Blizzard celebrates 10th anniversary of 'StarCraft II' with anniversary update

Blizzard wants to celebrate StarCraft II's 10th anniversary by publicly testing an anniversary update. It offers new campaign achievements for every mission in the base game and its three expansions. The game will also let players create custom campaigns, which has helped keep its fans. The developer takes in some elements from Warcraft III's game editor to make it easier to use StarCraft II's map editor. 

StarCraft II is also getting a new transitioning lobby, allowing players to move quickly between two maps in multiplayer. There is also a new "Campaign" subsection in the game's variants menu. If some of these features seem familiar to you, Blizzard released a lot of these changes with update 4.13's public testing round last Tuesday. 

Source: The Verge

Nikon Canada introduces the Z 5 mirrorless camera

The Nikon Z 5 is the camera maker's newest full-frame, FX-format, entry-level camera from its Z series mirrorless camera range. And it's coming to Canada in late August with a suggested retail price of $2,049.95 for the body only and $2,449.95 for the new NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit. 

The Z 5 inherits features from the Z 6 and Z 7, supports Nikon's next-generation Z mount lens, and offers In-Body 5-Axis VR stabilization and "seamless automation and full manual control." It has the same magnesium alloy shell and robustness as the Z 6 and Z 7, with a durable, weather-sealed body that promises dust- and drip-resistance.

It comes with a powerful FX-format 24.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon's EXPEED 6 image processor, which the company claims is its fastest processor to date. The mirrorless camera also has an ISO range of up to 51,200 (expandable to 102,400), which is designed to effectively reduce noise and maintain both high sensitivity and resolution even in low-light situations. The Z 5 can record videos up to 4K UHD/30p or in 1080/60p (full-frame).

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Facebook Messenger offers new privacy controls

The latest update coming to Facebook Messenger introduces new privacy settings that limit who can send you messages. Like a feature offered on Instagram, the messaging app will soon test settings that let you "decide who can message or call you directly, who goes to your requests folder, and who can't message or call you at all." It will also try out automatically blurring photos sent by users who aren't your Facebook friend, which we assume is meant to keep out inappropriate or unwanted images from strangers.

For iOS users, you can now enable Messenger's "app lock" feature, which lets you configure the app to need a face or fingerprint authentication before opening your messages. Android users are expected to get the security feature soon.

Source: Engadget

Is the Microsoft Xbox Series X launching in November?

A Microsoft executive may have confirmed the release month of the upcoming Xbox Series X console ahead of the Xbox Game Showcase. Bloomberg's Dina Bass asked Microsoft CFO Amy Hood during an investor call if the gaming machine is "still on track" for its launch. And Hood mentioned that it was on track for the November holidays launch. When asked to clarify, Bass tweeted, "It was in response to a question from me and I said 'new console' and "November holidays.' Her answer was the single word 'yes.'"

A November launch isn't out of the ordinary, as this would follow the release schedule of previous Xbox consoles. Microsoft is still using the "Holiday 2020" tagline for its marketing purposes, but we may or may not hear more information at the Xbox Games Showcase. We'll keep you posted for any updates.