Base iPad model rumoured to get USB-C, larger display

The base Apple iPad model might finally get a tech upgrade. Rumours claim its next iteration will switch from having a Lightning port to USB-C when it launches in the fall. This will allow you to plug it directly into supported monitors and other peripherals and improve wired data transfer speeds. If the reports are accurate, there will no longer be an iPad with a Lightning port, which would be a welcome refresh.

Aside from this, the iPad will reportedly get a larger display with the exact resolution as the iPad Air. Of course, the image quality won't be the same, but if you've just been looking for a larger screen, here's an option to consider. This iPad will supposedly have the fourth-generation Air's A14 Bionic processor and 5G support for the cellular variants. It's unclear if the design will change or if it gets support for the Magic Keyboard or second-generation Pencil. 

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'Valheim' will exclusively launch on Xbox consoles in 2023

Viking survival game Valheim will finally make its way from the Windows PC to become an exclusive console title on the Xbox. During Microsoft's Xbox Game Showcase, publisher Coffee Stain and developer Iron Gate announced that Valheim will be coming to the Xbox Game Pass for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X in early spring 2023. It will also be playable via PC Game Pass (and on the Microsoft Store) in fall 2022.

Both versions will have full cross-play support at launch when they're released so Vikings can "build, fight, and survive together"—whether you got the title on Steam, Microsoft Store, or console. Valheim is also expected to get its Mistlands update this year, which brings a new, tree-dense biome.

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Google Maps now shows toll prices on mobile

Google Maps doesn't just help you avoid toll roads. The app can now let you know how much you need to pay. At least if you drive in the US, India, Indonesia, and Japan. Google has enabled toll pricing in these countries for around 2,000 toll roads. It works on both Android and iOS. To see the prices, check your route options before you navigate. It'll show you an estimated cost based on when you're travelling. You can also tweak the settings to display prices with or without toll passes. And yes, you can still use it to avoid toll roads when possible. Google promises to bring the feature to more countries soon. It's a handy option, so we hope it makes its way here as quickly as possible.

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Sony launches 2 premium, pricey Walkmans

Source: Sony

Sony has some new, very expensive MP3s for audiophiles. The company just launched a couple of high-end Walkman players, with the top-of-the-line model, the NW-WM1ZM2, retailing for a hefty US$3,700 (approx. CA$4,782). It has an S-Master HX digital amp with "fine-tuned" capacitors, 99.99% pure gold-plated, oxygen-free copper chassis, and a thick Kimber Kable (linking the amp to the headphone jack). This combination supposedly contributes to a "clear, expansive" output. Its reflow soldering also has gold that supposedly boosts sound localization and widens the sound stage.

This Android-based player has a 5-inch 720p display, a better upscaling algorithm for CD-quality (16-bit, 44/48kHz), and a larger power supply. This has 256GB of expandable storage, Wi-Fi streaming, 40 hours of battery life when playing 96kHz FLAC audio, and charging via USB-C. It supports up to 32-bit, 384kHz audio in formats like MQA and WAV.

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