Tag: Phones and Gadgets

Millions of Apple users rushed to install iOS 18.4, released on Monday. The update includes eight new emojis and advanced AI features under Apple Intelligence. However, many users quickly noticed a major issue—rapid battery drain.

iOS 18.4: Users Complain About Battery Drain

Shortly after updating, iPhone owners reported severe battery problems. User @OldAppleTech on X called the battery life “absolutely terrible” after installing iOS 18.4.

Another frustrated user wrote, “Before the update, my battery capacity was 87%. After updating, it dropped to 79%. This is weired!” One iPhone owner complained, “My battery drains so fast I have to charge it three times a day!” Another user warned, “Stop updating your iPhone. It’s ruining battery life.”

Why Does This Happen?

Battery drain after an iOS update is common. Apple says this happens because background processes run for a few days after installation. These tasks optimize the system, index data, and recalibrate battery performance. During this time, your battery might drain faster than usual.

Apple advises users to wait before panicking. “If you notice lower battery life after an update, wait a few days and check again,” Apple explains.

How to Fix Battery Drain

If iOS 18.4 is draining your battery, try these steps:

1. Restart Your iPhone – A reboot can fix minor issues.
2. Check Battery Usage – Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps drain power.
3. Disable Background App Refresh – Turn it off in Settings > General.
4. Turn Off Unused Features – Disable Bluetooth and location services when not needed.
5. Use Low Power Mode – This reduces background activity and saves battery.

Final Thoughts

New iOS updates bring great features but sometimes cause issues. If you see battery drain after updating to iOS 18.4, give it a few days. If the issue persists, try the tips above. Apple may release a minor update soon to fix any problems. Stay tuned!

As an impatient man who had already read a few Minecraft Movie opinions, I’ll admit that I had little expectations from it. As such, when the movie began and I saw the infamous Sheep face scene, I felt a pang of regret and thought this was actually going to be bad. But after sitting through it all, I have to say, Whoa. It turned out to be so great towards the end that it filled the kid inside me with joy and a tingling feeling of nostalgia.

A Minecraft Movie might not be the exact experience of starting the game, progressing through the tasks of exploring the overworld, moving into the Nether, and finally reaching the End. Rather, it’s more of a unique story from a billion other Minecraft adventures. Thankfully, this adventure just might have been worth visiting. Because after sitting through 1 hour and 41 minutes, I found myself filled with happiness. So keep reading my full A Minecraft Movie review as I list out just what I loved about this blocky adventure, coupled with just a few things they could have done better.

Story: Had Me from the Start

The moment when Steve, played by Jack Black, mentioned, “First we ‘Mine‘, then we ‘Craft‘, let’s Minecraft“, I remembered all the happy memories I had with my friends in the Minecraft world. The movie starts with the Minecraft loading screen, showing Steve’s childhood dream of heading into the mines.

The real world seems really hard for Steve, leading him to question his purpose in life. So, unable to bear the aimless daily routine any longer, Steve rushes inside the mines only to find a mysterious Earth Cube and Crystal. Combined, the Earth Cube and Crystal lead Steve to our beloved blocky world of Minecraft.

Once he’s there, we get to see all the parts that each crafter can relate to. Whether breaking wood with his hand as soon as he spawns or building the safe house for his first night, Steve experiences all the core gameplay features of vanilla Minecraft right from the get-go.

Soon, we get to see Steve make a faithful companion, which I’m sure all of us might have done once we start the game: using a bone to tame a wild wolf. However, Steve’s happiness doesn’t last long, and he gets imprisoned by the evil Sorceress of the Nether World, Malgosha. As such, the main plot of A Minecraft Movie revolves around defeating the evil and saving the Overworld.

While I expected the movie’s story to be drab, I was pleasantly surprised. The Minecraft Movie carries its lore well, tackling themes of teamwork and difficulties with a huge frosting of deadpan humor.

As the main leads come together to fight the piglin army, overthrow Malgosha from her throne, and get back, we see everyone taking on the tasks that they’re good at. The movie ends as well as it began, wrapping up with a nice, happy ribbon.

Chaos, Chaos Everywhere

As the movie successfully captures all the essential themes of the game, Warner Bros. didn’t hold back at all in involving chaos in it. All of us Crafters have somewhere experienced this feeling when we jumped into the Minecraft world along with our friends. Whether exploring the Deep Dark biome or raiding a Woodland Mansion, we all get startled whenever mobs surround us and we have a single heart of life remaining.

A Minecraft Movie beautifully captures that chaos, and you’ll realize this whenever you see the Creeper creeping up behind Garett, Malgosha killing her own kind when they don’t follow her orders, the piglins running amok around the village, or when Steve uses the water bucket to cushion the landing near the Pandas.

Cast and Acting: Who Stands Out and Who Falls Flat

It’s no secret that A Minecraft Movie contains a star cast of A-listers. This includes Jack Black as Steve, Jason Momoa as Garett Garrison, Sebastian Eugene Hansen as Henry, Emma Myers as Natalie, and Danielle Brooks as Dawn.

At this point, you might wonder why a video game adaptation needs so many secondary characters at all. But, as I mentioned earlier, Minecraft doesn’t have to be only about Steve and his adventure. There can be a zillion adventures in the game, and you can think of all other characters as your friends who entered this game for the first time.

As the movie progresses and we are introduced to different characters, we glimpse their backstory and what drives them. So whether it’s Garrett Garrison (Jason Momoa) running his about-to-be-closed pop shop or Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn’s banter (Danielle Brooks), there’s a lot of life here.

Personally, I found the acting in A Minecraft Movie incredibly amazing. All characters played their role to perfection. While I was already not expecting a serious experience, I was amazed at how Jack and Jason carried the screenplay and themselves.

Apart from the main leads, we also get to see two of the most out-of-the-blue cameos in the whole movie. Firstly, we get to see the tribute to Technoblade, a pig with a Crown, and Steve refers to him as the Legend of the game.

However, this second one is for the crafters. Later in the movie, Jens Bergensten, the lead designer of Minecraft, gets his own cameo as serving dinner to the Principal and the Villager. Call it a small cherry on this sundae, but seeing him was nice.

Female Leads Deserved More Screen Time

While I loved the casting and the acting, there was one issue I couldn’t ignore: the female leads received comparatively shorter screen time. How do I know this?

Well, I can specifically point out the characteristics of all the male leads. Steve felt like the most experienced and balanced Minecraft player, while Henry seemed like he had a natural talent for crafting and making useful designs or gadgets. Finally, Garett seemed like the know-it-all player, but in reality, didn’t have the faintest idea of what was going on and what to do.

Unfortunately, I was unsure about the female characters because Natalie seemed to be there just to take care of Henry. Moreover, Dawn just felt like a random character in the movie. I believe that both these characters could have been given a bit more personality of their own. While I understand the focus was on Steve, it doesn’t hurt to carry everyone along occasionally.

A Minecraft Movie VFX Brings the Blocky Game to Life

It won’t be a video game adaptation review if we don’t talk about its most important element: VFX. Thankfully, I was super impressed by the animations and effects. A Minecraft Movie’s VFX seemed to totally blend with the real-world characters. Apart from a few close-up scenes where the Overworld in the background seemed slightly blurred out, the movie had fabulous animations.

The trailers for the movie gave us the first look at all the Minecraft Mobs that were set to appear in it. At the time, it felt rather dreadful. However, ignoring that and giving it a shot, I felt the VFX did the movie justice and then some.

The blocks felt real when Steve or the other leads placed them on the ground, or when the world gets destroyed due to the piglin rampage. The Portals look magical, and the whole background where the scenes were shot also felt so realistic. At no point did I feel pulled out and back into the real world. As a gamer who’s lost in imaginary worlds half the time, having that feeling in a movie was absolute bliss.

A Few Broken Blocks Here and There

Besides all the good points, I believe a few areas could have been better. To state the obvious, I do believe A Minecraft Movie will solely entertain those who have played the game and know its lore.

Next is the short screen time for female leads, as discussed earlier. The Vindicator’s face felt a bit horrifying. Unfortunately, the Enderman could have had a bigger lore, further leading to the End Dimension, which was not mentioned at all.

Furthermore, the Nether dimension could have been explored a bit more since it was mentioned, and I guess Warner Bros. missed the opportunity to create better lore around the Nether and the End Dimension. However, I must say that these elements aren’t bad enough to dampen my entire experience. As such, I decided to go a bit lighter on the movie and my criticism.

Stays True to the Original

With so many notable locations, mobs, and encounters, I feel A Minecraft Movie stayed completely true to the original game. This began with the scene where I saw the Overworld with snow-capped mountains, rivers, and valleys. Furthermore, whether it was the Creeper exploding at the face of Garett, the piglins ravaging the Overworld, or when Steve and his friends get blasted out of the mines on a minecart, I found myself saying ‘Aha!’ at almost every scene.

Everything seemed so real, and I could relate so well to the chaotic madness of Minecraft throughout the whole movie. A Minecraft Movie is filmed in New Zealand, and you can experience some of the popular places shown in the film through the Bedrock location DLC Aotearoa.

As you can guess, since I have played the game, I could relate a lot to what’s happening and get Goosebumps whenever iconic things happen in the movie, including a random villager getting lost.

Verdict: A Minecraft Movie Is a Block You Need to Break

Apart from a few reservations about the movie, I found it thoroughly entertaining. The movie’s progression was on point and kept me on my toes at all times. And while the trailers did make me skeptical, I ended up being so wrong about that. The kid inside me felt happy since the movie was beyond my expectations.

As the movie ended, each character was shown to have achieved what they really wanted in life. Finally, the post-credits scene loads up, and we get a slight hint that A Minecraft Movie might have a second part. But you’ll have to see for yourself. So if I were to sum it all up, A Minecraft Movie is definitely worth watching.

That ends my A Minecraft Movie review. I have enjoyed it to the fullest, and I feel this is a must-watch for all Minecraft players. Furthermore, I hope that Warner Bros. makes a sequel exploring the End and Nether to the fullest.

Have you watched A Minecraft Movie yet? Let us know in the comments below!

Honor has just unveiled the Honor 400 Lite as the newest addition to the 400 series. Honor Lite models unlike last year’s Honor 300 series offerings which included no Lite model featured this year with a potent middle-level device.

The Honor 400 Lite sports a 6.7 inch screen boasting AMOLED technology with a resolution of Full HD plus and 120 hz refresh rate. The display has an astonishing peak brightness value of 3500 nits which makes visibility in sunlight outstanding. Additionally, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner for safe unlocking. At the top, there is a pill-shaped cutout of a 16MP selfie camera with LED flash for brighter selfies in low-light conditions.

Honor 400 Lite: A Feature-Packed Entry into the Honor 400 Series

A triangular camera module marks back remodification of Honor. This design replaces the previous oblong layout. The primary 1080 MP camera hase 1/1.67 inch sensor, 3X lossless zoom, f/1.75 aperure. Coupled with this is 5MP ultra-wide lens which acts as depth sensor allows better portrait pictures.

The power button now features a AI Camera Button. This is capable of opening the camera app and provides the ability to take photos and videos at the push of a button. The button telescopes with zoom and enables other visual intelligent functions allowing searching surrounding objects at the press and hold button.

The Honor 400 Lite features the MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra, which is an under-the-hood chipset. It comes with a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of internal storage. No further storage expansion is allowed. It operates on MagicOS 9.0, which is running on top of Android 15.

A 5,230mAh battery powers the device and enables 35W wired charging. This allows for quick battery level boosts while ensuring prolonged usage throughout the day.

The device comes in three colors: green, black, and grey. Honor plans to roll the device to other markets soon. As for Austria, they can pre-order the device for €269, while the standard retail price is set to €299. Deliveries should be expected within April 8-9.

The AI features alongside the Honor 400 Lite’s high resolution camera and bright display make it a strong contender for mid-range value smartphones.

Microsoft’s journey from 1975 to 2025 has been nothing short of amazing. Over the past 50 years, Microsoft has been led by only three CEOs – Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella. Chief among them, Bill Gates and Satya Nadella have made Microsoft the tech giant that we know today. So to understand their leadership styles, product launches, acquisitions, and legal battles, we have compared Bill Gates vs Satya Nadella to see how they have re-shaped Microsoft over the years.

Microsoft Under Bill Gates (1975 – 2000)

Bill Gates was not just the first CEO of Microsoft, but also its co-founder along with Paul Allen. The duo built the company from scratch, but Bill Gates spearheaded the PC revolution. Gates’ mission was: “A computer on every desk and in every home“. Many of his colleagues say that Gates was an aggressive and competitive leader in achieving his goals.

In the 1980s, when computers were seen as expensive machines used by large corporations and governments, Bill Gates took it upon himself to make personal computing accessible and affordable for individuals. So in that sense, Gates is widely credited as someone who birthed personal computing.

Following the launch of MS-DOS, Bill Gates introduced Microsoft Word in 1981 and Windows 1.0 in 1985, which was the first graphical operating system by Microsoft. Following that, Windows 3.0 gained massive popularity among the masses. Around the same time, Microsoft acquired a company called Forethought, the company that developed Presenter, which everyone now knows as PowerPoint.

In 1990, under Gates’ leadership, Microsoft launched the integrated Microsoft Office suite with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. With Gates at the helm, Windows and Office became the default choice for both corporations and individuals. Thanks to Bill Gates’ visionary leadership, Windows and Microsoft Office remain the strongest moat of Microsoft to this day.

By 1995, Microsoft launched Windows 95 with the Start Menu, Taskbar, and Windows Explorer for the first time. It also brought support for the internet through the Internet Explorer browser. As a result, Windows 95 became the most popular Windows release ever. The internet was an emerging technology at that time, and Gates ensured that Windows users got access to the internet by adopting the technology quickly.

However, due to the bundling of Internet Explorer as the default browser in Windows 95, Microsoft faced an antitrust lawsuit from the US government. The lawsuit accused Microsoft of monopolistic practices. Microsoft forced OEMs to pre-install Internet Explorer and avoid Netscape Navigator, the competing browser of that time.

Moreover, Microsoft made it harder for users to uninstall Internet Explorer. As a result, the court ruled that Microsoft violated antitrust laws and ordered to split the company into two entities, one for Windows and another for Internet Explorer. However, in 2001, Microsoft avoided the breakup, and settled by allowing OEMs to freely install competing browsers.

So from releasing Windows and Microsoft Office to acquiring competitive products, adopting new technologies like the internet, and navigating Microsoft through its toughest legal battle, Bill Gates guided Microsoft and took it to new heights. Bill Gates, after serving Microsoft for 25 years, finally retired in 2000, and Steve Ballmer took over as the CEO.

Microsoft Under Satya Nadella (2014 – Present)

Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the third CEO in its 50-year journey. Nadella took over after Steve Ballmer’s 14-year tenure. It was a time when Microsoft was profitable, but it was seeing stagnation in PC sales, and missed the mobile revolution. Microsoft was also lagging behind in cloud computing as Amazon Web Services (AWS) kept getting better.

So Nadella’s appointment was seen as a pivotal moment to turn around the company. Nadella, without wasting any time, shifted the company’s strategy to cloud computing, enterprise services, and AI. He transformed Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure and made it one of the top cloud providers. Today, Azure is Microsoft’s biggest cash cow.

Nadella also shut down Windows Phone to keep Microsoft financially lean and focused. Steve Ballmer had acquired Nokia, but Nadella wrote off the deal and later announced the end of Windows Phone in 2017.

Unlike Ballmer’s Windows-first strategy, Nadella was more collaborative and launched Office apps on rival platforms like iPad, Android, and iOS. In 2016, Microsoft significantly improved Office apps on macOS and launched Office on the web for free. So instead of forcing customers to use Windows to access Office apps, Nadella took its most popular productivity suite to all platforms, driving user adoption.

In addition, Nadella changed the revenue model for Microsoft products. Instead of a one-time purchase of its Office suite, Microsoft pushed users to get Microsoft 365 subscriptions. This ensured that Microsoft keeps getting recurring payments. In fact, Microsoft recently started offering the desktop version of Office for free in some markets, but with ads.

Apart from that, under Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft embraced open-source and brought Linux on Windows via WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). He also led the acquisition of GitHub for $7.5 billion to further improve developer relations. Next, under Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft acquired many big companies including Mojang (Minecraft), LinkedIn, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard.

Not only that, one of Satya Nadella’s biggest bets was investing in OpenAI back in 2019. We now know that this move has put Microsoft at the forefront of AI development. Thanks to the partnership, Microsoft is integrating OpenAI’s advanced AI models on Windows, Copilot, and many other enterprise offerings.

Finally, under Satya Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft launched Windows 10 and Windows 11, and they have been quite successful. While Windows 10 is about to reach its end-of-life, it remains one of the most popular Windows versions. And Windows 11 is a modern, and visually refined OS, that offers Copilot and several AI features.

Bill Gates vs Satya Nadella: From Ground Up to Dominance

Just like Bill Gates embraced an emerging technology like the internet back then, Satya Nadella is also overseeing Microsoft in this AI era. However, unlike Gates who was seen as an aggressive and competitive leader, Satya Nadella has a collaborative approach, and believes in partnerships, even with rivals. That’s why Nadella has so far been able to avoid significant legal battles against competitors and regulators.

Sure, Nadella has killed many legacy products and services, but also acquired big gaming studios and invested in key AI companies. It shows that Nadella is far-sighted as he made a bet on cloud computing pretty early in 2014. And his 2019 investment in OpenAI proves that he can anticipate major technological shifts.

Simply put, it’s a hard to pick a side in the Bill Gates vs Satya Nadella argument. Both are tall leaders, and they have been instrumental in making Microsoft the second most valuable company in the world.

Earlier, it was Madhouse, and now, it’s Studio Mir that showed the courage to adapt one of the most popular video games, Devil May Cry, into an anime. The former’s version, which was released in 2007, stayed faithful to the video games, while the 2025 Devil May Cry is more of a reimagined story that draws inspiration from the video games and novels but also comes with an original approach.

For instance, it introduced us to the White Rabbit, the main antagonist of the series, and fans who are aware of the franchise can’t deny that he is just a minor character in the Devil May Cry 3 manga. However, Adi Shankar’s bold reimagination allowed him to take center stage in the anime. Despite pulling out of the antagonistic role well, I think he is the most misunderstood villain in anime history, and here’s my justification.

White Rabbit Isn’t Exactly a Villain in Netflix’s Devil May Cry

The White Rabbit appears as a badass villain in the 2025 Devil May Cry anime, who only wants to cause chaos in the world of the living. Well, that’s what Adi Shankar made us feel for the bunny-headed villain until Episode 6, The First Circle, which allowed us to learn his backstory. His childhood was never full of roses; he was an orphan who was forced to live with his abusive foster parents. One night, the boy stumbled into Hell, known as Makai, through a portal that opened in front of him.

He entered the gate with Alice in Wonderland’s book in his hand, as that was the only thing he was crazy about. He quickly bonded with Makai’s inhabitants and started seeing his family in them. However, soon, Mundus, the dark force who ruled Makai, started exploiting its resources and eventually made the place a living hell for the demons residing there. Time passed, and the boy grew up into an adult. He decided to help the demons find a place in the human world. However, he didn’t consider that humanity fears demons, and they might not allow them to coexist in their homeland.

After arriving on Earth, he and the demons encounter Mary and her team, who fire bullets at them and don’t stop before eradicating them. The man survives and vows vengeance against humanity, particularly Mary and DARKCOM. He is an Alice in Wonderland fanatic, so he adapts the rabbit’s identity, stitches a new bunny mask for himself, and wears a suit. As the attack in the human world leaves him fatally injured, he takes the help of a valve that he attaches to his chest. The device helps him stay alive by pumping demons and human blood into his body. Hence, that’s when the innocent human dies and a psychotic villain is born.

The White Rabbit Launches a Rebellion Against His Own Kind

The White Rabbit finds a home in Makai that he had craved for on Earth. So, despite being a human, he starts seeing more of a human in the demons. After spending days with the Makai’s demons, he felt safe and carefree. So, when Mary and her team kill his demon family and leave him for dead, he vows revenge on them. However, even though his manipulation skills and killing instincts make him look somewhat like a hell of a villain, let’s not forget what brought him here.

It’s the way humans treated the outworldly creatures – not all the demons are killers. And that Devil May Cry allowed us to witness when a demon family helped Mary to hide from a demon, who wanted to kill her. Mary had a change of heart towards demons, but if it had happened earlier, the White Rabbit wouldn’t have been born. He could have stayed a humble boy living with his demon family in peace.

Over the past 50 years, Microsoft has reshaped home computing, gaming, and office work industries, culminating in a $2.9 trillion empire as of 2025. Many people credit Bill Gates with the company’s current success, but there is one person whose efforts are often overlooked. That person is Steve Ballmer, the second CEO of Microsoft, responsible for the massive growth of the company.

So why is his tenure not looked upon so fondly? What happened during those years, and what pivotal role did he play in Microsoft’s success? Let’s find out.

From Assistant to CEO: How Steve Ballmer Started at Microsoft

If you’re still scratching your head on who the guy is, you may recognize him from videos laughing at the first iPhone, or yelling, “Developers! Developers! Developers!” among a crowd of hundreds. But don’t take him for a nobody, as the guy is the tenth-richest person in the world. He holds the highest stake in Microsoft at 4%, estimated to be valued at $120 billion.

To be honest, his time at Microsoft and how he became a part of the firm is intriguing. Steve Ballmer attended Harvard University and lived down the hall from Bill Gates. This might lead you to believe that Steve and Gates co-founded Microsoft, but this is not the case! He did not drop out of Harvard, but rather earned Magna Cum laude, later working as an assistant manager at P&G.

Steve later joined Microsoft after getting bored with the monotony of a 9-5 job, as the 30th employee of the company. He worked as Gates’ assistant and the company’s first manager, looking over jobs that developers didn’t want to do. Ballmer described his role as: “I was Bill’s assistant, basically: chief cook and bottle washer“. He set up the accounting and the HR department, too.

However, he played a huge part in Microsoft’s deal with IBM, which changed the company’s future…

The Deal that Made Microsoft

In 1980, IBM, who were the pioneers of computing at the time, approached Microsoft looking for software for their upcoming personal computer. However, Microsoft didn’t have software of its own, and instead had to look elsewhere to fulfill its needs.

Gates recommended 86-DOS, which was built by a company called SCP (Seattle Computer Products). The idea was to take their OS and customize it to IBM’s needs. But there is a huge gaping flaw in this plan because IBM could directly get it from SCP. Why would they need a middleman?

That’s where Steve Ballmer stepped in. He played the role of a salesman convincing IBM to let them get the rights for 86-DOS and asked for a small fee and the permission to let them ship the software to other companies. The folks at IBM were thrilled, since Microsoft didn’t ask for a huge sum or royalty per copy as they expected. Little did they know that they had been bluffed.

Ballmer’s offer did not grant IBM exclusive rights to the software. This allowed Microsoft to market and distribute its software to other brands, calling it MS-DOS, which later turned into Windows.   This skyrocketed the corporation from a small player to the status of a well-known brand.

The Wonder and Blunder Years

The deal cemented Steve Ballmer’s position as a key employee, climbing several executive ranks and earning an 8% ownership. He later became CEO after Bill’s retirement in 2000. During his time as the CEO, he tripled the revenue to nearly $78 billion and doubled the profits to $27 billion.

Under his leadership, Microsoft released several successful products that we still cherish to this day. This includes Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10, Microsoft Office 365 products, a cloud hosting service called SkyDrive, which later became OneDrive, and expansion into enterprise-level services.

He even helped Microsoft dive into the gaming and home entertainment sector with Xbox, which launched in 2001. I don’t think that without Steve’s aggressive push, the console would have become as popular as it did. He also overlooked the acquisition of Skype and Nokia.

You might be tired of me praising the guy, waiting for me to mortify him for his mistakes. And the mistakes he made. The biggest one was how he couldn’t predict the smartphone revolution in time, mocking the iPhone because it lacked a physical keyboard and “didn’t appeal to business customers“. He later tried to correct his mistakes with Windows Phones, but it was too late.

Apple’s iPhone was selling millions of units, while Nokia-branded Windows Phone kept seeing a steady decline in sales. Just to be shut down 2 years after Ballmer stepped down from his position.

Other failures under him include Windows Vista, Zune, and Bing, which didn’t see fruitful growth either. Even the stock market wasn’t on his side, as Microsoft’s stock fell almost 40% during his era, and it didn’t recover till his departure. At some point in 2011, even IBM’s stock took over Microsoft’s, which is why the shareholders later pushed him out of his position in 2014.

Was Ballmer the Bad Guy in All of This?

Steve Ballmer’s tenure was a rough one, filled with highs and lows. The guy propelled Microsoft and several of its products to success, but it couldn’t be denied that he wasn’t a visionary and more of an operator or manager. That is why he couldn’t get how big the smartphone industry will be in the future. Questioning the methods of visionary CEOs at the time.

His viral video of laughing at iPhone and comparing sales digits just goes to show that he was unable to see what changes are coming in the industry. Honestly, he reminds me of Lewis Litt from Suits. Here seemed like a silly fellow who had nothing but one intention in mind, to make Microsoft money, and that he did. He served 33 years at Microsoft and loved it like his own child.

A statement even his kids will agree with. The guy had a shy nature, and to overcome it, he became too overenthusiastic. Something I can personally relate to. But that doesn’t come off nicely when you are representing a corporation on a global level. In my eyes, Bill Gates might have engineered the company, but Steve fueled it to succeed.

Poco, the company known for pleasantly surprising us with its offerings in the budget category, has just thrown its new “ace in the hole” into the arena: the Poco C71. Just a few days after its initial appearance, the device is now revealing all its secrets, from its technical specifications and price to the details of when and where we’ll be able to find it.

The Poco C71 aims to shake up the entry-level category, as it houses the Unisoc T7250 Max SoC. To understand what that means, we’re talking about a processor that promises decent performance for its class. Combined with this, we’ll have up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage at our disposal, which – and here’s a big “thumbs up” to Poco – can actually be expanded up to a whopping 2TB via microSD card, thanks to a dedicated slot. So, forget about storage dilemmas! On the software front, the C71 runs the brand-new Android 15 straight out of the box, and Poco is showing its commitment to long-term support by promising two years of Android version upgrades and four years of security updates. You can’t really ask for much more in a phone at this price, can you?

A Standout Screen and Capable Basic Cameras

One of the elements that will surely catch the eye on the Poco C71 is its large 6.88-inch HD+ LCD screen with – wait for it – a 120Hz refresh rate! Yes, you read that right. 120Hz on such an affordable smartphone is something you rarely see, and it’s offering a noticeably smoother user experience, whether you’re scrolling through social media or playing games. The maximum brightness of 600 nits is satisfactory for the category, while the screen also supports “wet touch,” likely referring to improved touch responsiveness. At the top of the screen, a discreet notch houses the 8MP selfie camera, capable of decent selfies and video calls.

On the back, a 32MP main camera takes center stage, accompanied by a secondary unit – likely a depth sensor for improved portrait shots or a macro lens for close-up photography. While we’re not expecting miracles from the camera department in this price range, the 32MP resolution promises at least respectable shots in good lighting conditions. Among the other noteworthy features, we find an IP52 rating for dust and splash resistance – a welcome addition for those worried about minor accidents. There’s also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for quick and secure unlocking, and a large 5,200 mAh battery aiming to offer excellent battery life, comfortably lasting a full day of use. Charging is done via a USB-C port with a speed of 15W. It might not be the fastest charging on the market, but the large battery capacity is definitely the highlight here.

Poco C71: Price and… India for Starters

The Poco C71 will be available in three trendy colors: Cool Blue, Desert Gold, and Power Black. Consumers will be able to choose between two memory configurations: one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a more “generous” one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The prices in India, where it will first go on sale on April 8th via Flipkart, are incredibly tempting: 6,499 Indian Rupees (around $75/€70) for the 4GB/64GB version and 7,499 Indian Rupees (around $90/€80) for the 6GB/128GB version.

As for the release in other markets, there’s no official announcement yet. Poco fans in Europe will have to wait a little longer to see if and when the C71 will make its appearance in their regions. However, if the pricing remains at these levels, then we’ll certainly have a new strong contender in the budget category.

Microsoft is one company that has contributed to almost everything in technology. However, besides Windows, apps, and phones, a big area where the Mountain View giant’s presence lies is gaming. Over the last five decades, the company has been a master architect of video games, weaving its influence through every pixel and line of code. As we stand on the iconic day of Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, I thought of setting out on a nostalgic odyssey, a journey through time, to unearth five genre-defining gems from each decade that etched MS’ name into the soul of gaming. Prepare for a cascade of memories, a symphony of retro soundscapes, and a celebration of the titles that dared to redefine the rules.

1. Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0

• Release Date: November 1982
• Platform(s): IBM PC

When Bruce Artwick of Sublogic created the FS1 Flight Simulator, who knew what was coming for all the fans? Within two years, Microsoft brought the creator on board to make the first Microsoft Flight Simulator. The gameplay was simple: you fly a Cessna 182 in one of four US regions: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, or Seattle. Another game mode could fly the Sopwith Camel and shoot enemy aircraft. But what made the game such a standout for its era?

I know you might think the game’s mechanics seem primitive, but imagine that in 1982, MS Flight Simulator offered things that simulator developers still cannot emulate. By introducing a new degree of realism and showcasing the potential of personal computers as platforms for complex simulations, it went beyond the straightforward arcade experiences of its time. It created a devoted fan base and pushed the limits of graphics and processing power in PC hardware by providing an unparalleled virtual flight experience.

Furthermore, the game’s influence on industry standards was cemented when it was adopted as a benchmark for IBM PC compatibility. More significantly, it broadened the definition of a video game, demonstrating that software could offer experiential and educational benefits in addition to entertainment. In simple terms, Microsoft Flight Simulator 1982 established the fundamental framework for the intricate and tantalizing simulation games that currently characterize the genre.

2. 3D Pinball/Age of Empires II

• Release Date: August 24, 1995 /September 27, 1999
• Platform(s): Windows 95 – Windows XP/Windows, Mac OS, PS 2

Well, for this decade, I had to pick two games because they both impacted me positively, even if they were released when I was born. Pinball was one of the first games I tried out on Windows 95 OS. Thanks to Microsoft, this simple inclusion changed how much I became a fan of arcade games without visiting a shop. Through a pre-installed operating system, it democratized a genre by bringing pinball, a customarily arcade-bound experience, straight into millions of homes.

A new generation of pinball fans was fostered by this accessibility, which exposed innumerable users to the game’s delights. Particularly in office settings, its straightforward but captivating gameplay offered an easily accessible kind of entertainment, gently influencing the idea that computers are also tools for leisure rather than just work.

Additionally, even though its 3D rendering was simple by today’s standards, it demonstrated the developing graphical capabilities of personal computers. Furthermore, it quietly pushed the limits of what users could expect from their devices. Microsoft quietly normalized PC gaming by incorporating a light-hearted, widely popular game into its operating system, which helped make it a more popular kind of entertainment. But this decade had more to offer, and in 1999, we had another revolution from Microsoft: the big boss of the RTS genre in Age of Empires 2.

Not just another real-time strategy game, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings altered the genre and made a lasting impression on gaming history. It increased strategic depth by requiring players to grasp complicated unit formations, intelligent civilization-specific tactics, and complex resource management. Its historically accurate setting and depth created an ardent community that appreciated education and gameplay.

Age of Empires II popularized the idea of asymmetrical gaming, in which every civilization provided distinct strengths and flaws, producing engaging and varied experiences. Moreover, it supported the historical RTS, enabling players to actively interact with history and generating interest in medieval battles and societies. Its ongoing appeal, preserved by regular updates and a vibrant competitive scene, confirmed its foundational role in the RTS genre, affecting many later games and shaping the strategic gaming environment for future generations.

3. Halo: Combat Evolved

• Release Date: November 15, 2001
• Platform(s): Xbox, Windows, Mac OS X

The FPS genre was a problem when the gaming industry hit the 2000s. Yes, we had Doom, which gave birth to the genre, but carrying it forward was a tough job, especially when the first-person perspective was still not something people would accept. In came Microsoft with Halo: Combat Evolved, which reshaped the landscape of first-person shooter (FPS) games.

It was a revolution, not just an Xbox launch title. Through its creative control system, smart enemy AI, and gripping story that plunged players into a rich science fiction world, Halo redefined console FPS gaming. Its focus on strategic combat, with a mix of gunplay, grenades, and melee strikes, set a new benchmark for the category.

I was merely a kid when I first tried Halo: Combat Evolved, but it blasted me with a solid FPS bomb. I could not believe what I witnessed back then, but now that I play games like Valorant or Counter-Strike, I realize that almost every inch of modern FPS is a replica of the first Halo.

Most of the impact on current-gen FPS games comes from Halo’s multiplayer mode. You had both options to play with friends: split-screen and system link. This magnified the trend of console gaming. In short words, Halo: Combat Evolved pushed console sales but laid the blueprint for FPS games for decades to come.

4. Forza Horizon

• Release Date: October 23, 2012
• Platform(s): Xbox 360

If anyone had asked me before the 2010s, “What is your favorite racing game?” my answer would have always been NFS Most Wanted from 2005. And, in my defense, it was the best racing game I played. The story, the racing scenarios—everything kept me hooked. Then Microsoft thought of entering the racing genre in video games, and Forza Horizon took over my favorite spot.

For me, it was an incredible shift in the open-world racing genre. Before Forza Horizon, everything felt limited in racing games, and I literally mean it. After I asked the game parlor owner to install Forza Horizon on the Xbox 360 so that I could switch from my Most Wanted addiction, I never returned. Well, Forza gave me that much freedom.

By letting players effortlessly move between solo exploration and multiplayer activities, Forza Horizon popularized the idea of a shared open world, thus promoting community and connection. Its dynamic day-night cycle and varied environmental obstacles increased the depth of the experience, thus stretching the limits of what a racing game could provide.

Moreover, the game’s emphasis on culture created a distinct and immersive atmosphere, already setting it apart from its contemporaries. All of this, including an amazing and thoughtful soundtrack, made Forza Horizon the first successful open-world racing game that still dominates the franchise.

5. Starfield

• Release Date: September 6, 2023
• Platform(s): Windows, Xbox Series X/S

Just like any other art form, even video games are bound to run into limitations. Unfortunately, that same problem also hit Microsoft. In the decade leading up to the company’s 50th anniversary, Microsoft’s ambition to give open-world space exploration was commendable with Starfield (review). However, gameplay was a significant concern for this ambitious game.

Starfield’s gameplay was engaging, but it struggled fundamentally. The key goal was to separate Starfield from the world of stories like Star Wars or Star Trek. Of course, it manages to accomplish that. But the issue comes from making a difference in the RPG genre. Starfield failed to alter the landscape of RPGs or space exploration games like Halo or Age of Empires II did for their respective genres.

It is a reasonable refinement project that takes all the concepts and tries to improve them. Yes, Starfield has glories and constant updates that fix the experience, but overall, the game was a letdown. Luckily, we are in the middle of this decade so that I will pray for good times. And if Microsoft prefers to go in its direction, making genre-defining experiences, who knows, we will get multiple iconic games that are not remakes or bug-loaded software packs.

Despite the last decade of Microsoft coming with lackluster titles, the company has left its mark with some of the most iconic games over the last 50 years.

That said, which one of these Microsoft games is your favorite, and which ones do you think changed how you see video games? Do tell us in the comments below.

The Nintendo Switch 2 handheld is here, and almost all the tech specs have been revealed. Although most of the console is revolutionary, one specific thing makes the device look like a dealbreaker. Well, that is if you are concerned about the Switch 2’s battery life. Here is a detailed overview of the Nintendo Switch successor’s battery life as per the official spec sheet.

Nintendo Switch 2 Official Battery Specifications

Battery life is essential for a handheld console; however, Nintendo Direct did not mention anything about it. Yes, the Direct revealed almost all the cool features of the Nintendo Switch 2, but it does not matter if your console cannot run them for a good period.

Right after the event, the official Nintendo website revealed the specs for the Switch 2. Here is what you get in terms of battery in Switch 2:

As the internal battery is irremovable, you cannot replace it with larger batteries. Honestly, we don’t recommend that. If the battery shows any issues, you can have it changed for a fee from Nintendo Customer Support. But what about the battery life?

If you look at the spec sheet for Switch 2, the battery will be usable for approximately 2 to 6.5 hours. This is due to a battery capacity of 5220 mAh. Moreover, the battery charges fully on average in 3 hours. Remember, the numbers change based on your usage. However, running a 1080p screen with games like Cyberpunk or Silksong, it does not seem to be enough. Well, unless you connect your charger while playing games. During Switch 2 developers’ discussions, producer Kouichi Kawamoto said,

“We made various efforts to ensure the battery life wouldn’t be reduced significantly, such as increasing the battery capacity to 1.2 times that of Switch.”

But what if I told you that the Switch 2 battery life is not as good as that of most of the original Switch models?

Switch 2 Battery Life is Worse Than the Original Switch

If we go through the official Nintendo data, Switch battery life varies significantly by model and usage. The OLED (XT serial) and standard (XK serial) models offer approximately 4.5 to 9 hours of playtime. The original Switch (XA serial) provides a shorter 2.5 to 6.5 hours. The Nintendo Switch Lite’s battery lasts between 3 and 7 hours.

So, if you notice the battery life of Nintendo’s standard and OLED Switch, they have more battery life than the current Switch 2. Despite that, I am confident in Nintendo, given that the original Switch model had lower battery life. I am sure that Nintendo can change it up in later editions. But for now, Switch 2 is nowhere near the standard Switch in terms of battery life.

On the other hand, the Steam Deck battery can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours on a single charge. So, we can say that in terms of battery life, the Switch 2 is closer to the Steam Deck than to its predecessor. Well, if you want to grab one, preorder the Nintendo Switch 2 and wait until the official release date. Just make sure that battery life is not your primary concern.

What are your thoughts on the Switch 2’s battery life? Given its price, should it be more powerful? Tell us in the comments below.

So, here’s a bit of news that kind of flew under the radar: Xiaomi has officially brought its rather impressive POCO M7 Pro 5G to European shores and the UK. This follows the recent global fanfare around their new POCO F7 Pro and POCO F7 Ultra. It’s the latest in their expansion efforts, especially after the phone caused quite a buzz when it first landed in India back in mid-December, largely thanks to its seriously tempting value proposition.

Now, the POCO M7 Pro 5G isn’t just another run-of-the-mill smartphone in POCO’s lineup. Nope, this one feels more like a carefully crafted blend, borrowing some top-notch hardware bits from both the Chinese and Indian versions of the Redmi Note 14. The result? A sort of hybrid device that actually manages to one-up the global Redmi Note 14 5G in a few key areas, most notably when you look at its cutting-edge camera system. Seems like Xiaomi is really trying to hit that sweet spot for consumers.

Prime Specs That Won’t Break the Bank

The POCO M7 Pro 5G manages to pack in a genuinely impressive set of features for what it’s asking. We’re talking about some seriously good stuff for the mid-range category:

• Under the Hood: A MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chip. This isn’t your average mid-tier processor; it’s promising a solid punch in terms of performance while also being pretty kind to the battery. Think smooth multitasking and the ability to handle some pretty demanding games without too much fuss.
• Visuals: A vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display pushing a crisp 1080p resolution. You know what that means – expect rich, punchy colors, deep blacks, and sharp visuals that should make everything from Browse photos to watching videos a treat.
• Smoothness: A silky-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. For anyone who’s experienced a high refresh rate, you know how much of a difference it makes. Expect buttery-smooth scrolling through your feeds and a more responsive feel when you’re gaming.
• Brightness That Cuts Through Sunlight: A whopping 2,100 nits of peak brightness. That’s seriously impressive and should mean you can actually see what’s on your screen even when you’re out and about on a sunny day – a real plus for anyone who’s struggled with dim displays.
• Memory Muscles: LPDDR4X RAM. This helps keep things running nice and smoothly, especially when you’re juggling a bunch of apps at once.
• Storage That Doesn’t Keep You Waiting: UFS 2.2 flash storage. Expect snappy app loading times and quick file transfers, which all contribute to a much more enjoyable user experience.
• Powerhouse Battery: A substantial 5,110 mAh battery that supports 45 W wired fast charging. (Just a thought: That 45W charging is pretty competitive for this segment, letting you get back in the action quickly.)

All these bits and pieces coming together should result in a phone that feels responsive in day-to-day use and still has enough oomph for more demanding tasks, all while offering pretty solid battery life.

Where This Phone Really Shines: The Camera Tech

What really makes the POCO M7 Pro 5G stand out from its Redmi sibling is the rather impressive camera setup. While the global Redmi Note 14 5G sticks with a 108 MP sensor borrowed from its predecessor, the POCO M7 Pro 5G boasts:

• The Main Shooter: A 50 MP Sony LYT-600 sensor. This is a well-regarded sensor that should deliver some pretty sharp and detailed photos with good color reproduction. (Interesting point: The Sony LYT-600 is known for its solid performance across various lighting conditions.)
• Steady Does It: Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This is a big deal, especially at this price point. OIS helps to keep your photos sharper, particularly in low light, and makes your videos look much smoother. It’s one of those features that really elevates the camera experience.
• Letting in the Light: A bright f/1.5 aperture. This allows the camera to capture significantly more light, which translates to better low-light performance and that nice, natural background blur (bokeh) in your portrait shots.
• A Big Eye on the World: An extra-large 1/1.95-inch sensor. A bigger sensor generally means better light-gathering capabilities and more detail in your photos.
• Depth Perception: A dedicated 2 MP depth sensor. This works alongside the main camera to help create those pleasing portrait-style photos with a nicely blurred background.
• Selfie Time: A 20 MP front-facing camera. Expect some high-resolution selfies with plenty of detail for your social media needs.

This camera configuration definitely leans towards prioritizing image quality and low-light performance over just sheer megapixel count, which suggests some thoughtful hardware choices by Xiaomi.

Sweet Launch Prices and When You Can Grab One

The POCO M7 Pro 5G is hitting the market with some seriously tempting launch prices to make it an absolute steal:

• 8 GB RAM + 256 GB Storage Flavor: £140 / €199 (around $215) with a tiny £1 / €1 deposit before April 7th.
• 12 GB RAM + 256 GB Internal Storage Model: £180 / €219 (around $237) with the same minimal deposit.

Keep in mind that these prices will bump up to £199 / €239 (around $258) and £239 / €259 (around $280) respectively after the initial offer period, but even then, they still look pretty darn good for what you’re getting.

Plus, there are even some launch deals floating around for things like discounted accessories, including the Smart Band 9 Active in the UK, making this already attractive mid-ranger even more appealing.