Technology - Google News

Nintendo Restarts Metroid Prime 4 Switch Game Development at Retro Studios - Anime News Network
GameStop Cancels Kingdom Hearts 3 PS4 Pro Preorders After Stock Issue - IGN
5G Vs. Wi-Fi | Latest Standards Compared and Why We Need Both - Digital Trends

Nintendo Restarts Metroid Prime 4 Switch Game Development at Retro Studios - Anime News Network

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST

American subsidiary helms sequel game due to "very challenged" development

Nintendo announced on Friday that it has restarted development of its Metroid Prime 4 Nintendo Switch game at Retro Studios, Nintendo's American subsidiary that developed the original Metroid Prime game. Nintendo's senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi appeared in a video for the announcement.

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Takahashi said that the decision was made because "the current development status of the game is very challenged." He said that the game's producer Kensuke Tanabe is collaborating with Retro Studios on the game. The studio will "restart development from the beginning," and Takahashi added that the completion of the game will be delayed from our initial internal plan."

Nintendo announced the game for Nintendo Switch at E3 in 2017.

The original Metroid Prime game launched for GameCube in 2002. The Metroid Prime 2: Echoes GameCube game followed in 2004, and the Metroid Prime 3: Corruption game debuted for Nintendo Wii in 2007. The first two main games in the series also received ports for Nintendo Wii.

Source: Nintendo of America's YouTube channel via Siliconera

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GameStop Cancels Kingdom Hearts 3 PS4 Pro Preorders After Stock Issue - IGN

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 04:46 PM PST

Check your email to see if your order has been cancelled.

By Brian Barnett

GameStop has begun to cancel preorders for the limited edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 Pro, just ahead of the game's release.

In a post on Twitter (which can be seen below), the retailer said it oversold the console and, as a result, some of the preorders are being canceled. The post went on to say those with their preorders canceled will receive a $25 gift certificate.

Although the number of preorders being canceled has not been revealed, IGN has reached out to GameStop asking for additional details about when the issue arose.

Due to an error, we oversold on pre-orders for the LE Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 Pro and, unfortunately, some orders had to be canceled. Guests who had an order canceled will receive a $25 Gift Coupon. We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this has caused.

— GameStop (@GameStop) January 25, 2019

With the nearly 20 year wait for Kingdom Hearts 3 almost over, many fans are upset to receive $25 in store credit instead of a limited edition console, and some users are venting their frustration on Twitter.

Twitter user @Axeldobie said, "@gamestop just cancelled my Kingdom Hearts ps4 pro preorder. I preordered it within 15 minutes of it going on sale on the website. If mine got cancelled, how many others were cancelled as well? This is ridiculous."

Exit Theatre Mode

Twitter user @doubutsunocorey said, "Wow, seriously, @GameStop? Canceling my Kingdom Hearts III PS4 Pro just days ahead of launch is a pretty low blow. The $25 coupon was a bit of a slap in the face, all things considered."

For more on Kingdom Hearts III, be sure to check out our review, our complete guide to Kingdom Hearts III preorder bonuses, and everything you need to know about Kingdom Hearts 3 before you begin.

Brian Barnett is a freelance news/features/wiki guides writer. You can get your fix of Brian on Twitter @Ribnax or on The Platformers (video game podcast) or Hooray For Anime! (anime watch-along podcast)

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5G Vs. Wi-Fi | Latest Standards Compared and Why We Need Both - Digital Trends

Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:00 AM PST

It has been a few years since the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized internet access as a basic human right, albeit in a non-binding resolution, but most of us have viewed it as an essential part of our lives for a lot longer than that. Smartphones have become the most popular way to get online and we rely on two technologies to connect: Mobile networks and Wi-Fi. Both technologies are constantly evolving and improving.

When a new generation of mobile network technology comes along, it’s often held up as the bright future of our internet connectivity and there are sometimes suggestions that it’s set to replace everything else, but the idea of 5G vs. Wi-Fi is disingenuous because what we really want is both.

What’s the difference between 5G and Wi-Fi?

We have a detailed explanation of what 5G is, but in brief, 5G is the umbrella term for the fifth generation of mobile network technology, and it encompasses a lot of different elements. Cellular or mobile networks rely on licensed spectrum bands, which are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Carriers, like Verizon or AT&T, have to pay to use those bands. To roll out coverage they have to build a network of connected base stations capable of sending out a strong enough signal that it can serve multiple people (thousands in urban areas) at once. To recoup their investment, they rely on us paying subscriptions.

Wi-Fi relies on unlicensed spectrum which is free for anyone to use, but the signal is relatively weak. We pay an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to deliver the internet to our door and then use a router to fill our house with Wi-Fi. Using the same frequency band as your neighbors can be a problem, especially if you live in a very densely populated area. The two frequencies that Wi-Fi uses are 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. In simple terms, 2.4Ghz has a lower potential top speed but penetrates better, so it has a longer range than 5Ghz. It’s worth noting that 5Ghz Wi-Fi has absolutely nothing to do with 5G mobile networks.

In every day life, most of us rely on Wi-Fi at home or in the office — or in coffee shops — and mobile networks when we step out the front door and move out of range of the router. Our smartphones switch automatically and we don’t have to give it any thought, because the important thing is simply having a good connection at all times. That scenario will continue to be the case for the vast majority of people after 5G rolls out. The difference is that both mobile networks and Wi-Fi are going to get faster.

The promise of 5G

The prospect of download speeds between 1Gbps and 10Gbps, and upload speed or latency of just 1 millisecond, has got people excited about 5G, but the reality is that we won’t typically get anywhere near the theoretical top speeds. The actual speed of your 5G connection will depend on many factors including where you are, what network you’re connecting to, how many other people are connecting, and what device you’re using. The aim is to achieve a minimum download speed of 50Mbps and latency of 10ms. That will represent a major improvement over current average speeds, but just as with 4G LTE, 5G coverage is going to expand slowly. It’s also going to work hand-in-hand, not just with Wi-Fi, but with earlier generations of mobile network technology, so 4G LTE will continue to be offered as a fallback and will continue to evolve and get faster.

The promise of Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi has traditionally been very confusing in terms of the naming conventions for standards. It went from 802.11b to 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, and then 802.11ac, but thankfully the Wi-Fi Alliance (and hopefully the industry at large) has accepted the need for something less perplexing and so the next standard, 802.11ax is going to be called Wi-Fi 6. This simpler naming convention is also being retrofitted, so 802.11ac will become Wi-Fi 5 and so on. The new Wi-Fi 6 standard should offer speeds at least four times greater than Wi-Fi 5, but it will also bring improvements in efficiency and capacity designed to cope with the growing number of devices in the average home that connect to the internet. Just like 5G, Wi-Fi 6 will complement, not replace, existing Wi-Fi standards.

What do you need to enjoy 5G or Wi-Fi 6?

Samsung's 5G concept phone — Samsung’s 5G concept phone

There are two crucial pieces of the puzzle that need to be in place before we can enjoy the faster speeds and superior performance that 5G and Wi-Fi 6 will offer: Our carriers and ISPs have to build networks with hardware capable of supporting these new technologies and speeds, and we need to buy hardware capable of taking advantage. Our current smartphones, laptops, and other devices lack the necessary antennas and chips, but we expect to see the first wave of devices to support 5G and Wi-Fi 6 rolling out this year. We’ll keep you posted on 5G-capable phones and networks as they roll out. For Wi-Fi you’ll need to look for the Wi-Fi 6 Certified logo.