a password or 2FA authentication. To put a stop, Google has developed Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) for Chrome that bind the authentication session to the device. It means attackers can't use the stolen cookie to access accounts on another device. You can enable DBSC on Chrome right away.
The Android Ecosystem Is Fractured: Here’s Why It Can’t Catch up to Apple
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In this article, I discuss the state of the Android ecosystem in 2024, highlighting the lack of a unified ecosystem. Going over some aspects of why it is that way and what can be done to change or fix it and whether there is a future for a well connected Android space just like Apple's.
Helldivers 2 Proves That Gamers Can Be Non-Toxic and Friendly
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Helldivers 2 is quite possibly one of the most fun and friendly games I have ever played. Despite taking place in such a hostile environment coupled with so many chances for friendly fire, the game houses one of the least toxic communities I have ever come across. There are a lot of reasons for that. However, the strongest include Arrowhead Game Studios tapping into the very idea of a common cause and using it perfectly inside a game.
I Tested Meta AI on WhatsApp And Here’s Everything It’s Capable Of
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Now that Meta AI is available to use from WhatsApp in India, I gave it a shot and in this read, I will be sharing my first impressions with it. It can provide answers to your questions, has access to the latest information, cites sources for the thing it fetched from the internet and can even generate images. So this is my overview and quick impressions of Meta AI.
6 Reasons Why Minecraft Multiplayer Is Superior to Single Player
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Both Minecraft modes are good in their own way, but there are some reasons that make multiplayer generally better than single player. First, it instantly makes the game progression easier. Furthermore, some in-game items and blocks have a proper use in multiplayer, like a trapped chest. Other players will constantly keep you motivated to finish your projects and you can create a world and a whole community together. Finally, thanks to lots of active available servers out there, you will always have some new things to try with your friends.
Ninja Kamui Is an Underrated Anime You Must Watch in 2024
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Ninja Kamui is an original anime that features an incredible story telling and animation but still it isn't able to gain enough fan following. Well, in this post, we discuss what this anime has to offer and why it has remained under rated.
This Tekken 8 Mod Is a Godsend and Helps Me Rank up in Peace
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As I continue playing Tekken 8 ranked matches and getting stressed about the overall game, I installed a mod called Tranquility. It hides the player sided ranks for yourself and your opponent. And, doing that has once again make me enjoy Tekken 8 ranked. There are a lot of reasons for that but the primary one for me is that it helps me enjoy ranked engagements without the added worries of competition.
OxygenOS 15: 7 New Features OnePlus Should Bring Next
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OxygenOS 14 brought a lot of features but after recently switching to OnePlus, I've realized that the OS could do great if OnePlus adds a few new features and improves some of the existing ones. Some of them are an improved media player, a Desktop Mode, and a Quick Settings revamp.
Minecraft Is Hard to Beat Without Guides, but Do You Really Need To?
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Minecraft is a sandbox game, with an official ending that occurs when the player kills the Ender Dragon. However, there are no in-game quests that lead you to this conclusion. Moreover, while the in-game advancements are very helpful, they still lack important details that new players need to beat the game. The lore elements are not obviously connected either. Despite these elements, beating Minecraft without research or guides is possible. However, depending on how motivated you are, it might take a little or a long time. But, beating the game is nowhere near important as just enjoying the experience.
From Pixel to OnePlus: How OxygenOS Won Me Over
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I recently purchased OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition and switched from a Pixel 6 which served me for almost three years. Although I despised OnePlus' decision to merge the ColorOS and OxygenOS codebases, buying the OnePlus 12R meant I had to shift from Pixel's clean UI to OxygenOS (ColorOS). After trying it I can say that I don't hate it, rather it feels like a breath of fresh air.
5 Exciting iPhone 17 Leaks That Will Make You Skip iPhone 16
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Scheduled for 2025, the iPhone 17 models may bring some mind-blowing features and improvements. Apple is expected to launch the entire iPhone 17 series with a 120Hz ProMotion display and 24MP front-facing camera. The iPhone 17 Pro models might bring an edge-edge screen experience with an under-display Face ID. We might also see an iPhone Ultra model in the iPhone 17 lineup that's expected to arrive in September 2025.
7 Game Mechanics I Want in Every Open World Game
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The sense of freedom and immersion a good open world game provides cannot be compared to many other games. Sadly, most recent open world games lack the features I love most about the genre. The 7 game mechanics I want in every open world game are Territory Wars, Randomly Created Dungeons, Roaming Optional World Bosses, Visual Indicators for Important Locations, Multiple Quest Outcomes, the Ability To Kill/Fight NPCs, and good Traversal Skills.
5 Reasons Why You Should Start Watching One Piece Anime in 2024
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If you haven been meaning to try to get a taste of One Piece or have had it on your watchlist for a while, there must be one reason behind this which is "it will take me too long time to complete". However, today, I've come up with five compelling reasons why you should start watching One Piece in 2024 such as the beginning of the final saga, mysteries starting to get unraveled and many more.
HoYoverse Has Outclassed Itself in Storytelling with HSR 2.1 Trailblazing Missions
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HoYoverse outclassed itself by providing one of the most well-thought of and visually stimulating story telling in the Honkai Star Rail 2.1 trailblazing missions. The 2.1 missions was a complete roller costar, featuring Aventurine's back story, Acheron's real identity, Firefly's identity, Aventurine's masterplan, Constance and Boothill's cameo, and Gallagher appearing as the villain, all done with perfect pacing and timing.
It’s About Time We Get a Budget Wear OS Smartwatch
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Android Wear or WearOS has been out for a decade now and still no sign of a smartwatch in the budget segment. Keeping it out of reach from most enthusiasts and users who would actually want to buy one. In this read, I discuss why it is high time Google should consider making a budget Android smartwatch.
Tron Ares Will Be a Soft Reboot of Tron Franchise Rather than a Sequel?
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With the announcement of Tron: Ares, there are speculations that this movie is going to be a direct sequel of Tron: Legacy. However, there are certain aspects of the movie that make it seem like it is going to be a soft reboot of the Tron franchise. The costume design where the data disk is triangular, the concept of an AI program travelling to the human world, the absence of previously seen characters only make this assumption even stronger.
The Steam Deck Has Made Me Play More Games, and I’m Lovin It
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Booting up the Steam Deck during my vacation, I realized that over the last year, I've played more games on it compared to my gaming PC. There are a lot of reasons for it. These include the Steam Deck's unique form-factor that let me stay on the screen for extended periods and finish my games till their actual end. Furthermore, the Deck's PC architecture opened the door to emulation that helped me enjoy my childhood favorites in 2024. Clearing off dozens of games from my Steam library that would have taken months on my actual PC, I can see why the Steam Deck helped me play more games.
Is Content Warning Still Worth Buying Now That It Isn’t Free?
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After a solid debut free trial run on Steam, the scarily fun Content Warning has a price. In terms of just the fun and horror element balance it is totally worth it. On top of that, the constant communication with players, new content, and mod availability makes this a fun experience. Content Warning is available on Steam for $7.99.
There’s a Secret Way to Opt-Out of ChatGPT Model Training!
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While ChatGPT offers the option to disable model training on your content inside ChatGPT's settings page, it also disables Chat History. This discourages users from disabling model training. That said, OpenAI has a separate privacy portal page where you can request the company to not train its model on your data while keeping the Chat History functionality intact. OpenAI doesn't promote this privacy portal page inside ChatGPT's interface. In fact, a passing mention is found on its FAQ page.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Scratches the RPG Itch I Have Ahead of Elden Ring’s DLC
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Elden Ring's DLC is still far away from releasing and it is becoming harder to wait. Fortunately, we have Dragon's Dogma 2 to enjoy in the meanwhile as it fills the crater-size RPG hole for me ahead of the DLC. The game comes very close to the Elden Ring experience and even does some things better.
5 Features That Can Bring Genshin Impact on Par with Honkai Star Rail
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Genshin Impact has been recently adding a lot of good QoL features, which the players have been asking for ages. However, there are still a lot of features the Genshin Impact players want in the game and haven't been implemented yet. The 5 five features I would want for the Genshin devs to add to the game are: More End Game Content, A Real Artifact Loadout, Store Residual Energy, Ability to Craft or Farm Exact Artifacts, and Archived Events.
Google Play Edition Phones Deserve a Comeback in 2024
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Play Edition devices were Google's attempt at bringing Stock Android to some of the most popular devices that ship with custom UI on top of Android. Google should bring it back to offer Pixel-like Android experience with other devices in partnership with manufacturers in theirupper mid-range an flagship devices.
This Co-Op Horror Game Lets You Go Viral on SpookTube or Die Trying
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Content Warning is a co-op horror game that seems like a combination of Lethal Company and Phasmophobia. The game revolves around players going to the Old World and capturing footage. Once recording is done, uploading it to Spooktube to get views, going viral, and making money is the ultimate goal. Meanwhile, the monsters in Old World will welcome players with open arms. I had a blast being scared out of my wits in this game and I share just why.
My Experience with Clove in Valorant: Enough to Shake the Meta?
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I played Clove in early access with bunch of other professional players and for a week after launch, and I think they are a meta shifting agent. You get some of Reyna's ability that offers you faster heals while letting you activate it without being in the line of sight. Meddle is also an instant decay that can be very useful in pistol rounds and combining it with AOE damaging abilities can be huge. Smoking after death is why I think Clove can be easily fit in any composition and might make the teams play double controllers in a comp.
Google’s Pixel A Series Faces the Chopping Block; Big Mistake?
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The direction in which the recent Pixel 8a leaks and the upcoming Pixel 9 series leaks point toward Google eventually discontinuing the A series of devices. This is because both the price and specification gap between the regular and A series Pixels is diminishing, and Google wouldn't want one's sales devour others' sales. Besides, the firm is also upping the number of models, which might bring the price of the vanilla model down, thereby leading to the discontinuation of A series.