Paradise News

Tag: Phones and Gadgets

  • Nintendo may use dual pricing to curb Switch 2 resales

    Japanese manufacturing giant Nintendo is all set to launch its new console, the Switch 2, on June 5. According to a report from Nikkei, the company will be adopting a new pricing strategy to discourage resellers from taking advantage of high demand. There will be two versions of the new Nintendo Switch 2. One will be for the Japanese market marketed as the “Japanese · domestic dedicated version,”. This model will be compatible with only Japanese language content. The other model will support English and other languages, described as the “multilingual support version.” This model will be suitable for global users.

    Significant price gap between models

    While both consoles will be similar, this dual strategy will allow Nintendo to implement distinct pricing. The global version is more pricey than the Japanese model. According to reports, the Japanese version will retail for 49,980 yen (about $343). The global version, on the other hand, will cost 69,980 yen (about $480).

    Some may wonder why there is a huge price gap of 20,000 yen (about $137) between the two models. This is likely a way to stop resellers from buying up stock in Japan and then exporting it for profit. This could increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 outside Japan.

    Although Nintendo has not confirmed this policy as a resale prevention tactic, industry observers believe it aligns with past efforts by gaming companies to combat grey market activity.

    Nintendo began selling the Switch 2 through a lottery system on its official website starting April 4. Both the Japanese and global versions will be distributed via this method. This will likely make the sales process fairer amid the anticipated high demand.

    However, the Japanese model will be the only version available at retailers and e-commerce platforms within Japan. The global version, on the other hand, can only be purchased directly through Nintendo’s website.

    This dual pricing and limited sales approach may help Nintendo maintain better control over early supply issues. It will help the company avoid a repeat of shortages and inflated resale prices.

    Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

    Source: Giz China

  • Daigo Umehara announces his intention to quit streaming to focus on competitive Street Fighter 6 starting this year











    Red Bull Kumite 2025 has proven to be quite the spectacle this weekend for Street Fighter 6 fans. Notable players in attendance include Zeta|Kakeru, WBG|MenaRD, KSG|Xiaohai, G8S|Gachikun, BST|Daigo Umehara, TM|NoahTheProdigy, Mouz|EndingWalker, Reject|BigBird, KC|Kilzyou, RB|Bonchan, Mouz|Problem X, and many more.






    Although Daigo Umehara has established quite the name for himself throughout fighting game history, most players probably weren’t expecting him to win this event as he’s primarily been focused on his streaming activities. Indeed, NoahTheProdigy ended up eliminating Daigo at 9th place with a 5-2 set victory.









    Following this, Daigo Umehara had an unexpected surprise announcement to make at the event. This announcement marks a major change in what we can probably expect from Daigo’s fighting game career.


    “Well actually I felt that (Noah’s) counterattack response and movement speed was really fast and hard to deal with, but… well…from this year… I will quit streaming and return to Street Fighter 6 as a sport and compete seriously once more, so with a bit of time I’d like to take my revenge (against Noah),” said Daigo according to Ryan Hart’s translation.


    Daigo is known to be one of the greatest players throughout the eras of Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter 3, and Street Fighter 4. It’s also worth noting that Daigo holds the Guinness World Record as “the most successful player in major tournaments of Street Fighter.”


    Additionally, Daigo is known to be a six time Evo Championship Series winner — achieving victory during the Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo events at Evo 2003 and Evo 2004, Guilty Gear XX events at Evo 2003 and Evo 2004, and Street Fighter 4 events at Evo 2009 and 2010.


    Of course, Daigo’s also famous for “Evo Moment 37,” where he pulled off an insane comeback against Justin Wong through a series of parries in Street Fighter 3: Third Strike. This moment has become legendary even amongst those not necessarily hardcore about fighting games.


    Although Daigo still competed throughout Street Fighter 5 and Street fighter 6, he’s thus far not been as prevalent as a player. This was likely due to Daigo putting a greater focus on content creation revolving around the Street Fighter series.


    At this point, Daigo is 43 years old (will be 44 in May). The path that he has chosen will no doubt be a difficult one as the fighting game space is now occupied by many players that are only half his age.


    Although it’s known that reaction times tend to get worse as we age beyond 26 years, Daigo has had his share of moments in which he’s shown that he can still duke it out with the best of them.


    It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out from here. Regardless, Daigo’s declaration today suggests that we’ll finally be seeing him back in his element in a way that we haven’t seen for years now.








    Source: Event Hubs

  • Xiaomi 15S Pro: Leaked Certification Hints at Return of UWB and Blazing-Fast Charging

    A recent certification slip-up may have just confirmed two major upgrades in Xiaomi’s next flagship phone. According to regulatory filings, the Xiaomi 15S Pro is bringing back ultra-wideband (UWB) technology—a feature that fans haven’t seen since the MIX 4. On top of that, the upcoming device looks set to offer an eye-popping 90W fast charging, making it one of the quickest-charging smartphones on the market.

    The Leak That Gave It Away

    China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently cleared a new Xiaomi model, listed as 25042PN24C. Buried in the documentation? A direct mention of UWB radio transmission capabilities. In plain terms, that means the phone can deliver pinpoint spatial awareness and enhanced device-to-device connectivity.

    That same model also appeared in January’s 3C certification records. There, it was listed as supporting 90W maximum fast charging—well above the industry standard. While Xiaomi hasn’t officially named the device, all signs point to this being the 15S Pro.

    Xiaomi 15S Pro

    UWB: Back and More Relevant Than Ever

    If you’re wondering why UWB matters, here’s the short version: it’s smart tech that allows devices to “understand” their surroundings with centimeter-level accuracy. Xiaomi first introduced this in the MIX 4 with its one-finger connection feature, but the tech vanished in later flagships.

    Now, it’s making a return—and not by coincidence.

    A Play for the Automotive Space

    The timing isn’t random. Xiaomi recently confirmed its leap into the automotive industry, and UWB plays a big role in that transition. Most modern cars already support UWB for digital key functionality and secure entry systems.

    By adding this feature to its phones, Xiaomi isn’t just improving connectivity; it’s laying the groundwork for seamless integration between its mobile devices and future vehicles. Think automatic unlocking as you approach the car, personalized driver settings, and smarter in-car controls. It’s the kind of cross-platform synergy that Apple and Samsung have long aimed for—and Xiaomi wants in.

    What’s Still Under Wraps

    While these certifications confirm a couple of standout features, plenty of details are still missing. We don’t yet know what processor the 15S Pro will use, how the camera system will be configured, or whether Xiaomi has any surprises in the display or design departments.

    Based on Xiaomi’s usual launch cadence, more official teasers and leaks should surface soon. Stay tuned—things are just starting to heat up.

    Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

    Source: Giz China

  • Nintendo delays Switch 2 preorder date due to potential tariff impact, reported prices could rise even higher











    Nintendo recently showcased the Switch 2 during the latest Nintendo Direct presentation. By the end of it all, many fans immediately took notice of the fact that Nintendo never dropped the price of the console despite the fact that it’s slated to be released on June 5, 2025.






    With some research, it was discovered that the Switch 2’s retail price is set to be a whopping $449.99. However, it’s the fact that all Nintendo Switch 2 major releases going forward, such as Mario Kart World, being priced at $79.99 that might be the most bitter pill of all that consumers will have to swallow.









    What are the causes of Nintendo’s sudden price escalations? Though Nintendo has remained mostly radio silent on the issue, there’s been plenty of speculation to suggest that the Trump administration’s tariff policies might be the cause of all of this.


    Of course, it should be noted that for several years now, Nintendo has been moving Switch (and Switch 2) production to Vietnam from China to “diversify risks” associated with production costs.


    The more likely scenario is that Nintendo was simply adjusting prices in response to ongoing inflation. Additionally, many suspect that Nintendo might’ve believed that they’d be able to distract fans with the Switch 2’s game library and specs as it quietly revealed the prices due to the amazing success of the Switch.


    Regardless, fans immediately took notice of the prices. During the proceeding days in which Nintendo held “Nintendo Treehouse” streams to showcase Switch 2 games and content, fans were spamming “Drop The Price!” and #DropThePrice” into the chat, all throughout the entire event. It was a nonstop ordeal that Nintendo never once addressed.


    President Trump’s “Liberation Day” announced “reciprocal tariffs” on virtually all countries, including Vietnam, on the exact same day in which they held the Switch 2 Direct. Fans were previously told that preorders for the Switch 2 will begin on April 9, 2025.


    Unfortunately, Nintendo (via GameStop) has apparently announced that the original preorder date now must be delayed due to the potential impact of the tariffs announced earlier this week. At the very least, the original release date for the Switch 2, June 5, 2025, is still set in place at the moment.


    GameStop’s message about the Switch 2 preorder date:


    Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.


    GameStop will continue to work closely with Nintendo and provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further details.



    Needless to say, this has some rather problematic implications. For one, it suggests that Nintendo did not properly and adequately factor the price of the Switch 2 and its major releases based on a scenario involving the Trump administration’s tariffs.


    This suggests that Nintendo could announce that retail prices in the United States may need to rise even higher than what was previously reported, which already had fans riled up. As one can imagine, Nintendo’s in a bit of a tight spot right now.


    Nintendo has clearly been trying to avoid making a direct statement about the subject. Meanwhile, former Nintendo employees have suggested that Nintendo is probably scrambling right now trying to figure out how to address the gaming community’s concerns, but believe that any price drop before release is unrealistic to expect.


    Regardless, things could end up going from bad to worse if Nintendo is forced to announce a price increase for their upcoming product. As always, you can expect that we’ll be keeping an eye on the situation to see what comes of all of this.







    Source: Event Hubs

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Enterprise Edition Gets 8 Years of Updates

    Samsung has made a major change for the benefit of their business users. The software support period for the new Galaxy S25 Enterprise Edition smartphones will be extended to 8 years. For comparison, the regular Galaxy S25 series will enjoy 7 years of support, meaning the Enterprise Edition gets a year longer!

    As reported by SamMobile, this is the longest duration of software support related to value for any smartphone to date. Even surpasses Apple’s iPhones and Google’s Pixel phones which are infamous for their lengthy support upgrade timelines.

    The Galaxy S25 Enterprise Edition has three models available: standard Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The hardware is identical as with the regular versions, the phones differ in the software and services provided for business use.

    Samsung Promises 8 Years of Updates for Galaxy S25 Enterprise Edition

    Image Credit: SAMmobile

    A major advantage is the one-year subscription to Samsung Knox Suite which is relatively unknown outside the business world. This is an entire set designed for corporations. It assists IT staff with data protection by managing devices and controlling settings remotely. It has a more tailored focus on making devices secure and easier to manage.

    The policy pertaining to updates is applicable every 8 years and includes upgrades to the Android System and security updates. This indicates that businesses can utilize these phones for a longer duration without the concern of being outdated in terms of software or security. Also, this helps lower costs because companies will not need to dispose or renew devices as frequently.

    This action places Samsung ahead of the competition. It demonstrates that Samsung is willing to extend support for the Enterprise Edition devices to sustain its business clientele. Furthermore, it forces competitors like Apple, Google, and others to provide better and extended support for usage of their devices.

    Extending support coverage enables new possibilities for utilization of the device. For businesses, this means added reliance on the device, better protection, and less frequent need of renewing the device. For Samsung, this serves as an opportunity for differentiation presented in the sea of competitors.

    This version offers the same power and features as the S25, but comes with additional tools designed specifically for professionals. In this case, the Enterprise Edition comes with added benefits of added tools as well as updated functionalities throughout the contract period. Samsung is positioning itself not merely as a phone provider, but as a supplier of assurance.

     

    Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

    Source: Giz China

  • SafetyCore: How This Android App Threatens Your Personal Data!

    Many users may not know about an app called Android System SafetyCore. It was developed by Google and comes pre-installed on Android versions 9 and above. This app runs as a system-level application. At first glance, it seems designed to protect user safety. However, its hidden functions raise concerns. The deeper you look into how it works, the more troubling it becomes. The app has deep access to the device’s system. This raises a serious question: Does SafetyCore pose a risk to user privacy?

    Could Android’s SafetyCore App inadvertently violate your privacy?

    What is SafetyCore and What Does It Do?

    Primarily, SafetyCore monitors and filters nude images shared or received through the Google Messages app. When it detects such content, the app displays a warning using something called a Listing Image Action for Appends (LAA). You can choose to ignore the image or view it. Google claims that since the app runs locally and stays detached from cloud services, all image scanning happens on the device itself. According to them, no data gets sent to external servers during the process.

    Bounds of application placed via google and maintaining twitter hinges leaves open the pasage of not accessing beyond the messages app data monitoring borders inciting fear of privacy breach. Moreover, Google pushed the app into the messaging system without asking for user consent, which adds to the distrust. This move raises more red flags and deepens concerns about privacy.

    Is It Possible To Completely Remove It?

    SafetyCore does not interfere with the performance or functionality of your device, allowing it to be removed safely. If you prefer to exercise control over what runs on your phone, here is how to uninstall it:

    • Open Settings on your Android phone.
    • Proceed to Apps.
    • Click on the three-dot icon located at the top right corner, then select Show system apps.
    • Search for and click on Android System SafetyCore.
    • Click on either Disable or Uninstall then confirm your decision

    Remember, if you choose to remove SafetyCore, you forgo the ability to automatically scan the media found within Google Messages. One significant caveat, however, is that the application may be reinstalled or enabled without any prior notification due to system updates.

    Digital Safety: The Balance Here (heads-up)

    For those worried about digital privacy, it’s a good idea to keep looking over your system apps, particularly after significant updates. The discussion regarding SafetyCore is part of the much broader debate concerning users’ privacy, autonomy and transparency within an increasingly technologically advanced society.

    What do you think about SafetyCore? Do you believe Google needs to add more clarity regarding it, or disable enabling it by default, without notifying users, instead – require opting-in? Leave your comments down below.

    Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

    Source: Giz China

  • Meta Releases Llama 4 AI Models; Beats GPT-4o and Grok 3 in LMArena

    After a gap of four months, Meta has released a new series of Llama 4 open-weight models. The new AI models are Llama 4 Scout, Llama 4 Maverick, and Llama 4 Behemoth. Unlike earlier dense models, Meta has gone with the MoE (Mixture of Experts) architecture this time, just like DeepSeek R1 and V3. And all Llama 4 models are natively multimodal from the ground up.

    First, the smallest Llama 4 Scout model has a total of 109B parameters with 16 experts, but only 17B parameters are active at a time. It also supports a massive context length of 10 million tokens. Meta says Llama 4 Scout (17B) offers better performance than Gemma 3, Mistral 3.1, and Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite.

    Next, the Llama 4 Maverick model brings a total of 400B parameters with an expanded 128 experts, but again, only 17B parameters are active. This model is more capable than Llama 4 Scout as it has many more specialized expert models. It has a context length of 1 million tokens. Meta claims Llama 4 Maverick beats OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash.

    Image Credit: Meta

    The impressive part about Llama 4 Maverick is that with just 17B active parameters, it has scored an ELO score of 1,417 on the LMArena leaderboard. This puts the Maverick model in the second spot, just below Gemini 2.5 Pro, and above Grok 3, GPT-4o, GPT-4.5, and more. It also achieves comparable results when compared to the latest DeepSeek V3 model on reasoning and coding tasks, and surprisingly, with just half the active parameters.

    Meta has done a tremendous job distilling the Llama 4 Scout and Maverick models from the largest Llama 4 Behemoth model. The Llama 4 Behemoth AI model is trained on a total of 2 trillion parameters, but only 288 billion parameters are active across 16 experts. Meta says Behemoth is still in training, and more details about its release will be shared later.

    Meta claims the Llama 4 Behemoth beats the largest AI models such as GPT-4.5, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Gemini 2.0 Pro on STEM benchmarks. Note that these are non-reasoning models so Meta can extract even better performance with future reasoning models using the Llama 4 series base models.

    As for availability, Meta says Llama 4 is rolling out on Meta AI in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and the Meta AI website, starting today in 40 countries. However, the multimodal features are currently available in the US only.

    Arjun Sha

    Passionate about Windows, ChromeOS, Android, security and privacy issues. Have a penchant to solve everyday computing problems.


    Source: Beebom

  • Mortal Kombat’s co-creator was working on a kart racing game before it was cancelled by Warner Bros.



    Team was reportedly upset that MultiVersus got to launch twice while they didn’t launch once








    John Tobias, one of the co-creators of Mortal Kombat, was working on a kart racing game at Warner Bros.’ San Diego studio before the plug got pulled on the game, according to a report by the Sacred Symbols podcast.






    Someone once associated with the team at Warner Bros. San Diego reached out to Colin Moriarty of the Sacred Symbols podcast to show him what they were working on.









    WB San Diego was deep in development on a kart racer code named Project Moonlight, WB Racers and a few other names.


    Much like MultiVersus, Project Moonlight would come from Warner Bros.’ wide range of IP including Adventure Time, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo and more.


    It’s not hard to imagine it could have also featured the Mortal Kombat characters too, especially with John Tobias being the creative director of the studio behind the game, and since Scorpion and Sub-Zero recently joined Rocket League as cars.


    The game is said to be heavily inspired by Mario Kart, a drift racing game, running on Unreal Engine 5. It underwent many business model changes, for example it started off as a free to play online only multiplayer racer, for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile.


    However, towards the end of its development, the Switch and mobile platforms were dropped entirely, and a PC iteration was green lit.


    After that, the remaining console versions were dropped, so that resources could be put into a PC-only release, with the hope that if that platform was successful, they could circle back and make other versions.


    One thing the source relayed is there was quite a bit of animosity towards Player First Games, which got to launch MultiVersus twice while they never got a single shot to launch this kart racer.


    These sentiments heavily echo the turmoil that’s been happening at Warner Bros. in recent times, from MultiVersus being scheduled to shut down on May 30, 2025 and numerous other issues that have surfaced at the company.


    These things highlight how important Mortal Kombat has become to Warner Bros., where Ed Boon recently said he feels that the game has become a forever franchise, up there with the likes of Star Wars and Marvel.


    We know that NetherRealm Studios has been working on their next game for quite some time, and it’s possible it could be announced this year based on history.


    Ed Boon also recently said it’s only a matter of time before we see re-released versions of older Mortal Kombat games, which could include some of the older action-adventure games like Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.


    Having a better idea of how things are looking at Warner Bros., in terms of their gaming division, gives us a better idea of how the Mortal Kombat franchise is perceived by the major corporation — and what we can expect from them in the future.


    You can check out the segment below where the information about the kart racing game, Project Moonlight, comes from.









    Source: Event Hubs

  • Street Fighter 6’s summer update for Switch 2 could improve frame rates and input delay for all platforms



    Capcom may add DLSS, or more upscalers, with this update








    There’s an update coming to Street Fighter 6 around the time the Nintendo Switch 2 version is launched, which is set for June 5th, 2025. Because the Switch 2 version of Street Fighter 6 will feature crossplay, all versions of the game will need to be updated to support the latest platform being made available.






    It’s possible this update will have the initial batch of the much hyped costumes and potentially the first DLC character of Season 3, although with how long it’s taking Capcom to release Elena, it’s certainly not a lock.









    However, one of the features of the Nintendo Switch 2 is its ability to run DLSS, which improves frame rates and therefore reduces input delay, with the non-frame generation variant of the technology.


    DLSS is very commonly used in PC games, but the upscaling technology is limited to Nvidia hardware. While that makes up about 75% of the graphics card market on PC, based on Steam’s March 2025 stats, the technology hasn’t been featured on a Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo console until now with the Switch 2.


    Street Fighter 6 currently lacks any in-game menus to change the upscaling technology, for either FSR or DLSS, and this is costing gamers significant performance improvements that will boost frame rates and reduce input delay.


    No explanation from Capcom has been given as to why Street Fighter 6 lacks these features, and it’s not the first time we’ve spoken about why the game should really have this feature.


    With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon though, and DLSS being one of the core features they’re relying on to boost frame rates and overall performance, it’s possible future versions of Street Fighter 6 will feature this commonly used technology, boosting performance for a large portion of the player base.


    It’s also possible that the team at Capcom is able to eke out enough performance with the Switch 2 to run the game at 60 frames per second without using DLSS or another upscaler.


    Hopefully they’re able to implement DLSS into the game though, as this would greatly benefit everyone with a GPU capable of taking advantage of this, which would be a large portion of the competitive playerbase.


    After all, Monster Hunter Rise and Wilds are RE Engine (Reach for the Moon Engine) games which support DLSS, leaving it as fairly baffling why the same technology isn’t featured in Street Fighter 6, which also uses the same engine.


    Adding FSR to the game would see a performance boost for both of the latest Sony and Microsoft consoles, and be in line with most other games from this modern era, which have upscaler support.


    We should know for sure in June if DLSS — and potentially other graphic upscaling tech — will be coming to Street Fighter 6, but if you’d like to see this added to the game, it’s a great idea to let Capcom know, either in the comments below or by telling the developers on social media.







    Source: Event Hubs

  • Funny comic shows why it would be bad for Cammy if Street Fighter 6 collaborated with Blue Mary and Android 18











    All of the veterans that have returned to Street Fighter 6 thus far have had their appearances reworked. For example, Cammy has traded in her green leotard and beret for some yoga pants, a sports bra, and a leather jacket.






    Some might argue that Cammy now looks very similar to SNK’s Blue Mary. Funnily enough, Blue Mary’s appearance was originally based on Dragon Ball Z’s Android 18, which is why those two look so alike.









    Hershuar recently released an amusing comic that goes over the possibility that sees a collaboration with Blue Mary and Android 18, which is something that Street Fighter 6 has been prone to do from time to time.


    It turns out that Cammy has reworked her appearance in such a way that’s a little too similar to that of Blue Mary and Android 18 for their liking. Evidently, the two are upset about Cammy’s change in wardrobe.


    In the next scene, it can be observed that both Blue Mary and Android 18 are venting their frustrations onto Cammy. She’s getting her hair and jacket pulled in very uncomfortable ways.


    Luckily for Cammy, this just turns out to be a nightmare. From this experience, she concludes that these specific collaborations should never be allowed to happen.


    Check it all out below:




    Cammy, Blue Mary, and Android 18 comic image #1

    Click images for larger versions







    Source: Event Hubs