Technology - Google News

Panic's first Playdate handhelds begin shipping April 18th - The Verge
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro leaks: What we know so far [Video] - 9to5Mac
Microsoft Is Doing A Huge PC Game Pass Giveaway For Certain Players - Kotaku

Panic's first Playdate handhelds begin shipping April 18th - The Verge

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 10:00 AM PDT

Panic's Playdate, its quirky Game Boy-like handheld with a crank, will finally begin shipping today, April 18th,the company announced.

"The first Playdate systems for customers in Group One will be shipped out gradually today and in the coming weeks," Panic said in a press release. "Panic will be reaching out to customers in Group One when their units are shipping, and will also be in communication with any updates on when pre-order holders in other Groups can expect their Playdate systems to ship."

It's unclear exactly how many Playdates will ship in the first round, but spokesperson Jurge Cruz-Alvarez did confirm to The Verge that shipments will start more slowly and then ramp up. Panic estimates that all Group One orders will have shipped by around late May, but that could be subject to change, Cruz-Alvarez said.

"We'll ramp up our shipping volume every day to make sure all of our systems are working smoothly," Panic said in a tweet. "We think we can get Group One out the door during the next month."

You'll be emailed the moment yours is sent. We'll ramp up our shipping volume every day to make sure all of our systems are working smoothly. We think we can get Group One out the door during the next month. And remember, your season of games begins when you set up your Playdate.
— Playdate (@playdate) April 18, 2022

The first preorders for the device were originally supposed to ship at the end of 2021, but that timeline was pushed in November after Panic found the initial finished units had a major battery issue.

Everyone who gets a Playdate will have access to its first season of 24 games. Two games will be delivered each week for 12 weeks, though those deliveries begin when you first connect your device to Wi-Fi, meaning that not everyone will have access to the same games at the same time.

You will be able to sideload games, and if you want to make your own, Panic has already released a software development kit (or SDK) and a browser-based game-making tool called Pulp. Panic also announced a "Catalog" app today that will let you find or buy apps beyond what will be available in the first season.

"Since we know that developers are going to want to sell their games and people are going to want to buy them, we've started work on Catalog, a brand new Playdate app where you'll be able to easily buy curated games directly on your Playdate," Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser said a in a video. "Or, find some amazing games being sold elsewhere. We'll keep you posted about Catalog when we have something more to talk about there."

If you're interested in learning more about the device, check out Andrew Webster's review. However, if you place a new order right now, it won't ship until sometime in 2023, according to Panic, and, depending on where you live, you'll want to make sure that Panic can actually ship a Playdate to you.

Valve's Steam Deck, its handheld gaming PC, also released later than originally planned — with initial orders for reservation holders finally opening up on February 25th. Analogue got its first orders of the Pocket handheld out the door at the end of 2021, though, like with the Playdate, new orders won't ship until 2023.

Update April 18th, 1:48PM ET: Added information about Catalog.

Adblock test (Why?)

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro leaks: What we know so far [Video] - 9to5Mac

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 10:44 AM PDT

The iPhone 14 launch is nearing, with current leaks indicating we can expect an announcement and release sometime in September. With an all-new lineup, design changes, camera improvements, and more, the iPhone 14 is shaping up to be a notable upgrade.

Head below for a full video recap of everything we know so far about the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro…

iPhone 14 leaks

9to5Mac Video Editor Miles Somerville went in-depth on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro rumors on the 9to5Mac YouTube channel.

As a short refresher, the iPhone 14 lineup is expected to be available in two different screen sizes across four different models. This includes the iPhone 14 with a 6.1-inch display, the iPhone 14 Max with a 6.7-inch display, the iPhone 14 Pro with a 6.1-inch display, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch display.

This will mark the first time that Apple has offered a 6.7-inch iPhone that is not a "Pro" model. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the iPhone 14 Max could be priced at around $900, making it the most affordable 6.7-inch iPhone ever released by Apple.

In terms of the design of the iPhone 14 lineup, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max are expected to look quite similar to the iPhone 13. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, however, are likely to feature a new "hole + pill" cutout instead of a notch on the display. The pill and hole cutouts will replace the notch and house the front-facing camera and Face ID technology.

For the full details on the iPhone 14, check out our in-depth YouTube video below:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to 9to5mac on YouTube for more videos

What do you think about iPhone 14 rumors?

With rumors beginning to paint a clearer picture of what to expect from the iPhone 14 lineup, what are your thoughts on what Apple has in store for us this year? Are you planning to upgrade? If so, what are you upgrading from and what iPhone 14 model might you buy?

Let us know your thoughts down in the comments and be sure to stay tuned to 9to5Mac for more iPhone 14 rumors up until September.

Read more 9to5Mac coverage of the iPhone 14:

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

[embedded content]