Gadgets
Android Wear will work on its own, take that Apple Watch
The Apple Watch, as the first units start shipping head, is facing serious competition, but not in the form of a new Android Wear smart watch, but in the form of a seemingly minor update for Android Wear. Although the Android Wear update seems insignificant, it brings forth a new way in which we can actually use smart watches, and thus appreciation from many Android Wear users and smart watch fans. With the most recent Android Wear update, the smart watches running the platform get Wi-Fi support and will work almost just as well with all apps even without a phone, as long as they can connect to a Wi-Fi network.
That’s an enormous plus in front of the Apple Watch, which has no way of working properly without being tethered to a smartphone in the meantime. With the Android Wear update, Google gets an enormous advantage over Apple and proves that the smart watches running its smart watch platform can handle much more than the Apple Watch can. With Wi-Fi support now embedded in all Android Wear watches, these wearables can now be used without having a phone tethered to them. The crucial thing about the feature is that the watch needs to have Wi-Fi built in, so those that don’t won’t magically have Wi-Fi because there’s hardware necessary in order to actually pick networks up and connect to them. The update also adds wrist gestures for scrolling between Google Now cards, too, as well as a new Always On feature for certain apps, complete with a low-power mode that won’t drain battery. Or at least that’s what Google says, we’ll have to put that to the test.
Fact is, that if your watch is connected to Wi-Fi and your phone is somewhere where there’s internet, you can use the two separately, no matter where they are geographically. That’s an excellent feature to have for current watches and upcoming Android Wear watches, and it seems like the wearable industry is going down the right path when it comes to Google-supported gadgets. That leaves us with the question: when is the Apple Watch going to catch up? The Apple Watch can function only on the same network as the phone, while the Android Wear update rules that necessity out. If you’re wondering what watch the Wi-Fi feature will first work on, it will actually be the LG Watch Urbane.
Belgian developer Larian Studios’ work on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series S version will improve performance on all platforms, including PS5. The game’s fifth major patch, expected to launch this week, will include upgrades and new features. More details will be revealed later today.
Director of Publishing Michael Douse says PS5 performance improvements may be the “least exciting thing” in the title’s next update, so it sounds like a big one. Larian Studios employees are proud of “finally” implementing tweaks, fixes, and changes, Douse says. Later today, we’ll bring you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 update details.
Those who reached the RPG’s third act have reported technical issues during the narrative’s conclusion, especially in co-op, so today’s update should fix them. New features like a permadeath mode are expected, along with Xbox Series S optimization fixes. What else should be added to the game?
We love the PlayStation ecosystem, especially its top first-party studios, but Sony Interactive Entertainment could do more to build goodwill. The long-awaited Trophy support for PS5 games on PC appears to be closer to reality, though nothing official has been announced.
TrueTrophie’s scanners found a new PS5 Trophy list with “PSPC” as a platform. The list, titled “Trophy Set” and unattached to a game, appears to be a test. TrueTrophies notes that developers rarely submit their own platforms to PSN, suggesting Sony is behind it.
TrueTrophies says this platform is separate from PS5 but can connect to it, suggesting compatibility. As PlayStation fans know, PS4, PS Vita, and PS3 games could share a list. In October 2022, Sony added PSN support to Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered’s PC release, allowing players to link Steam accounts to unlock an exclusive skin. Potentially minor, but something we’ll watch.
TrueTrophies lists PlayStation Trophies for serious hunters. They scrape the PlayStation Network’s ominous underbelly with scanners to provide the most up-to-date trophy lists, sometimes dangerously. TrueTrophies posted Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s trophy list weeks ago, with spoiler titles.
Next month, the PS5 Slim will replace the original PS5. Its main selling point is its detachable disc drive. Sony’s design change will streamline manufacturing, but consumers will have more flexibility. The refreshed machine will be 30% smaller than its predecessor, reducing its footprint.
But since the manufacturer hadn’t mentioned it, some worried you couldn’t install another SSD. A spokesperson told IGN that “there are no changes with the new model”—you can still install a compatible hard drive to expand the console’s storage.
Note that the new model increases on-board storage from 825GB to 1TB, so you get more space out of the box. However, some games are now so large that you may need a new PS5 SSD.
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