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The iPhone 6’s release date draws near

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Apple’s most anticipated smartphone of all time, the iPhone 6 is expected to be officially announced during the first half of September. The Cupertino-based company is planning to introduce the iPhone 6 at a media event that will take place on September 9th according to several news outlets. Following this announcement, the device will become available for purchase a week and a half later on Friday, September 19th if rumors are to be believed. However, this release date only applies to the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 as the 5.5-inch model will probably only arrive later this year, or maybe even in early 2015. There aren’t any officially confirmed details at this time, but there sure is a lot of speculation regarding the device.

Rumor has it that the iPhone 6 will be considerably thinner that the iPhone 5s and is expected to measure between 6 mm and 7 mm, closer to the iPod Touch which is 6.1 mm thick. The device will likely feature a Sapphire crystal screen, larger display than its predecessor, and a faster and more efficient A8 chipset. The 5.5-inch version might also have a generous 128GB storage capacity via microUSB card. These are major improvements over the iPhone 5s, which sports a 4-inch panel, A7 chipset and storage that can only go up to 64 GB. Apple’s iPhone 6 will reportedly feature a 20-nanometer A8 TSMC chipset which will be smaller and more energy efficient than its predecessor. A July report suggested that the A8 processor will be a dual-core CPU with a frequency of 2 GHz or higher, and might be limited to 1GB of RAM. The A7 found on the iPhone 5s is also limited to 1GB RAM so no improvements there.

There are contradicting reports in regards to the iPhone 6’s camera with one rumor pointing at the same 8 megapixel sensor found on the iPhone 5s while other rumors suggest a new 13 megapixel sensor manufactured by Sony. But it is assumed that there will also be other camera improvements besides this. For example, the iPhone 6 may incorporate Optical Image Stabilization, a feature that uses motion-tracking in order to compensate for device shakiness, allowing for sharper photos and videos. Optical Image Stabilization might be limited to the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 due to both production issues and the higher cost of an OIS solution. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is still expected to have camera upgrades in the form of a new lens module with electronic image stabilization that offers speedier autofocusing.

Traditionally, major iOS updates have been released together with an iPhone launch so it is expected that the iPhone 6 will run on the latest version of the operating system. iOS 8 includes improved Message management tools, interactive notifications, a revamped “QuickType” keyboard, iCloud Drive access, and an all new health and fitness aggregation app simply called “Health”. All in all, the iPhone 6 seems to be a pretty big upgrade over the iPhone 5s, but we’ll have to wait until Apple officially reveals all the details before we can say for certain.

Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

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PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

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A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

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