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HTC One M9: latest images look like the real deal

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The HTC One M9 is probably the most anticipated device of the year, with a release day reportedly scheduled for March 2015, at the MWC 2015. Moreover, we are expecting to see a smart watch from HTC at the show, too, Upleaks calling it PETRA, the cross-platform wearable. Even though the HTC One M9 Hima isn’t even confirmed for the Mobile World Congress yet, we are still very excited about the new smartphone and are confident about it making an appearance soon enough.

New renders created by Phone Designer and posted on Facebook showcase the HTC One M9 in all its glory, based off of the various leaks and renders that have shown up on the internet. So far, these renders are the best I’ve come across, and the most realistic ones, too. Phone Designer based the HTC One M9 design on various leaked images of the chassis, the case, the camera and the internals of the device, so if the leaks are valid, then this is what the HTC One M9 will look like upon its launch.

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We’ve seen many concepts of the HTC One M9, but most of them are outrageous in the fact that they are either too thin, too bezelless, don’t have BoomSound or look plain impossible to engineer. These renders seem to be the real deal and point towards the most likely design that will show up on the actual HTC One M9. From the renders, we can see the same type of brushed metal chassis as on the HTC One M8, with the rounded off back and edges, looking smoother than ever. The back panel of the HTC One M9 actually reminds me of an iPhone 6, but designed even better. The antennae lines are definitely classier on the HTC One M9 here.

Since we’re talking about the back of the device, we should point out the massive camera. Rumors say that the HTC One M9 camera will be a 20 MP shooter on the rear, and judging by the render, and by the leaked images which have surfaced in the past, that might be a correct assumption. Moreover, the camera sensor seems to be taking up a lot of space, which means that we probably should expect optical image stabilization to be featured in the HTC One M9 Hima.

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The button placement has moved a bit lower in these renders, which suggest a larger display. Most sources tell us that the display will be between 5 and 5.5 inches, but we are inclined to believe the latter, as HTC will surely adopt the phablet trend. Since we can’t be sure, we’ll leave this issue open and hope for the best. Since renders won’t tell us much about the internals, we can only discuss design. Nonetheless, if you’re interested, the HTC One M9 display will most likely have a 1080*1920 resolution, as going higher would compromise battery life, especially if we’re talking about a 5 inch display.

We can see the front facing BoomSound speakers on the HTC One M9, but they have shrunk considerably compared to the last flagship launched by the Taiwanese company. If the speakers take up less space, we might be seeing less bezels on the phone upon its launch, which is always an attractive change. We’re not seeing capacitative buttons, so there’s nothing new on that front. The overall appearance of the HTC One M9 in these renders is sleek, shiny and brushed, with thin bezels on the sides and a sturdy metal construction, exactly what we were hoping for.

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Since these are just renders, we can’t be sure that the HTC One M9 will look like this when the company launches it. Still, it is nice to imagine and keep guessing when it comes to flagships. We do hope bezels will shrink and we are looking forward to an even better metal chassis on the device. At the same time, we are hoping for a larger 5.5 inch display with a 1080p resolution, as in my opinion, that would be the best way to go on any smartphone. But each to their own!

As far as specs go, we can only speculate that the HTC One M9 will get the Snapdragon 810 CPU, backed by 3 (or 4) GB RAM, 32 GB storage at least and a pretty big battery measuring at least 3000 mAh. Android 5.0 Lollipop should already call the HTC One M9 home, but we do expect to see Sense 7.0, the newest UI from HTC showcased alongside the new flagship, too. We are very excited about the HTC One M9 and the MWC in general, so stay tuned for more!

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As part of the editorial team here at Geekreply, John spends a lot of his time making sure each article is up to snuff. That said, he also occasionally pens articles on the latest in Geek culture. From Gaming to Science, expect the latest news fast from John and team.

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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