Experience

China fines Alibaba $2.8 billion after antitrust investigation

China has hit Alibaba, one of the country’s biggest online retailers, with a record $2.8 billion (18.2 billion yuan) fine, after an investigation found the ecommerce giant violated China’s anti-monopoly law, The New York Times reported. The fine, which represents 4 percent of Alibaba’s 2019 domestic sales, is three times higher than the $975 billion… Read more

The team behind Age of Empires IV wants you to learn history while playing the game

Age of Empires games have always taken place against a historical backdrop, but Microsoft and Relic Entertainment want to take things even further with Age of Empires IV. The game will feature narrated documentaries throughout the campaigns, time period-accurate language and music, as well as art and game design that looks to take inspiration from… Read more

Crowbits’ Programmable Magnetic Blocks STEM Kit Review: Build, Code and Play

Our Verdict Crowbits’ progressive STEM kits teach future engineers (ages 6-10 and up) the basics of electronics and programming, but nondurable paper elements and poorly translated documentation could lead to frustration and incomplete projects. For + 80+ Lego-compatible electronic modules and sensors + Helpful programming software + Progressive learning kits + Examples are very helpful… Read more

Quick Look: Lypertek PurePlay Z3 True Wireless Earbuds Review

Introduction Lypertek is a relatively new brand in consumer audio, so much so that they essentially appeared out of nowhere globally with three similar-sounding products, the MEVI, BEVI, and TEVI. The last one, TEVI, is their true wireless earbuds solution and garnered rave reviews, especially at its going price back then, and things have improved… Read more

Best ceiling speakers 2021: Top architectural picks for home cinemas and discreet playback

(Pocket-lint) – Ceiling and in-wall speakers give you all the benefits of room-filling sound while remaining out of the way of your furniture and out of sight. Whether you’re looking to install them as part of a home cinema surround sound setup, or you just want to discreetly have music filtered in all around you,… Read more

Linux Support on Apple’s M1 Macs Could Come With New Kernel

Home News (Image credit: Shutterstock) Linux could make it to Apple silicon even sooner than expected. A pull request for the Linux 5.13 kernel submitted on Thursday and spotted by Phoronix looks to add “initial support” for the Mac Mini, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models equipped with an M1 chip. Developer Hector Martin submitted… Read more

Huawei’s Vision V-Series 4K TVs boast audio by Devialet

Home News (Image credit: Huawei) Huawei has once again teamed up with French audio specialists Devialet, this time to provide the sound for a range of flatscreen 4K TVs. The two companies previously collaborated on a smart speaker, while Devialet also lent its expertise to the Sky Soundbox soundbar back in 2017. The Vision V-Series… Read more

One side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine could be a heavier period

Katharine Lee got her COVID-19 vaccination early on in the United States’ rollout. So did a friend of hers — they got their shots on the same day. They compared notes, curious to see what the side effects would be. Lee, a research fellow in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University in… Read more

Samsung tries to woo iPhone users with a browser-based Galaxy test drive

Samsung has released a new website to give iPhone users “a little taste of Samsung” from their mobile browser. When visited on an iPhone, the site prompts users to add it to their phone’s home screen, after which it turns into a shortcut to a simulated Samsung Galaxy device. The site appears to be the… Read more

Huawei P40 vs P40 Pro vs P40 Pro Plus: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – Not content with bringing its usual two-model flagship series release programme, for 2020 Huawei stepped things up by bringing not just one, not two, but three different P series handsets: the P40, the P40 Pro, and the P40 Pro+. It’s a move that came as no surprise, in a world where many competitors… Read more

Nubia Red Magic 6 review: Game on!

(Pocket-lint) – The gaming phone market shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, just 20 hours prior to revealing our verdict on this very device, the Red Magic 6, Lenovo revealed its next-gen Legion Duel gaming monster. Except, interestingly, the Red Magic 6 has a bit of a headline feature that the Lenovo lacks: there’s… Read more

Humax Aura

Our Verdict As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is hard to beat , but its incomplete smart platform requires a pause for thought For Excellent recording and playback Full-bodied, exciting sound Useful Aura mobile app Against No Netflix app HDR picture could be better User interface a touch convoluted Even without an Oxbridge education,… Read more

Three questions that will decide Epic v. Apple

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge New filings show both sides’ legal strategies at work On May 3rd, Fortnite publisher Epic Games will finally have its day in court, forcing Apple to defend kicking Fortnite off the iOS App Store last year. Epic’s antitrust lawsuit is bigger than a single game; it’s a direct… Read more

Listen to 16 minutes of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s soundtrack performed by a live orchestra

Square Enix has released a 16-minute trailer for the Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestral World Tour, and if you’re a fan of the game’s fantastic soundtrack, I highly recommend watching this video from beginning to end. Watching the songs performed by a live orchestra brought a huge smile to my face. The trailer features three… Read more

Expedia launches a new tool to check coronavirus travel restrictions

As more people get vaccinated against the coronavirus and spring weather coaxes people outside, we’re all thinking about those travel plans we shelved last summer. But with COVID-19 travel restrictions varying by country and by state in the US, it’s difficult to figure out what’s safe and what the latest rules are. Expedia Group —… Read more