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Flight Simulator 2020 set to move from alpha to closed beta on July 30th

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If you’ve applied for the alpha program, you could still get in before the beta, as Microsoft also unveiled the alpha 5 update with a new wave of invitations. The release itself focused on killing more glitches, with fixes to flight dynamics, individual aircraft, multiplayer characteristics, peripherals, weather and more. It’s still paying attention to detail, apparently, as one of the bugs was “snow does not last on the ground surfaces as expected.”

If you decide to jump in, remember that to get the most out of the game (particularly those gorgeous graphics), you’ll need to have a reasonably powerful PC and lots of extra storage — the game reportedly requires about 150GB of space.

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NASA wants to protect Moon and Mars from human contamination

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The agency has issued two Interim Directives to update its policies, with the first one focusing on robotic and crewed missions traveling to and from the Earth’s Moon. NASA Science Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen explained: “We are enabling our important goal of sustainable exploration of the Moon while simultaneously safeguarding future science in the permanently shadowed regions. These sites have immense scientific value in shaping our understanding of the history of our planet, the Moon and the solar system.”

Meanwhile, the second directive focuses on biological contamination for Earth-Moon to Mars missions. The agency says it will use data and experience gained via ground-based tests to conjure guidelines and develop capabilities to monitor biological processes associated with human presence in space exploration. It also aims to develop technologies to mitigate contamination, such as more effective waste disposal tools and techniques. In addition, the agency wants to have a better understanding of Martian environmental processes in order to figure how to properly sterilize terrestrial organisms released by human activity.

NASA is hoping to send the next man and the first woman to the Moon by 2024 and to establish a sustainable human presence there.



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iFixit takes the Oura smart ring apart to see how it works

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As we continue to work and live during the coronavirus pandemic, interest in technology that might help fight the disease has spiked, and one of the clearest examples of that is Oura’s smart ring. Early in June, researchers revealed data showing that, as part of a protocol of surveying and data reporting, wearers of the Oura smart ring may be able to detect symptoms of a COVID-19 infection early.

Multiple tests that include having health professionals using wearable devices are ongoing with even more participants, but once the NBA announced it would use the devices during its restarted season in Orlando, it became the most visible testbed. As people wonder if the ring can live up to the hype — and if it’s trustworthy, as Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma said it “looks like a tracking device” — the folks at iFixit have done what they do, diving in and taking one apart.



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Worldwide PC shipments grew due to work-from-home arrangements

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The mobile PC or laptop segment did very well, in particular, due to people’s remote learning and working needs. However, both organizations are skeptical that the demand would continue beyond 2020. Kitagawa says the uptick in demand is “short-term… due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” IDC research vice president Linn Huang issued a similar statement:

“With inventory still back ordered, this goodwill will continue into July. However, as we head deeper into a global recession, the goodwill sentiment will increasingly sour.”

Both organizations also noted that traditional PC shipments exceeded expectations in the US and in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. HP and Lenovo topped the list of PC vendors worldwide, with Dell coming in third for both IDC and Gartner.

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Google reveals its new Nest smart speaker

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The folks at Nest couldn’t have been happy to see their next project revealed through grubby photos used for technical certification, so tonight they sent out a proper image and teaser video of the new device.

If you’re looking for more information about exactly what it can do, they didn’t say, but based on the rumors that have surfaced since the original Google Home was discontinued, this “Prince” device is intended as a rival to the Sonos One. It’s still rocking a fairly simple design, although the extended fabric covering makes it a better style fit between the Mini and Max devices.

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A sushi restaurant chain in Japan is using AI to evaluate tuna cuts

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Tuna expert

Dentsu

The app is currently in use by one company, conveyor belt sushi chain Kura Sushi. The restaurant buys the majority of its tuna outside of Japan. Part of the reason the company started using the app is that it allows its employees to grade tuna without traveling. That’s a significant perk during the current pandemic. Moreover, conveyor belt restaurants in Japan tend to offer the least expensive sushi, so there’s a cost-saving aspect at play as well.

As you might have already guessed, traditionalists are skeptical of the app. Keiko Yamamoto, a sushi chef who teaches in London, told The Verge it’s challenging to convey the exact qualities tuna buyers look for when they see a fresh catch. There’s also the question of whether the app can scale to meet the demands of high-end sushi restaurants and the exacting chefs that run them. Tuna Scope examines images of frozen tuna tail cross-sections to deliver its quality verdict. However, high-end restaurants tend to purchase their fish from suppliers that deal with freshly caught tuna. As they cut the fish, they give a variety of grades to different parts of the fish. Like with most instances of new technology, we’ll probably see some businesses continue to do things the way they’ve always done them.

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Blizzard makes it free to change gender in ‘World of Warcraft’

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“… Aspirants are able to choose a physical form that represents their true self,” the developer said. “Pelagos, who presented as a woman in his mortal life, chose to be a man in the Shadowlands.” 

As titles like GTA V show, video games still have a long way to go when it comes to their treatment of transgender characters and people. But at the very least, Blizzard is taking a step in the right direction, particularly in a genre that, at its core, is about giving players a safe space to explore alternate identities. 

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Facial mocap comes to Unreal Engine via new iPhone app

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To support collaborative work, Live Link Face uses multicast networking to synchronize with multiple devices at once. Developers promise “robust timecode support and precise frame accuracy” to further support multi-device synchronization. The “tentacle sync” feature allows the app to connect with a master clock on stage.

The post doesn’t mention whether an Android equivalent app is in the works. This could be because it would be near-impossible to ensure this mocap app would work with the dozens of different front camera setups found in the many Android phones available. Developing it for the iPhone means Epic could target the TrueDepth camera and not have to worry about variations on it.

Unreal Engine is one of the most widely-used production tools for games and other media, included in titles as big as Fortnite and The Mandalorian. Epic plans to continue making Unreal widely available, saying, “continued democratization of real-time tools for virtual production is one of the primary goals of Unreal Engine development.” 

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Superhot’s standalone expansion will be free if you bought the original

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Developer Superhot Team originally intended to release Mind Control Delete as DLC for Superhot. However, after hitting Steam Early Access, the expansion started to expand from community feedback. The studio says the resulting game is four times bigger than its predecessor. It features new weapons and enemies. It also expands on Superhot‘s signature time dilation gameplay with new mechanics. 

At launch, Superhot: Mind Control Delete will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Linux and Mac. You can download the PC version from Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG and the Humble Store. The game will come out on Switch at a later date. But if you want to play it before then, you can email the eShop receipt you got after buying Superhot there and the studio will send you a DRM-free copy of the new game for PC. 

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Sony invests $250 million in ‘Fortnite’ developer Epic Games

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“Epic’s powerful technology in areas such as graphics places them at the forefront of game engine development with Unreal Engine and other innovations,” Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement. “We will explore opportunities for further collaboration with Epic to delight and bring value to consumers and the industry at large, not only in games, but also across the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape.”

Though Epic is perhaps best known for its battle royale juggernaut Fortnite, the investment will give Sony a greater foothold in the technology behind some of the most popular games, as well as an opportunity to work together on more hybrid gaming-meets-digital-entertainment experiences, like those pioneered by Fortnite.

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