Google has been using Reddit more frequently for offering support and assistance regarding their Pixel phones. This increased usage started towards the end of September, and they have been consistently responding to user inquiries and issues on the platform. Before, Google’s engagement with Reddit through the u/PixelCommunity profile was inconsistent, particularly when compared to their activity on Twitter. There were long gaps between responses, and they posted even less frequently.
When did Google Pixel Support Become Active on Reddit?
A shift in Google’s Reddit usage occurred towards the end of March when they posted under the title “Hello, from the Pixel Support Team.” The post introduced them as u/PixelCommunity, the official Reddit profile for Google Pixel Support. It was mentioned that the Pixel Product Support team at Google manages this profile. The description on the Reddit profile reads:
We’re here to assist #TeamPixel. The official Reddit Profile of Google Pixel. Run by the Pixel Product Support Team.
Google stated that they would occasionally send a chat message to provide assistance with any problems users might be facing and to investigate new issues. Google started providing multiple responses each day towards the end of September. They deliver detailed responses with step-by-step instructions on how to address common problems. In some cases, Google directs users to phone or chat support for a more in-depth investigation.
Gizchina News of the week
The responses from Google are generally simple and to the point. They often advise users to ensure they have the latest system and app updates. They also frequently suggest clearing the cache of various applications, which is a bit more advanced.
How does Google Pixel Support on Reddit Compare to Support in Community Forums?
When compared to the “Community” forums on support.google.com, using Reddit provides a more direct and official response from Google, and you also have the advantage of input from other Reddit users. This support channel primarily deals with Pixel phones, including the Fold, and occasionally addresses questions about the Tablet. It actively monitors various Pixel-related subreddits, with a particular focus on r/Google Pixel, which boasts over a million subscribers.
Bandai Namco has just unveiled four more fighters that are joining Tekken 8’s playable roster. Devil Jin, Zafina, Alisa Bosconovich, and Lee Chaolan all enter the battle as part of the game’s launch roster.
Through IGN, the company released the latest gameplay trailer showcasing the four new contenders.
This new trailer provides another glimpse at all of the currently revealed combatants. From Kazuya to Dragunov and Kuma, we see quick intros and cinematics for everyone on the roster.
The big draw for this trailer, though, is the “5 returning legends,” as described in the showcase. Panda, Zafina, Devil Jin, Alisa, and Lee are all shown as the newest characters to be revealed, though we did see Panda a couple of times previously in very brief glimpses.
Bandai Namco hasn’t shown their full hand here with this reveal, but we do get quick looks at each new fighter. Essentially, things are drilled down to just a swift peek at part of each character’s fight intro and a small portion of their Rage Art. As far as the hard-hitting, cinematic super attacks go, Zafina can be seen crushing her foes with a giant demonic hand, while Lee tosses a grenade at the opponent that explodes into a large rose.
Alisa chainsaws her opponent up in the air, and Devil Jin’s is incredibly detailed as he captures his victim in a ton of chains and slashes at them with an energy blade that emanates from his hand.
With the latest reveals, Tekken 8’s launch roster is up to 30 fighters. From the looks of it, it seems that Bandai Namco isn’t done unveiling characters just yet either.
The trailer concludes with a look at the current list of announced characters, and two more slots open up after the latest reveals. Apparently, we can expect to see the next character revealed on November 2, and another will follow on November 12.
You can check out the trailer below.
Tekken 8 is set for release on January 26, 2024. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
As what can be called a shocking revelation, the personal information of around 800 million in India has been leaked as part of a huge Aadhaar card/passport data breach. The data has been up for sale on the dark web, thus, putting millions of people’s data at risk. Here’s a look at the details.
Aadhaar Card Falls Prey to Yet Another Breach
A cybersecurity firm Resecurity has suggested that a threat actor “pwn0001” offered to leak information of 815 million people on Breach Forums. This includes details like names, phone numbers, addresses, passport information, age, gender, and more.
It is also revealed that the threat actor offered the data in exchange for $80,000 (~ Rs 66,59,888). The firm’s HUNTER analysts even verified the data of the leaked Aadhaar cards, which was proven valid. It still remains unknown how the bad actor got access to this massive set of people’s data. That said, it is suggested that this could be possibly leaked via the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) database. A hacker, via a post on X (formerly, Twitter), suggested that over 800 million people’s COVID-19 data has been leaked.
The report further reveals that the HUNTER analysts saw multiple datasets with ‘prepaid‘ signatures. This could possibly belong to people who got a prepaid SIM and hence, it could be a leak from a major telecom operator too.
Nothing is concrete as of now! The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into the matter and we should get an official statement on the matter soon. The data leak is of utmost importance and this can impact the privacy of people, lead to identity theft for malicious activities, or even cause financial fraud.
Hence, it is important to stay safe. Avoid sharing important documents or data with unreliable sites or apps! And in case you want to see if you have been a part of any data breach, you can check out this website!
Before the rise of smartphones, we had flip phones. Compact devices that had tiny screens and keyboards split between a mechanism. When not in use, you could easily fold your device and fit it in your pocket or bag. This kind of design conquered many fans across the world, and even today, has a decent adoption. The concept is still popular in South Korea, and thus, Samsung kept launching flip phones in the country. With the rise of foldable smartphones with clamshell design, this kind of concept received a brand new life. Now, it’s the display that folds easily, and delivers the same feeling as an old-school flip phone. Paying homage to the legacy of flip handsets, Samsung decided to launch the limited edition Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro. The device specifically pays a tribute to the Samsung E700, one of Samsung’s most memorable flip handsets.
Image Credit: Samsung
Introducing The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro Edition
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro features the same indigo blue and silver colors as the Samsung E700. It comes with nostalgic pixel graphics UI tweaks and a cityscape animation on its Flex Window Cover Screen. As a good limited edition phone, the box is also part of the deal. The phone comes in a unique box with logos for both Z Flip5 and the E700. Furthermore, it includes Flipsuit cards with stickers featuring the various Samsung logos from past eras. The package also includes a Samsung E700 collector card engraved with a unique serial number.
Gizchina News of the week
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro will sell in limited quantities in South Korea from November 1 as well as in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Australia from November 2. Consumers in these markets, will be able to purchase the limited edition device exclusively through Samsung’s website. The exact price of the limited edition is yet to be provided by Samsung. The price of a regular Galaxy Z Flip5 variant is towards the €1,199 mark. Considering this is a limited edition, it will certainly cost more.
Specifications Recap
Apart from all the extra goodies, the Galaxy Z Flip5 features the same specs as the regular variant. To refresh you on the specifications, the phone includes a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED screen with 2,640 x 1,080 pixels of resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. It has a cover AMOLED screen with 3.4-inches and 720 x 748 pixels of resolution. Under the hood, the phone boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It has a dual-camera setup with two 12 MP cameras, and a 10 MP selfie shooter. The phone boasts stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and draws powers from a 3,700 mAh battery with 25W wired charging.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro certainly is a touching homage to the old times of flip phones. It certainly appeals to the most nostalgic fans. However, it probably won’t be for everyone as these limited edition phones tend to cost a lot. Once Samsung discloses the price we will update the article with more details about.
During the days of Street Fighter 5, numerous parody trailers were released for Vega and Ed that really highlighted their problems in ways that the official trailers never did. Later, this same type of trailer was also created for F.A.N.G.
A.K.I. was recently released as the latest DLC fighter for Street Fighter 6. Despite what was shown in the official trailer, many have come to believe that A.K.I. is one of the weaker characters in Street Fighter 6 at the moment.
Due to this, Venom has decided to create a “proper showcase” trailer for A.K.I. in Street Fighter 6. Just like with the parody trailers that were released during the era of Street Fighter 5, these segments are instead intended to put a magnifying glass on some of A.K.I.’s design flaws.
Based on this “proper showcase” trailer, it would appear that A.K.I.’s Sinister Slide follow ups can sometimes have difficulty passing through projectiles. Additionally, A.K.I.’s anti-airs are demonstrated to be inconsistent.
At one point, Venom demonstrates how much damage A.K.I.’s poison deals while the opponent is positioned in her poison puddle. Though A.K.I.’s damage is actually said to be quite high, the poison mechanic on its own doesn’t appear to be that threatening.
Apple recently unveiled the M3 chip and all-new Macbook Pros in the latest Scary Fast event that was held on 30 October 2023. However, this Halloween-themed event ended on a surprising note. And no, we are not talking about any ‘One More Thing’ reveals but the fact that the entire event was shot on the latest iPhone and edited on a Mac.
Apple Scary Fast Event Was Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max: Details
The end screen of the event sent the Apple community into a spiral of excitement making them wonder which iPhone it was shot on and how exactly. Well, we have the answers for that since merely hours after the event aired, an unlisted BTS video for the event was spotted on YouTube and has been shared all across X showing how it was shot. It confirms that an iPhone 15 Pro Max was used to shoot the event and it was further edited on a Mac.
This news is quite believable as the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a digitized 7 lens camera system, that is achieved through three native cameras (48MP + 12MP + 12MP Triple Rear Camera with OIS). This makes the entire rig quite capable. However, the most exciting part was no external lenses were used in the shooting which means the entire focus was on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple’s team used all these capabilities along with the help of drones, cranes, dollies, and even professional lighting to achieve very stabilized & well-lit footage from the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system. Even the low-light footage looks quite good in the event, captured over Apple Park. Today’s smartphone cameras obviously do not compare to high-end cameras used in actual film production. Despite this, the physical structure of the camera has evolved quite well over the years.
Source: Apple via X/Apple NewsSource: Apple via X/Apple News
Now if you’re curious and want to watch the behind-the-scenes yourself, you’re a bit out of luck as we mentioned that Apple has unlisted the video. However, you can check out some of it as it’s making its rounds on X (via Apple News) here.
While we don’t know just how much extra artificial post-production was added to the footage, it is quite clear that iPhones have come a long way when it comes to cinematography. Besides this news, another recent example is the Indian movie ‘Fursat,’ a music filled with diverse genres that was shot using an iPhone 14 Pro.
If you had to shoot your own movie, would you do it on an iPhone? What are your thoughts on the Scary Fast event being shot on the iPhone 15 Pro Max? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar Games, the developer of popular video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has announced that it will no longer support Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems. This decision comes in light of Microsoft’s end of support for these operating systems. This means that they will no longer receive security updates or technical support from Microsoft.
The end of support could leave the system and games vulnerable to security threats. As a result, Rockstar Games has decided to end support for these operating systems to ensure that its games are played on secure and up-to-date systems. Rockstar Games will officially end support for these operating systems on January 30, 2024.
What are the implications for gamers who use Windows 7 and Windows 8?
Gamers who use Windows 7 and Windows 8 will no longer be able to use the Rockstar Games Launcher to purchase or play Rockstar Games titles after January 30, 2024. This means that they will not be able to access new content or updates for their games. They may also experience compatibility issues with future updates or patches. Also, they may be more vulnerable to security threats if they continue to use these operating systems after Microsoft’s end of support.
Gizchina News of the week
The Rockstar Games Launcher is a desktop app that allows gamers to purchase and play Rockstar Games titles on their PC. It is similar to other game launchers, such as Steam and Epic Games Launcher. The launcher provides a central hub for gamers to manage their Rockstar Games library, purchase new titles, and access game settings and support
What should gamers do if they use Windows 7 or Windows 8?
Gamers who use Windows 7 or Windows 8 should consider upgrading to a newer operating system, such as Windows 10. Windows 10 is currently the most up-to-date and secure operating system from Microsoft, and it is compatible with the Rockstar Games Launcher. Upgrading to Windows 10 will ensure that gamers can continue to play their favorite Rockstar Games titles and receive updates and new content after January 30, 2024. Also, upgrading to Windows 10 will provide better security and performance than using an outdated operating system.
Conclusion
Rockstar Games’ decision to end support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 is a significant development for gamers who use these operating systems. It means that they will no longer be able to use the Rockstar Games Launcher to purchase or play Rockstar Games titles after January 30, 2024. Gamers who use these operating systems should consider upgrading to Windows 10 to ensure that they can continue to play their favorite games and receive updates and new content. Upgrading to Windows 10 will also provide better security and performance than using an outdated operating system.
Mortal Kombat games for more than the past decade have embraced horror film icons onto the rosters as guest characters, but there’s still a handful NetherRealm Studios hasn’t gotten to touch yet.
One modder in BeyonderZ recently showed off what they’re cooking up this spooky season by putting Scream’s Ghostface into Mortal Kombat 1, and he’s looking scarily perfect already.
Unsurprisingly, BeyonderZ decided to put the meta slasher over Smoke to give him the knife moves as well as smoke bombs, which is definitely be best fit for what he wants to be doing to you.
If you had any doubts, Ghostface is looking like he’ll fit into the Mortal Kombat cast just fine and might be a sneak peek at what he could end up as an actual character.
Shortly after MK1’s release, Ed Boon did put out what is probably a teaser image showing a mix of horror icons NRS has gotten to before like Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface, which did include Ghostface with a question mark alongside some others like Halloween’s Michael Myers.
Though we already know the contents of Kombat Pack 1 starting with Homelander, data miners were able to uncover files referring to who may be coming afterwards to MK1 as DLC, and Ghostface was reportedly referenced within, making his chances look pretty good now.
Unfortunately, this mod doesn’t appear to be available to the public yet, but we can still get a taste of the bloody good time he’ll hopefully provide.
We’re also very interested to see what the modding community is going to be able to do with Mortal Kombat 1 going forward because it looks like they’ve made a lot of progress already.
Back in 2022, Doctor Strange came back to our screens with a rather strange yet kind of horror flick, The Multiverse of Madness. Now this movie was rather unique if we compare it to the other Marvel movies because Marvel doesn’t usually include the theme of horror in a lot of its theatrical releases, but I for one, am glad that it did. Doctor Strange 2 brought certain new characters and cast members we haven’t seen in a long time.
For instance, who would have thought to see Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men as a member of the Illuminati? I didn’t see that one coming. So, in this article, I’m going to talk about the cast of Doctor Strange 2 and all the characters in the Multiverse of Madness. So, create a time loop with the time stone, or make sure no one disturbs you by using a magical cloak as we dive into the mystical world of Doctor Strange!
1. Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)
Source: IMDB
Doctor Stephen Strange played by Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the finest casting decisions ever made in the history of Marvel Studios. For some “strange” reason, even if you have never read the comic version of Doctor Strange, you’ll instantly just feel right seeing him play the all-powerful sorcerer. For those who have read the comics, you know exactly what I am talking about.
Multiverse of Madness explores the unhealed side of Doctor Strange, the pain he feels when he loses the love of his life and still convinces himself that he indeed is happy. The character development of Dr Strange from the first movie has been absolutely immaculate to witness, and in Doctor Strange 2, it is just as good as it gets.
2. Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda/Scarlet Witch)
Source: IMDB
If we are talking about terrific performances, no one matches Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda. Well, she is terrific in the role, both literally and figuratively. She has been an integral part of the Avengers and one of the most powerful Avengers too, but gradually lost it when she had to kill Vision in Wanda Vision.
After that, she took the Darkhold and was corrupted by it. The whole movie revolves around Wanda trying to use America Chavez’s powers to travel to another universe where another version of her has the children she sees in her dreams.
Although her cause is not bad and rather purely out of maternal instinct, however, the way she carries it out is as evil as it gets. Honestly, to me, the corrupted version of Wanda is more fun to watch in Doctor Strange 2 as compared to her Avengers version. Seeing her use the full extent of her powers just tells you how much she has been holding back all this time and it’s rather fascinating.
3. Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez)
Source: IMDB
For those of you who don’t know, America Chavez is one of those characters who were a part of the Young Avengers in the comics. I don’t know what’s cooking in the MCU, but they have teased a lot of characters from the Young Avengers and I won’t mind seeing something nice and fresh from the studio. So yeah, make it happen, Marvel.
However, in Doctor Strange 2, Chavez is being hunted by Wanda for her powers to travel the Multiverse. Wanda plans to drain America of her powers so she can use them to go to her kids in an alternate timeline, killing Chavez in the process. Initially in the movie, Chavez cannot control her powers but later on, in the need of the hour, she figures out how to do so saving everyone from Wanda’s wrath.
4. Benedict Wong (Wong)
Source: IMDB
One of the most loved characters in the Doctor Strange universe has to be Wong. He is one of those characters who keeps reappearing whenever there is an event regarding Doctor Strange, and I’m not at all complaining about it. Wong not only plays an integral part in the movies he’s a part of but also provides good comic relief in serious conditions.
In Doctor Strange 2, Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and is helping Doctor Strange to protect America Chavez from falling into the hands of Wanda who wants to kill Chavez by draining her of her powers.
5. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Baron Mordo)
Source: IMDB
Chiwetel Ejiofor last appeared in the first Doctor Strange movie and after that, he made an appearance in Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati in an alternate reality called Earth-838. In this universe, Doctor Strange used the Darkhold and caused some serious damage because of which he had to be executed.
After his execution, Mordo was given the charge of the Sanctum taking Strange’s place. In Doctor Strange 2, he was responsible for capturing Strange and Chavez to be presented before the Illuminati.
6. Rachel McAdams (Dr. Christine Palmer)
Source: IMDB
Rachel McAdams plays the role of Doctor Strange’s love interest, Christine Palmer who is getting married. Throughout this movie, we see Strange saying that he is happy, but we, as the audience, can clearly see that he isn’t; he is just pretending. By the end of Doctor Strange 2, he confesses his feelings to the Christine he met on Earth-838. That scene is quite symbolic as well since you can clearly see that Strange has finally let go of his feelings and is finally at peace with them.
7. Hayley Atwell (Captain Carter)
Source: IMDB
Marvel fans got to see Captain Carter in action for the first time in What…if? an animated series based on alternative timelines of the infinite Marvel universe. The only complaint people had was that they didn’t get to see her in live-action and Marvel pulled off a rare W when they decided to bring her to the big screen as part of the Doctor Strange 2 cast.
In this movie, when Doctor Strange traveled to Earth-838, instead of the Avengers, the Illuminati was the protector of Earth, and instead of Captain America, they had Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter. Although her screen time wasn’t too much, it was good to see her in live-action.
8. John Krasinski (Reed Richards)
Source: IMDB
Okay but, what Marvel pulled off here was truly unexpected. They brought to our screens the leader of the Fantastic 4, a team that has been completely unheard of since 2015. Reed Richards has the ability to stretch himself to unbelievable extents and is deemed to be the smartest man on the planet. For some reason, John Krasinski’s appearance as Reed Richards didn’t feel out of place at all, as if we’ve been seeing him play the character for years.
My only complaint here is Marvel didn’t have to kill him off almost instantly after his appearance. His death means that the upcoming Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four, will recast Reed Richards, or maybe they won’t simply because this is an alternate timeline, and on Earth-616, he may still become Mr. Fantastic. Who knows?
9. Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier)
Source: IMDB
If showing us our beloved Professor X wasn’t enough for Marvel to make us emotional at his appearance, they had to throw in him saying his ever-famous quote “Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” And when even that wasn’t enough, they had to kill him off, not fair Marvel.
Professor Charles Xavier is one of those characters from X-Men whom we saw on screen as kids making us set a benchmark in our mind for superhero movies. Professor X’s appearance could point toward the inclusion of mutants in future MCU projects. But hey, we don’t have to be sad about Professor’s death since it was on Earth-838, and the one on Earth-616 might still be around.
10. Anson Mount (Black Bolt)
Source: IMDB
If we talk about the most disrespectful death of any superhero, it has to be Black Bolt from Doctor Strange 2. His superpower was his voice and Wanda shut him up, quite literally. She, using her magic, sealed shut his mouth, and then proceeded to crush his skull. Marvel did not have to do him so dirty because he indeed was powerful, he was the one who killed Doctor Strange in this universe. I think Black Bolt was very much nerfed in this movie, what do you guys think?
11. Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel)
Source: IMDB
On Earth-838, Lashana Lynch plays the role of Captain Marvel, but in this universe, instead of Carol Danvers, Maria Rambeau is Captain Marvel. I have to say that she played the part quite well and was the only one among the whole of the Illuminati who actually overpowered Wanda for a brief period of time. However, Wanda was too strong even for a superhero possessing cosmic powers ultimately overpowering Captain Marvel and killing her off as well.
Microsoft Store is an online platform that allows users to download and purchase various apps, games, and other digital content. The platform also offers third-party billing services, which allow users to purchase products and services from third-party providers using their Microsoft account. Microsoft recently updated the Microsoft Store support document. The document now shows how the third-party billing system works in the store. It offers more flexible payment options for apps, games, and in-app purchases.
Microsoft said it would restrict third-party billing systems so that users could not use gift cards or mall points. In addition, the rules set by users in Xbox Family Settings and Microsoft Family Safety do not apply to third-party payments.
Gizchina News of the week
The company said
“Some app publishers with non-game products offer alternatives to the Microsoft Payments platform for in-app purchases. These publishers can offer both payment plans or just an alternative (non-Microsoft) billing platform. When using an alternative billing platform for in-app purchases, any payment data saved on the Microsoft In-App Payments platform will not be available. Microsoft gift cards and store credit are also not available for in-app purchases using alternative billing platforms. The specific billing platform you use determines who secures your purchases, processes your payments, stores any payment data, and provides customer support for purchases, including any refunds”.
Final Words
It is important to note that Microsoft will allow third-party payments for apps, games, and in-app purchases. This means that users do not have to make payments through Microsoft. However, Microsoft will not be liable for any data given to third-party payment platforms.
Third-party billing on the Microsoft Store is a convenient payment method. It allows users to purchase products and services from third-party providers. Users can manage their third-party subscriptions and cancel subscriptions if needed. However, users should ensure that they choose third-party payment platforms that they trust to make payments.
