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Spotify has announced the discontinuation of Car Thing, which has resulted in users expressing their dissatisfaction and requesting refunds

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Spotify is informing customers about the discontinuation of its Car Thing product, which will cease to function after December 9, 2024. The company decided to discontinue the device in July 2022, but assured customers that it would continue to provide support for the units that had already been sold.

According to an email sent to buyers, Spotify has informed users that the company’s plans for the device have changed. All Car Thing units will cease to operate later this year.

Car Thing, which became available to the public in February 2022, primarily catered to individuals without a pre-installed infotainment system in their cars. The device functioned by seamlessly connecting with the Spotify mobile app on a user’s phone, allowing them to effortlessly stream music through their car’s sound system. Spotify mentioned low product demand and supply chain issues as reasons for discontinuing the devices, but Car Thing was able to find a dedicated community.

Users are understandably frustrated that a device they paid $90 for will now become unusable, despite being previously assured of continued support from Spotify. Some individuals have turned to social media to express their dissatisfaction and request a refund for their purchase.

“Our Car Thing exploration in the U.S. aimed to gain insights into people’s car listening habits,” the company stated in an email . Announcing in July 2022 that we would cease production, it is now time to bid farewell to these devices altogether. Users will need to deactivate all Car Thing devices by December 9, 2024.

The company’s support page advises users to reset their Car Thing to factory settings and responsibly dispose of their device in accordance with local electronic waste guidelines.

The page also mentions that Spotify is making this move to streamline its product offerings. Although it may be disappointing, this change will enable them to concentrate on developing new features and enhancements.

As Editor here at GeekReply, I'm a big fan of all things Geeky. Most of my contributions to the site are technology related, but I'm also a big fan of video games. My genres of choice include RPGs, MMOs, Grand Strategy, and Simulation. If I'm not chasing after the latest gear on my MMO of choice, I'm here at GeekReply reporting on the latest in Geek culture.

Gaming

The developer of War Thunder says sorry after images of the Challenger space shuttle disaster surface

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Gaijin Entertainment, the developer of War Thunder, has recently issued an apology for a concerning oversight in their new key art. Observant fans noticed that the imagery used in the artwork closely resembles the distinct debris trail from the tragic 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, which claimed the lives of all seven crew members. Gaijin Entertainment acknowledges this mistake and expresses their regret.

According to Eurogamer, members of the War Thunder community, known for their keen observation skills and ability to uncover classified military information, were quick to spot the striking resemblance between the Challenger’s unique debris field and a key art piece featured in the highly anticipated Seek and Destroy update. The Challenger shuttle tragically broke apart just 70 seconds after launch, an event that was broadcast live on TV. This devastating incident marked a somber milestone in American space flight history, as it was the first time that any fatalities were recorded.

It seems that there was a minor mishap, which is quite unfortunate. A spokesperson from Gaijin Entertainment expressed their apologies for this unfortunate error on the game’s official forums: “We deeply regret this and offer our sincere apologies.” Our artists used an aerial explosion reference pack that contained the image, which resulted in the loss of its original context. We will promptly make changes to this artwork and implement measures to prevent any future occurrences of this nature.

Challenger disaster and Seek & Destroy wallpaper line up nearly perfectly
byu/HarryTheOwlcat inWarthunder

Is it surprising to witness such a notorious explosion depicted in the key art of a video game, or are we simply revealing our age once more? We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section below.

 

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Geek Culture

What Takes Place If Your Body Overheats?

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The heatwave that is currently affecting some parts of the US is just the most recent in a string of extremely hot weather that has affected many parts of the world. As a result of this trend, the dangers of heat-related illness are becoming all too real.

In addition to harming animals, the intense heat is also having an impact on people. In recent years, heatwaves have claimed lives in Saudi Arabia, Europe, and India.

Sweating is one way the body attempts to cool off in the summer, but what happens if that doesn’t work?

Heat fatigue
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are frequently discussed as though they are two distinct conditions. However, they range from a minor emergency to a serious, life-threatening one, according to emergency medicine specialist Dr. Thomas Waters in a Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials post.

Although it can develop into a more serious heatstroke if left untreated, heat exhaustion falls in the middle.

Excessive sweating is the primary early indicator of heat exhaustion, as the body makes a desperate attempt to cool itself by allowing perspiration to evaporate from the skin. The hypothalamus, a tiny area of the brain that controls body temperature, is what causes this. It stimulates the production of sweat by sending signals to the sweat glands through the nervous system.

However, this is insufficient to cool the body in heat exhaustion, and the core temperature of the body can rise to 38.3 to 40 °C (101 to 104 °F). It also gets harder to replenish all of the fluids and electrolytes lost during this phase of sweating, which increases the risk of dehydration and some other illness symptoms.

For example, the body needs minerals like potassium and sodium to properly function muscles, send nerve signals, and keep the volume of blood and fluids in check. Muscle spasms, lightheadedness, weakness, and an elevated heart rate to compensate for decreased blood volume can result from the loss of those vital electrolytes.

Similar to sweating, nausea and vomiting can also be signs of heat exhaustion because they are the body’s means of expelling heat-retaining material. “These are not only symptoms of heat exhaustion, but they can also complicate your recovery process when attempting to rehydrate,” a press release from Baylor College of Medicine stated about Isabel Valdez, a physician assistant and assistant professor of general internal medicine.

Overheating
Heat exhaustion can develop into heatstroke, a potentially fatal illness, if it is not treated or if the body is unable to cool down in 30 minutes. The body can no longer regulate its temperature at this point, and it can quickly rise above 40 °C (104 °F). Despite popular belief, people don’t always stop sweating at this point.

The authors of a review on the illness state that “extreme hyperthermia (usually >40.5°C [105°F]), multiorgan failure, and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction are the clinical hallmarks of heatstroke.”

Regarding the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain and spinal cord, this can show up as obvious symptoms like disorientation, slurred speech, unconsciousness, or seizures. This is due to the brain’s heightened sensitivity to heat, as high temperatures can harm brain cells and result in their malfunction or death. This may be lethal or cause survivors to suffer irreversible, incapacitating injuries.

In heatstroke, problems with the central nervous system (CNS) can cause problems with other organs, but the immune system’s severe stress response also plays a significant role in the multiorgan failure that occurs.

It’s unclear exactly how the process operates, but the immune system’s response to overheating is an inflammatory response that affects the entire body. In other situations, a healthy amount of inflammation is beneficial for preventing infection or promoting the healing of wounds; however, in this instance, the response is excessive to the point where it can seriously harm the body and result in problems like kidney, liver, or heart failure.

Handling illnesses associated with heat
When suffering from heat exhaustion, it’s critical to remove any excess clothing as soon as possible, rehydrate (cold water and sports drinks are both beneficial for this), and use fans, cold packs, sprayed or sponged water, and other items to cool the skin. This can be carried out wherever the symptomatic individual is at that moment.

Heatstroke, however, is considered a medical emergency, and as such, medical assistance should be contacted.

It can turn lethal very fast. No matter how strong you are, heat stroke is something you cannot simply overcome, according to Dr. Waters. “Listening to your body and heeding warning signs is the most crucial thing you can do.”

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Gaming

“Really pleased” with Sea of Thieves PS5 sales, Microsoft

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After the recent port to PS5, Microsoft is “really pleased” with the overall sales and performance of Sea of Thieves. As a result, more people are playing the Xbox and PC versions as well. Matt Booty, president of game content and studios at Microsoft Gaming, said this:. He also said that the success of the series means it can grow and that more money should be spent on a Variety podcast interview.

Microsoft is bringing four games that used to only be available on Xbox to other systems. Sea of Thieves was the last of these games to come out. The others are Pentiment, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush. Even though things have been going well lately, Booty says that more ports will be dealt with “case-by-case.”

News spread before the port came out that Sea of Thieves was being used as a “key test” to see if more Xbox-only games would be ported to PS5, PS4, and Xbox One. In May 2024, the game was the best-selling PS Store game in both Europe and the US. It also did well in the weekly sales charts.

Aside from the four games that have already been ported to Xbox, nothing else has been officially confirmed. However, news reports say that a lot of exclusive games may be about to come to other platforms. Some say that PS5 games like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield, and a rumored remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved are all being thought about.

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