ChromeOS might introduce customizable keyboard shortcuts

Screenshot: Ars Technica

It looks like Google is testing a way for Chromebook users to set custom keyboard shortcuts. About Chromebooks' Kevin Tofel found a currently non-functional keyboard shortcut editor in the ChromeOS 111 beta that is accessible by enabling flags with names like "enable-shortcut-customization-app" and "improved-keyboard-shortcuts."

The screen looks like it's accessible through the Settings app. And it shows a list of shortcuts you can use across the operating system and the default keybindings for them. This experimental version allows you to add alternative shortcuts. But it doesn't seem to work for now. Another hint that this option is coming is that you can reset the defaults for a specific shortcut or all shortcuts. There have been hints about this feature before but it looks like this beta version is the best iteration. Hopefully, it rolls out widely soon.

Via

Some Google employees criticized 'rushed' Bard announcement

Photo: Google

Some Googlers aren't happy with the company's recent announcement of its ChatGPT rival, Bard. Posts in the company's internal message boards called the launch of the AI chatbot "rushed" and "botched," with many targeting CEO Sundar Pichai. Google announced Bard earlier this week to try and get ahead of Microsoft's ChatGPT-powered Big redesign.

But when the company tweeted out a demo, several users pointed out that it contained a factual error. And then during Wednesday's launch, a presenter forgot the phone they were going to use to show off one of Bar'ds features. And there were reports that some employees weren't even aware of the event. Google's stock to a big blow after the news about Bard's error started making its rounds, losing nearly US$100 billion of its market value in a day.

Source

Valve plans a major update for 'Team Fortress 2'

Screenshot: Valve

It's been years since Valve released a major update for Team Fortress 2. But that's about to change. The studio published a rare blog post on the TF2 website asking the game's community to submit new content to the Steam Workshop ahead of May 1. Valve teases that it plans a "full-on update-sized update - with items, maps, taunts, unusual effects, war paints" and more. It plans to release the update in the summer.

As Engadget noted, the last major content release for TF2 was back in 2017 for its 10th anniversary. The smaller updates released in the past few years centred around the botting problem that made it impossible to play the title. So, if you've been waiting patiently for a new content addition, now's your time.

Samsung to launch a special edition, BMW M3-inspired Galaxy S23 Ultra

Photo: Samsung and BMW

Samsung continues its tradition of releasing special edition versions of its phones. This time, the premium Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra gets a new look thanks to a partnership with BMW M. The phone will get a limited-edition version design paying homage to the German automaker's E30-generation BMW M3. Samsung plans to release only 1,000 units starting February 17 in South Korea for KRW 1,727,000 (around CA$1,820) through SK Telecom.

Click to read more ...