Friday
Jan282022

Apple hosts 'Shot on iPhone' challenge to showcase macro photography

Macro mode sample (Source: Apple)

If you want to show off your macro photography skills on your iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, you can join Apple's ongoing challenge. The company recently launched its 2022 "Shot on iPhone" competition. It wants users to share their impressive photos taken with macro mode on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.

To enter, you need to share your macro photos on Instagram, Twitter, or Weibo with the hashtags #ShotoniPhone and #iPhonemacrochallenge. In the caption, you need to note what iPhone model you used to take the photo. Apple is also accepting entries via email at shotoniphone@apple.com.

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Thursday
Jan272022

Valve to start selling the Steam Deck on Feb. 25

Source: Valve

It looks like Valve's prediction for the late February release date is accurate. The company announced the Steam Deck would go on sale beginning February 25. Those who have reservations will receive an email on that day, and they'll be given three days to place an order. The company plans to release new batches weekly, so it's best to keep an eye on your email.

Those who place their orders on the 25th will have their units shipped out on the 28th. You can still reserve the Steam Deck for US$5 if you haven't yet. But prepare for a bit of wait. The Verge reported the order page currently says you can expect to order "after Q2 2022." 

Thursday
Jan272022

Respawn plans to release 3 more 'Star Wars' games

Source: EA/Respawn Entertainment

You can expect three more Star Wars games to come out of Respawn Entertainment. EA announced that the studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends is working on a follow-up to its 2019 hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but it isn't known if it'll be a direct sequel. A first-shooter game in the pipeline is overseen by a former Star Wars Battlefront producer. And then there's a strategy game produced by Respawn in the works with Bit Reactor leading its development. That new third-party studio is headed up by Greg Foertsch, who previously worked on the XCOM series.

EA's exclusive license to develop and publish Star Wars games will expire next year. And it looks like it wants to churn out as much as it can before that happens. 

Source

Thursday
Jan272022

Spotify will pull Neil Young's music after Joe Rogan and vaccine misinformation dispute

Embed from Getty Images

Musician Neil Young wanted Spotify to choose between him and its controversial star podcaster Joe Rogan. And it looks like the streaming service chose the latter as it is in the process of removing Young's extensive catalogue from Spotify. The artist made a formal request for its removal on January 26, Wednesday, and by the time you read this, it might no longer be on the platform. 

Young was outraged by what he claims is the platform spreading misinformation about vaccines through podcasters like Rogan, who has episodes on his show containing misinformation, including an interview with Dr. Robert Malone, who claims that "psychosis" led people to believe vaccines were effective.

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