Tuesday
May142024

YouTube considers 'Pause Ads'

Image: TechSpot

Get ready to be served ads even when you pause your video. YouTube is testing "pause ads" on some TV apps, where the video you're watching is shrunk to sit alongside an ad when you hit pause. This strategy, lauded by Google's Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler, might see a wider rollout.

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Tuesday
May142024

Step into alternate realities: The interactive Marvel 'What If...?' on Apple Vision Pro

Image: Marvel

Calling all Marvel fans with Apple Vision Pro! Dive into an all-new, interactive adventure with What If...? An Immersive Story, a bespoke mixed-reality experience coming exclusively to your headset. Inspired by the hit Disney+ show and comics, this story lets you explore alternate realities within the Marvel Universe.

"The animated series as well as the comic book has always been about looking over the horizon into realities that have yet to be conceived,Executive Producer Brad Winderbaum says in a statement.

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Monday
May132024

Xbox app gets more touch-friendly for Windows handhelds

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft continues to refine the Xbox app for Windows handheld devices like the ROG Ally. Last year's compact mode offered a UI optimized for smaller screens. Now, they're tackling navigation challenges with a controller or D-pad.

A new "Jump back in" feature in the latest Xbox Insider update lets you quickly launch recently played games. Up to nine games appear on the main screen, and you can directly launch one by pressing the menu button on your controller. It's smart enough to switch to a running game instead of relaunching it. By default, it opens the game hub, showing which of your friends are playing, and achievements.

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Monday
May132024

Microsoft to enter mobile gaming arena with cross-platform store launch

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft is shaking up the mobile gaming scene with its own online store, set to debut in July. This new competitor to Google Play and Apple's App Store will initially offer games from Microsoft's studios, including popular titles like Candy CrushMinecraft mobile, and Call of Duty: Mobile. Third-party games will be added soon after launch.

Xbox President Sarah Bond, announcing the news at a Bloomberg tech conference, highlighted the long-term vision behind the project. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time," she said.

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