The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is getting an HD rerelease on the Nintendo Switch, the company announced today during its Nintendo Direct event, set to release on July 16th.
Skyward Sword was originally released for the Nintendo Wii, and it relied heavily on that console’s motion controllers for gameplay. The HD Switch port will offer similar features using the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers — with the company promising even smoother combat thanks to the Switch’s faster processor.
But Nintendo also is introducing a new button-based control scheme for Skyward Sword HD that relies on tilting the right thumbstick to control Link’s sword, allowing players using the Switch in handheld mode, a Switch Lite, or a Pro Controller to still enjoy the game.
Nintendo is also releasing special edition Joy-Con controllers to celebrate Skyward Sword’s Switch debut, themed after the Hylian Shield and Master Sword that Link wields.
Unfortunately, Nintendo kicked off its announcement by noting that it didn’t have any news to share yet on the upcoming sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which it announced in 2019. Development is said to be going well, though, and the company promises that it’ll have more to share on the upcoming title later this year.
Nintendo is bringing back its Mario Golf series for the Switch with a new entry, Mario Golf: Super Rush, arriving June 25th. The game is the sixth entry in the series and the first since World Tour released for the Nintendo 3DS handheld back in 2014. It’s also the first home console Mario Golf since 2003, Nintendo confirmed.
The game looks like it features your standard Mario sports-themed gameplay, with multiplayer and a variety of modes, including a speed golf mode. Nintendo also revealed a new story mode for Super Rush and the ability to play as your own customizable Mii.
#MarioGolf returns to home consoles for the first time since 2003. Putt your golfing skills to the test in Mario Golf: Super Rush!
⛳️ New golfing gameplay! ⛳️ Speed Golf multiplayer mode! ⛳️ Story Mode + more!
Available 6/25. pic.twitter.com/KoDePkNwvQ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 17, 2021
Skin company Dbrand is now selling its blacked-out PlayStation 5 “Darkplates” for the digital edition of the console. The company released the panels for the disk version of the console last week, but now they’re available for people who have said goodbye to physical media as well. At time of writing, Dbrand is estimating that the digital edition plates will ship in May, and they cost $60.95.
The “Darkplates” are designed to replace the PS5’s standard (and striking, but not necessarily in a good way) white side panels with matte black ones instead. The company is also sticking with its typically aggressive marketing style by replicating Sony’s texture patterning, but with images of Dbrand’s logo instead. If you’re lucky enough to have the console, are looking to make it blend in a bit more, and don’t mind scrolling through some cringe (or cool, depending on your tastes) marketing, you can check out the Darkplates store page.
Hyperkin is best known for making gaming peripherals, but it also creates clones of consoles that allow you to play retro games in modern resolutions. Now it is releasing a new retro console that will allow you to play Game Boy games on your TV. Hyperkin’s RetroN Sq (Square) is a console that will allow you to play Game Boy, GBC, and GBA cartridges.
The RetroN Square includes one wired USB “Scout” controller with a shape similar to a SNES controller. Instead of composite video hook-ups, the RetroN Sq connects to a TV via HDMI with games upscaled to 720p resolution; there’s also a switch that will allow you to switch the aspect ratio to either 4:3 or 16:9, depending on your preference.
The console will allow you to natively play Game Boy and GBC cartridges, while GBA games are listed as a “beta feature,” but it does not note which GBA games are compatible. The back of the console includes a memory card slot, allowing you to store firmware for the system.
I know the official product name hints it is supposed to be a square-shaped console, yet the design looks more like a color, compact Nintendo GameCube that strictly plays Game Boy cartridges, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Image: Hyperkin
Image: Hyperkin
Image: Hyperkin
Image: Hyperkin
Hyperkin’s RetroN Sq will release on March 25th for $75. But if you already know you want to buy one, you can preorder your unit at Hyperkin’s website. The gadget comes in two colors: “black gold” and “hyper beach,” which to me looks more like a turquoise color.
Microsoft’s new Xbox Wireless Headset appeared in the company’s Xbox Series X and S launch commercial all the way back in October. British actor Daniel Kaluuya picked up the headset early on in the ad, but nobody noticed it was an unannounced accessory at the time.
Microsoft announced its new Xbox Wireless Headset on Tuesday which features rotating ear cup dials that let you adjust volume and game / audio chat balance. The new headset will be available for $99 on March 16th.
Microsoft’s new Xbox Wireless Headset.Image: Microsoft
Aaron Greenberg, general manager of Xbox games marketing, confirmed the new Xbox Wireless Headset was part of the launch commercial during a Clubhouse audio call attended by The Verge last night. It’s not the first time Microsoft has openly teased unannounced Xbox products. Xbox chief Phil Spencer hid the Xbox Series S on his shelf last year, before Microsoft had even announced it was working on a second next-gen console.
Microsoft has a habit of hiding secret messages and clues in its Xbox videos. The company originally teased its Xbox One X console with videos that hinted at its 6 teraflops of GPU performance. Even the latest Xbox Series X console was teased in videos, under its Scarlett codename.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from all of this: always take a real close look at Microsoft’s Xbox videos.
Microsoft today announced the Xbox Wireless Headset, which it described as “the future of gaming audio,” and started to accept pre-orders for the accessory. The headset was purportedly designed in tandem with the next-gen Xbox Series X and S consoles but will remain compatible with the Xbox One line and Windows 10 PCs.
The Xbox Wireless Headset seems like a response to the Pulse 3D headset Sony announced alongside the PlayStation 5. Both of the offerings support 3D audio, noise cancellation, and wireless connectivity; both are compatible with next-gen consoles as well as their predecessors; both charge via USB-C; and both cost $100.
But the Xbox Wireless Headset appears to take the lead in some categories. Microsoft’s headset offers 3D audio via Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X; Sony’s is limited to the PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. The Xbox Wireless Headset is also said to offer up to three additional hours of battery life.
Sony and Microsoft also seem to have emphasized different aspects of the gaming experience with their headsets. The Pulse 3D headset features dual hidden microphones and a stark design evocative of the PS5 itself. The Xbox Wireless Headset, meanwhile, has a protruding mic that looks like every other headset’s.
Combine those decisions with some other features, such as the Xbox Wireless Headset’s ability to wirelessly pair with a smartphone and an Xbox console simultaneously, and it’s clear that Microsoft prioritized function over fashion. (As if the massive “Xbox” on the cans didn’t make that clear enough on its own.)
We’d have to use the Xbox Wireless Headset ourselves to determine whether or not it’s one of the best gaming headsets on the market. Microsoft is accepting pre-orders for the headset via the Microsoft Store for $99 now; the headset is expected to debut on March 16. Hopefully it stays in better stock than other next-gen offerings.
Microsoft has announced a new wireless gaming headset for the Xbox Series X and Series S. Called the Xbox Wireless Headset, it launches on 16th March and will cost £94.99 ($99.99, AU$129.99).
It connects wirelessly to your console without needing a separate dongle and supports spatial audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone:X and Windows Sonic.
The gaming headset has some clever controls, too. You can adjust the volume and the game/chat balance by twisting the rotating ear cup dials, while the microphone tucks out of the way when not needed. Those ear cushions promise to be comfortable enough for all-day sessions, and the 15-hour battery life should be more than enough for the average gaming session.
Speak, and voice isolation focuses the mic on your voice, reducing background noise, so you can be heard loud and clear. Stop talking, and auto-mute kicks in, helping keep the comms channels clear. There’s also a manual mute option to give you some privacy.
A light indicator tells you when the mic is on, so you always know when people can hear what you’re saying.
You can fine-tune the audio output using the Xbox Accessories app on your console, adjusting the equaliser, bass boost, auto-mute sensitivity and mic-monitoring levels. You can even adjust the brightness of the mic indicator light. And the headset can connect to your mobile device over Bluetooth to double as a pair of ordinary wireless headphones when you’re not gaming. You can also pair to your console and phone at the same time, so you can simultaneously be in a Zoom meeting while blasting aliens.
In a blog post announcing the headset, Xbox Wire’s Will Tuttle was keen to big up the spatial sound capabilities.
“You’ll have the advantage by being able to hear all the subtle, yet critical sounds (like enemy footsteps sneaking up on you) that elevate great gamers above the rest,” he wrote.
Erik Garcia, Project Architect and Lead, added:
“We spent a lot of time in the audio testing chambers trying to characterize and understand how the headset reproduces audio in different room environments. It goes in your living room, game room, and dorm room and we want it to sound the best for all types of audio.”
Given that Sony’s rival console, the PS5, launched with its own optional gaming headset (the Pulse 3D) at launch, it’s surprising Xbox has taken so long to follow suit. And we’ll tell you if it’s been worth the wait just as soon as we get our hands on a review sample.
MORE:
Not convinced? Take a look at our list of the best gaming headsets
These are the best over-ear headphones around
Still trying to buy? Xbox Series X stock checker: where to buy
Hyundai is teasing the first interior photos of the Ioniq 5 ahead of its world premiere on February 23rd. It’s Hyundai’s first EV to utilize the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) — the same platform that Apple is said to have been interested in for its oft-rumored self-driving car. E-GMP’s flat battery and long wheelbase allows for a more spacious and customizable interior for both passengers and cargo.
The big design flourish teased today is a sliding center console inside the Ioniq 5. The so-called “Universal Island” moves out of the way so that the driver or passengers can easily enter and exit either side of the car when parked in a narrow spot, for example.
The “Universal Island” slides out of the way.GIF: Hyundai
Hyundai says that the driver and front-passenger seats are equipped with leg rests to relax while the vehicle recharges. The seats can also be repositioned so that adults in the front can care for pets and children seated in the rear. Hyundai notes that the Ioniq 5’s interior will be clad with eco-conscious materials.
Ioniq 5 teaser ahead of world premiere.Image: Hyundai
The Ioniq 5 appears to have Tesla’s Camp Mode in its sights with a feature that effectively turns the car into a rolling generator with 3.5 kW of Vehicle to Load (V2L) power. That’s enough juice to power beefy 110V/220V appliances like a full-sized oven, treadmill, or five giant speakers, as Hyundai’s already teased. Tesla’s can’t do that without hacking an inverter into the circuitry and possibly voiding your warranty. The Ioniq is fitted with V2L outlets on the inside and outside of the car.
Other known capabilities of the Ioniq 5 include ultra-fast charging which allows it to drive more than 100km (62 miles) after a 5-minute charge. Hyundai has previously claimed that E-GMP vehicles will be capable of over 500km (310 miles) on a single charge.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 will make its world premiere on February 22nd at 11pm California time, or 8pm in Germany on the morning of the 23rd.
Metro Exodus developer 4A Games has revealed the free upgrades that are coming to its 2019 shooter on PC and next-gen consoles this year. The new version-specific features vary by platform, but include overhauled ray tracing support and support for Nvidia’s DLSS 2.0 technology on PC. Also revealed are improvements coming to the next-gen console version, first announced last year.
On PC, the update will be released as Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition, and it’ll be free regardless of whether you own the game on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or GoG. Although the game supported ray tracing at launch, the new version significantly upgrades it with support for new features like advanced ray traced reflections. Other upgrades coming to the new PC version include DLSS 2.0 support, which can offer significant boosts to performance when using Nvidia hardware.
A full list of the features coming to each platform.Image: 4A Games
Meanwhile, the developer has also detailed the improvements coming with the PS5 and Xbox Series X / S versions of the game, which will be available free to existing owners. On PS5 and Series X the game will run at 4K/60fps with ray tracing. Series S will target a lower 1080p resolution, but it’ll still run at 60fps and feature ray tracing. The next-gen console versions should also feature reduced loading times, and other platform-specific features like support for the PS5’s Dual Sense controller.
4A Games says the PC Enhanced Edition is releasing later this spring, while the next-gen console upgrades are coming “later this year.” The developer also reiterated its plans to release the game on Mac and Linux. The Mac version is releasing next month, and the game is coming to Linux “a little later in the year.”
While Deep Silver’s and 4A Games Metro Exodus has been available for several years, that hasn’t stopped the developer from improving upon it. Today, it was announced that the game would see a new edition called Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition, which will bring DLSS 2.0 to the game and more ray tracing features than you can shake a stick at, but only if you have the latest graphics cards.
This upgraded version will take advantage of 4A’s new fully Ray Tracing Lighting Pipeline and adds support for Nvidia and AMD hardware. Those who picked up AMD’s latest graphics cards will have another game that will provide ray tracing support. Nvidia cards will benefit from DLSS 2.0, while there’s no word on if support for AMD’s DLSS competitor, DirectML Super Resolution, will be added.
“We have built an all-new Fully Ray Traced Lighting Pipeline that brings a number of optimizations, upgrades, and new features to the Ray Traced Global Illumination and Emissive Lighting that we pioneered with the original release of Metro Exodus, as well as an upgraded implementation of our powerful Temporal Reconstruction technology to further boost resolution, visual detail, and performance.” — Deep Silver / 4A Games Press Release
This upgraded version will take advantage of 4A’s new Fully Ray Tracing Lighting Pipeline and adds support for Nvidia and AMD hardware. Those who picked up AMD’s latest graphics cards will have another game that will provide ray tracing support. Nvidia cards will benefit from DLSS 2.0, while there’s no word on if AMD’s DLSS competitor, DirectML Super Resolution, will be added.
However, this is more than just a mere upgrade. As there are many added features under the hood, this wouldn’t be released as a patch. Instead, it will be released as a separate version of the game that will be free for all existing Metro Exodus owners on the Epic Games Store Steam and GOG. The Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition will be available in Spring 2021.
This upgraded version is strictly for ray traced enabled hardware, as the bare minimum for even playing the game will require either Nvidia’s or AMD’s capable hardware. If you try to run the game and don’t have a GPU that can provide ray tracing, the game won’t run. This also means you probably don’t want to try running Nvidia’s software-enabled ray tracing on the GTX series cards.
(Image credit: 4A)
In addition to The Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition version, 4A games have also announced that Metro Exodus is also making its way to both Mac and Linux. These versions were promised some time ago and are still in the works. The Mac version will be available in March 2021, while the Linux version looking like a much later 2021 release.
Ray tracing support is also heading to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles. The beefer consoles, PS5 and Xbox Series X, will run at 4K / 60FPS with full ray traced lighting. The Xbox Series S will also see upgraded ray tracing features, but not 4K as the console wasn’t designed around 4K gaming. The PS5 version will benefit from added haptic feedback for the DualSense controller. While the Xbox Series X|S will see spatial audio and controller latency improvements.
Metro Exodus is the conclusion to the Metro gaming series, which has spanned three games and is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, while being backward compatible for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
(Pocket-lint) – It was back in 2018 when Jaguar debuted its great future hope – the i-Pace all-electric SUV. As the first of the mainstream premium brands to take the fight to Tesla – specifically as an alternative to the Model X – Jag didn’t just hobble into the fight, it came swinging the punches.
The market has evolved rapidly in the three years that have followed – from the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC to the Ford Mustang Mach-E – and is now a hotbed of mid-size premium electric SUV options.
Which is all rather exciting, but it adds to Jag’s pressures. However, with its subtle i-Pace refresh (we’re driving the early 2021 plate here), there’s improved charging, improved tech, and the winning formula that kicked off the series is only stronger. Does it remain the king among premium mid-size all-electric SUVs?
Feast on some tech specs
First up, it’s worth a quick run through the spec sheet. The i-Pace is a full electric vehicle (EV) – there’s no supplementary petrol motor here, it’s all batteries. It comes with a 90kWh rating – whichever spec of trim you choose – that provides a range of up to 290 miles per charge (that’s the WTLP official figure).
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The i-Pace’s batteries feed all four wheels through a pair of electric motors, one on each axle, which produce a total of 400 horsepower and 696 Newton-meters of torque. It’ll cover the benchmark 0-60mph sprint in 4.5 seconds. Which tells you Jaguar isn’t messing around – although the updated Tesla Model X is quicker off the mark, at 3.8 seconds – made all the more impressive considering it weighs 2.1 tonnes.
A bit of an animal
So what’s the i Pace like to drive in the real world? In a word: brilliant. It’s fast, exceptionally smooth, easy to drive and highly responsive.
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Press the ignition button and it all starts with silence. That’s unnerving at first – although it’s increasingly becoming the norm, for those who’ve tried out plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) – but you’ll soon get used to zipping along without the roar of a petrol or diesel motor.
We don’t think you’ll miss the thrum or the rise and fall of revs as much as you might think either. The car still makes some electrical noise – to the extent that horses really don’t like it, as we unfortunately found out on country roads when one was sent into a Chun-Li-style spinning bird kick – and if you hit the Dynamic button it’ll make some fake engine noise – which, frankly, we firmly dislike. Embrace the electric noise (unless you’re a horse), eh?
With strong aero credentials, the i-Pace is quiet at speed. Road and wind roar are particularly well suppressed – some debris can kick up into the chassis and make excess sound though – and the aura it creates in the cabin is every bit worthy of a Jaguar. It feels rarefied and graceful on the move.
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But it can also be a bit of an animal. Acceleration is savage. Is 0-60mpg in 4.5 seconds classed as fast, any more, when various hot hatches can run these types of figures? It is when there are two electric motors producing full torque from 0rpm, meaning the i-Pace absolutely hurls itself off the line from a dead stop. And then just keeps on going.
Take the big wheels to the race track
Helping the sporty feel is the keen and responsive steering, a body behaving as though it weighs nowhere near 2.1 tonnes, and a firm but comfortable ride. Our test i-Pace launch came with 19-inch wheels, but step up in the range and it’s all 20-inch – nice for the sake of the looks, but likely add a little firmness to the ride.
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Like other EVs, Jaguar has set-up the i-Pace braking system to help you harvest as much energy as you can, through regenerative braking. Rather than applying pad to disc and creating waste heat, energy is recovered and turned into energy for the battery.
This means that if you look far down the road while driving, and think ahead, you start to find you don’t really need to use the brake pedal much at all. Simply lift off the accelerator and the i-Pace slows down. There’s a ‘crawl’ option within the settings, which you can switch off, to help enable this one-pedal driving style even more.
It can take a little getting used to, especially for the uninitiated. But it tastes like the future – and is something the Polestar 2, as one example, does far more aggressively still. Should you really not like the sensation then you can delve into the setup menu and turn off the heavy regeneration mode. But, seriously, don’t do that.
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Overall, the i-Pace drives like a true Jaguar, with the odd hint of Land Rover and BMW thrown in. It’s a deeply appealing drive.
A clean sheet of paper – something special
The i-Pace design is clever and intriguing. It speaks a subtle SUV language, with a slightly raised driving position, yet it’s not too bulky. It has Jaguar cues – the grille, the lamps, the way that details are handled – yet it takes the brand in a very new and ultimately positive direction.
That cab-forward proportion is very new. The chopped-off tail – a product of aerodynamic requirements – with its square edges and cut-back section, is different too. There are several neat details, such as the inner grille which rolls into the section of the car and becomes a scoop through which air is channelled up the bonnet and right over the roof. Oh, and those Velar-derived door handles, which shuttle out to greet you when you unlock the car, are very cool too.
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Step inside, and for what’s not a huge car, there’s plenty of space both front and back. There’s a floating lower centre console that’s complete with a fantastic pair of jewel-like climate control knobs. You use these for cabin temperature, fan speed and seat heating (and cooling, if you have it specified).
Hallelujah for some physical dial controls, eh? We prefer that over all functions being buried deep within a touchscreen menu (yes, we are talking about you, Tesla Model 3). Having everything touchscreen might sound more futuristic, but it’s not always the best approach when eye-on-the-road driving should come first. Besides, Jag’s updated tech in the 2021 i-Pace is rather accomplished.
Step inside Pandora’s box
Around all this tech, there’s useful and well-thought design and storage for real-life use. Six USB ports, five 12V sockets, a slot at the base of the console for your phone, a 10-litre centre bin, and slots underneath the rear seat for stashing and hiding things like tablets and laptops.
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The front seats are thin (the backs are from an F-Type) but comfortable and figure-hugging. The rears will take three people at a pinch, and despite the roofline there’s headspace for people who are over six-foot tall. The seat is set low, though, so despite decent legroom your under-thigh support in the back seat is quite compromised.
Gear selection is controlled by push buttons on the centre console, the indicators and wipers are conventional, while the updated screens of the Pivi Pro infotainment system – a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual instrument cluster, along with 10-inch and 5-inch upper and lower touchscreens – make for an easy-to-use and familiar system.
Moar tech
However, as with most EVs, there’s much more on offer in the i-Pace to help you optimise for its electrifications. You get a smartphone app for remote control – preheating, locking, starting charging, and so forth.
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On-board assist technology is as you’d expect. Autonomous city braking, lane departure warning, 360-degree parking cameras and self-parking – that kind of thing. And the i-Pace has queue assist, allowing the car to steer itself as well as accelerate/brake in a traffic jam.
But Jaguar has added a few, critical and well-judged EV-specific elements into the in-car interface. A power/charge swing-o-meter in the instrument cluster replaces the rev counter of petrol cars, so you can see when recovering energy. And a ‘My EV’ menu in the centre display features a lovely hologram of an i-Pace to show its charge status and range.
There’s also an economy guidance chart (entitled Energy Impact) that shows the impact of various systems – heated seats and aircon, for example – impacting the potential range. It talks to the navigation system, too, as to predict as accurately as possible you how much charge you’ll have at your destination, and where you need to charge.
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In its new-fangled updated form, there’s also now Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration – believe it or not this lacked back in 2018 – and it’s integrated really well. It doesn’t need to take over the whole interface, which is refreshing – a bit like it does in the Ford Mustang Mach-E – and gives you a best-of-both worlds feel for your personal phone-based setup and those aforementioned economic visual cues.
Range… anxiety?
All i-Pace trim levels have the same battery pack, pair of electric motors (giving it four-wheel drive), and the same charging system. So whichever version you choose, your experience of this will be the same. The quoted range of 290 miles is based on the European standard WLTP drive cycle.
What does that mean in reality if you go out and buy one? Well, we lived with the i-Pace for a full week, where it started at 96 per cent charge with 690 miles on the clock, and finished up at 840 miles with 22 per cent charge remaining. That, with a quick bit of maths, is 150 miles achieved with a spare 50 miles or so in the ‘tank’ – so around 35 fewer than the on-board computer’s expected 235 miles.
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But, realistically speaking, you can drive the i-Pace in whichever manner you please – half of our drive time was smashing it around motorways and not thinking economically – and still easily hit beyond the 200 miles mark no problem.
Be a little more delicate and 240 won’t be a bother. The 290 quote, however, we think is only really going to be achieved in Eco mode, with no air conditioning, not smashing the throttle, and probably only in the warmer summer months.
Jaguar is quick to point out that over each 300 mile cycle the car learns not only how you drive but where and in what conditions it’s being driven, to build up a much more accurate range prediction. It’s always adjusting, to give a best possible figure in front of your eyes – which is great.
Charging
A full charge at home, if you install a 11kW wallbox charger, is accomplished in 8 hours and 36 minutes – which is a 4 hour improvement over the 12 hours and 36 minutes of the older 7kW charger from the 2018 model.
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Meanwhile, out in the world of faster public charging points, a 50kW fast charger can provide an 80 percent battery charge in 85 minutes. While the Motorway Rapid (100kW) chargers can manage 80 percent in 40 minutes. Which really starts to make very long journeys in the i-Pace a viable proposition.
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By Rik Henderson
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Pity that, unlike Tesla, Jag doesn’t have a network of Superchargers it can guide you to when the time does come to charge. That’s just about the only downside of the i-Pace compared to the competition.
Verdict
The Jaguar i-Pace was the first mid-size all-electric SUV from an established premium automaker. In 2018 we called it a triumph. And that sentiment hasn’t changed – indeed, it’s only gotten better.
It’s a joy to drive, presents an arresting and appealing design, all while employing logical, helpful technology – including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto that’s integrated in a really wonderful way.
It does all this without resorting to show-off doors or jaw-dropping huge screens. The i-Pace is clearly not a product of Silicon Valley’s move-fast-and-break-things approach to innovation, either.
The i-Pace’s feels like an aspirational car for regular people. And that, among other things, is what makes it a true Jaguar. It’s not techy for tech’s sake. Or elitist. Yes, at a starting price of £64k it might not be the car to bring electric mobility to the masses – but of the similar-price rivals from Audi, Mercedes and Tesla, it’s a winning formula.
Also consider
Tesla Model X
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The Tesla is bigger, bulkier, and more expensive. But if you’re considering an i-Pace it’ll probably be on your radar. The Tesla can do faster and brings greater drama than the Jag – the falcon doors and huge centre screen mean that, in many ways, it feels techier – especially as there’s Autopilot to consider too. But the Jag is more complete, much more nimble and feels better made.
Read our review
Audi e-tron Sportback
Pocket-lint
All the quality you expect from Audi, with comfort and sophistication, plus power and performance on the road. The e-tron Sportback is a great car to drive and live with, it has reasonable range, but it’s not the most efficient electric car on the road – and that’s its real sticking point. Which you might prefer the way it looks, the Jag still has the upper hand in our book.
Read our review
Ford Mustang Mach-E
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An electric Mustang? Really? Whether you think it’s a real ‘Stang or not in this SUV crossover format might be besides the point. But Ford has gone all-out with its first all-electric vehicle, embracing new technologies in a manner that’s often mighty impressive. It’s cheaper than the i-Pace, too, which is where it’ll likely pull most of its success from – and you’re not compromising on range as a result.
Read our review
Mercedes EQC
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The marque’s first serious full-fat all-electric SUV is an obvious rival to Jaguar, and the start of a whole electric EQ sub-brand. Thing is, it’s just not as well-packaged or designed as the i-Pace. So think of it more as a very strong statement of intent for now – maybe the range will bring something truly more competitive to the fore in the future.
The original hatchback Bolt EV is also getting a refresh
The Chevy Bolt is undergoing a growth spurt. General Motors unveiled two new versions of the Bolt on Sunday: an updated Bolt EV hatchback with longer range and new high-tech features, and the brand new Bolt EUV — essentially a compact SUV — with more legroom room and less range than the Bolt EV.
Due out this summer, the refreshed Bolt EV will sell for $31,995 — or about $5,000 less than the current model year Bolt EV. The Bolt EUV (which stands for “electric utility vehicle”) will also be less expensive, costing $33,995. A limited-edition “Launch” version, with unique wheels, special badging, and an illuminated charge port, will be available for $43,495. The Bolt EV and EUV were expected to go into production at the end of 2020 but were delayed until this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
First introduced in 2016, the Chevy Bolt was intended to be General Motors’ first stab at a mass-market, purely battery-electric vehicle with 200-plus miles of range and an affordable price tag. But sales have been anemic since the release of the Tesla Model 3 in 2018, which has come to dominate the EV market in the US and abroad. The Bolt’s compact hatchback size is not what most American car buyers are looking for these days. And a recent recall of 2017-2019 model year Bolts related to a flawed battery certainly hasn’t helped GM’s image problems with the EV.
The automaker hopes to lift the Bolt’s fortunes with these two new versions, but that may be difficult given that the technology that powers the Bolt is quickly becoming obsolete. Both the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will be built on GM’s BEV2 platform, which is distinct from the new “Ultium” battery pack announced in early 2020. The recently unveiled Cadillac Lyriq and the GMC Hummer EV will be the first vehicles to be built on this new architecture. GM has said that Ultium’s advanced battery chemistry will enable its future electric vehicles to travel further on a single charge and re-charge at a faster rate. But the automaker has no plans to move the Bolt over to the Ultium platform, according to Chevy’s lead engineer.
As a consolation for its approaching irrelevance, both versions of the Bolt will come with Super Cruise, the “hands-free” advanced driver assist system that previously has only been available in Cadillac vehicles. The Bolt EV and EUV are the first non-Cadillac vehicles and first electric vehicles to have Super Cruise.
The price helps make up for the Bolt’s shortcomings. When it was first introduced five years ago, the automaker was still eligible for the federal government’s $7,500 tax credit, which effectively made the Bolt a $30,000 vehicle. But in 2019, GM sold its 200,000th EV in the US, triggering a phase out of the tax credit. No longer eligible for that incentive, GM decided to stick with the reduced price for these latest versions, which is encouraging.
GM claims that the Bolt EV’s 65 kWh battery pack will enable 259 miles of range on a single charge, while the slightly heavier Bolt EUV will have 250 miles of range — basically the same as the current year model. The original 2018 Bolt had 238 miles of range, but typically got less due to cold weather or other external factors. Neither vehicles’ range has yet been certified by US or European regulators.
Chevy is also including an active thermal management system that uses coolant to maintain the battery’s temperature. Late last year, General Motors was forced to recall over 68,000 Chevy Bolts manufactured between 2017-2019 after several battery fires were reported. Federal regulators are investigating and a class action lawsuit was filed alleging that the Bolt’s battery is “prone to burst into flames.”
According to Jesse Ortega, chief engineer at Chevy, the new Bolts utilize a different battery chemistry that will help prevent future incidents, the same chemistry that allowed the automaker to increase the range from 238 miles to 250 miles.
Both versions of the Bolt come with a single-motor drive unit that can deliver 200 horsepower thanks to 150 kW of power, and 266 pound-feet (360 Newton meters) of torque. Like previous models, the new Bolts will have regenerative braking and a one-pedal driving mode that is fairly common among EVs today.
The Bolt EUV and redesigned Bolt EV share an architecture, but their designs are unique. No exterior sheet metal parts are shared between the two vehicles, after some owners complained about lackluster sheet metal in previous versions. The EUV is approximately 6 inches longer and will have about 3 inches of extra rear legroom than the Bolt EV.
The grille has been tweaked, swapping the dual-tone look of the previous Bolt with a more monochromatic fascia. Chevy is keeping small ventilation panel rather than embrace the completely flat front-end of other EVs like the Tesla Model 3.
The Bolt’s interior has always been more practical than inspiring, with hard plastic abound. Now the Bolt EV and EUV’s interior has been redesigned to include more screens and sensors, mostly to help power Super Cruise’s promise of “hands-free” driving. Chevy has even ripped out the Bolt’s oft-criticized seats and replaced them with seats that feature a triangular geometric pattern and contrasting color stitching, which the automaker claims is a “premium design that gives a consistent and upscale atmosphere.” Not words you typically see used to describe a $30,000 vehicle.
The main 10.2-inch infotainment screen is still embedded in the dashboard, but is integrated more seamlessly into the center console than the original Bolt’s design. The physical buttons are smoother and less chunky. And Chevy swapped out the gear shifter for a series of electronic buttons to free up more interior space. There’s also a new one-pedal driving button that keeps the system active between drive cycles.
Other new additions include the light bar in the top of the steering wheel and the infrared sensor on the steering column. These are components of GM’s Super Cruise assisted driving system, which uses cameras, radar, and mapping data to allow users to drive hands-free on divided highways. Super Cruise is not a self-driving system, in that it still requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and engaged enough to be able to take over at a moment’s notice. Notably, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will only come with the standard version of Super Cruise, not the enhanced version that includes automatic lane-changing.
EV charging in the US is a bit of a mess, and while Chevy can’t solve some of the more intractable problems, it is doing what it can to make charging a little less of a headache. A dual-level charge cord is included with the Bolt, which Chevy said will eliminate the need for many people to purchase a separate charger for their home. The changeable plug allows customers to plug into a standard 120-volt three-prong outlet for Level 1 charging and a 240-volt outlet for Level 2 charging up to 7.2 kilowatts. Both vehicles are also capable of 11 kW Level 2 charging, but separate charging equipment is required.
As an added perk, anyone who buys or leases a Bolt EUV or Bolt EV will get free installation of a Level 2 charger in their home through GM’s partnership with Qmerit, a home charger installer. For charging on the go, GM is partnering with public charging station operator EVgo to include over 80,000 public chargers in the My Chevrolet app.
But charging times will still be subject to the power levels of each individual charger. When plugged into a normal 120-volt system (ie, most home outlets), the Bolt EV and EUV will only get four miles of range for every hour of charging. Plugged into a 240-volt outlet will get the Bolt to a full charge in seven hours. And a DC fast charger will add up to 100 miles in 30 minutes for both vehicles.
Affordability has always been the Bolt’s strongest selling point, offering a decent size battery and adequate range for under $35,000. Chevy wanted to ensure the Bolt stayed affordable even as it added new features, like Super Cruise, or leveled up to crossover status, said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevy marketing. Keeping the price low will help spur EV adoption from its current status of only 2 percent of US sales to upwards of 15-20 percent of the overall car market, he said.
“ICE [internal combustion engine] vehicles will be around a long time,” Majoros said. “But the EV movement is real.”
I would like to thank VIVIFY for supplying the sample.
VIVIFY offers a range of HDMI and USB cables and focuses on technical aspects instead of marketing gimmicks. While some brands try to sway you with simply impossible statements like “better image quality” or “more vivid colors” for an all digital format like HDMI, VIVIFY communicates the maximum resolution, data rate, HDMI standard, and more when it comes to their display cables. On top of that, VIVIFY offers LED and RGB-equipped ones, and we get to take a quick look at the Arquus 73Ø and Aceso W10 cables in this article.
Packaging
The VIVIFY Arquus 73Ø ships in a fairly elaborate package meant to be hung on a store shelf. It sports an image of the cable on front and all the really important specifications on the back.
Inside the package is a foam envelope that holds the cable itself. We are taking a look at the variant that is 9 ft long. While you will find classic HDMI cables at much shorter lengths, offering the Arquus 73Ø as such won’t make much sense since the cost is mostly in its ends; it simply would not translate into any tangible savings.
With the cable, you will receive a sticker, warranty information, and a test report of your specific cable.
In addition to the HDMI cable, VIVIFY also shipped us their Aceso W10 USB-C cable. It also comes with a built-in LED, but this one is just in the specific color you buy. In our case, the cable will light up red. It also comes in a full-color package and features a Velcro strip for easier cable management.
A Closer Look
While you are able to buy HDMI cables on the cheap from a variety of sources, the VIVIFY is in a league of its own as it actually houses quite a bit of technology in each connector. On top of that, the Arquus 73Ø utilizes fiber optics to enable lighting across the wire, which keeps it really soft at the same time. To process this, the cable actually comes with its own IC in the source end, for example. This is also where you will find a USB-A plug to power it and allow it to communicate with Razer Chroma or the VIVIFY Vnode software.
On the display end, you will also find a similar connector that actually comes with a built-in LED element of its own. Naturally, both ends are gold-plated for good measure.
VIVIFY Aceso W10
While we are taking a closer look, the Aceso W10 cable actually feels slightly bulkier than most cables out there, which make it a bit harder to use in scenarios like charging a mouse or connecting a headset. Instead, it is more for charging/connecting your portable device from your phone to your laptop, gaming console, or battery pack.
Similarly to the Arquus 73Ø, the Aceso W10 comes with a diffusor strip on the side, which will light up in that single color you have purchased.
Cables in Use
To get the VIVIFY Arquus 73Ø all set up, simply connect the source end to your output—in this case, one of our test systems for case reviews—and plug the USB-A plug in to provide the necessary power. The cable immediately lights up fairly brightly. In the picture above, we turned off the studio lighting as it is way brighter than anything you would ever work with, which makes the strip a bit more prominent. Obviously, in a darker environment, where RGB is meant to really pop, the VIVIFY Arquus 73Ø will actually be nicely visible.
Even the display end of the connector lights up, which means it will be a nice little V-shaped branding touch if the back of your monitor is exposed. Below are some videos of the connector and cable lighting. Even though the cable is 9 ft long, the illumination seems to be controlled on both ends, so there is no visible drop in intensity from one end to the other.
Connecting the Aceso W10 USB-C cable immediately has its edge light up red. This is pretty nice and straightforward, but the loss of brightness is somewhat visible in a bright environment, which is not as apparent in low-light surroundings.
Vivify Software
VIVIFY also offers their own RGB control software which allows for various effects to be triggered for their cables. In terms of the UI, the software is very prominent and flashy right out of the gate. Installing the software does not take long, but you have to click through several on-boarding slides to get to the end as the installer will just sit there at 100% otherwise.
The core of the Vnode application auto-detects connected VIVIFY RGB products and allows you to select up to four different ones. While that may sound like a low number, having a quad-monitor setup is pretty extreme and rare, which should have it suffice in reality. You may go through several lighting modes or trigger a color of your own choice in the software.
VIVIFY also interfaces to the Razer Chroma ecosystem in the settings menu, where you may check a box to allow the Chroma software to recognize the Arquus 73 and control its lighting effect. Interestingly enough, VIVIFY simply copied some marketing text from Razer and stuffed it into the app, which reads oddly, as if VIVIFY owns Razer.
Conclusion
With RGB becoming a firm staple for gamers, cables seem to be the last frontier since we have seen everything from RGB-equipped PC hardware to monitors, speakers, peripherals, tables, and chairs. So VIVIFY is quite the unicorn in that space. On top of that, their HDMI cables are quite capable when it comes to their technical features. While the price tag of $90 (no Chroma support) or $100 (with Chroma support) for a 9 ft HDMI cable is pretty steep, it offers everything you would expect from a high-end fiber optics cable in terms of technical specifications, as well as the unique RGB functionality. With no-name fiber optic HDMI cables selling for around $40, the VIVIFY Arquus 73 offers in-house production and a 2-year warranty on top of the RGB and interface for $60 so to speak. Thus, this cable is clearly aimed at gamers and enthusiasts who want all the lighting possibilities while still getting all the technical capabilities of a high-end cable.
On the other hand, if you want illumination for your mobile devices as well, the single-color LED VIVIFY Aceso W10 cable is a pretty cool cable to have in your pack, especially because of the 2-year warranty and very study construction for $25.
The Nintendo Switch continues to perform very well, selling the most units out of any other gaming hardware in the US in January, according to gaming analyst firm The NPD Group. But Sony’s PlayStation 5 still made more money last month, despite a more limited supply.
According to NPD’s January report, the Switch was the bestselling hardware platform in terms of units sold in January — the highest of any platform in that specific month since the Nintendo Wii in 2010. Despite this, Sony’s next-gen console earned the highest dollar sales total for the month of January, breaking the previous record set by the Nintendo Wii in 2009.
There are a few reasons why the Switch might have sold more units but made less money than the PS5. Most notably, the PS5’s starting price begins at $100 more than the Switch, with the digital-only PS5 retailing for $400 and the disc drive model retailing for $500.
The PS5 has been out for nearly three months yet, just like the Xbox Series X / S, the PS5 has been very difficult to buy, with retailers mostly hosting online sales due to severe supply shortages. With no signs of retailers selling the PS5 in stores anytime soon due to the ongoing pandemic, the only way you can buy a PS5 from a retail store is to wait for another wave of PS5 restocks to appear online. But when they do, they typically sell out in minutes, and Sony’s strong numbers for the month suggest it’s going through its stock as fast as possible. NPD’s report makes no mention of Microsoft’s new Xbox consoles.
Nintendo’s console has been impacted by the pandemic, too, as the Switch was a bit difficult to find last spring, but supplies have remained relatively healthy since. The Switch has also seen restocks of the base console and various bundles, including limited-edition ones like the newly released Mario-themed bundle.
Alongside the release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for the Nintendo Switch, several retailers have a Mario Red & Blue Edition Switch game console available for purchase. You can buy one right now at Best Buy and Target, while supplies last.
Similar to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons-themed Switch released last year, this limited-edition console stands out from other models, with the entire Switch and its accompanying accessories based on the outfit typically worn by the mustached plumber. Retailing for $300, the limited-edition Switch features an all-red console, a red dock stand, a pair of red Joy-Cons, a red casing around the screen, and a blue Joy-Con grip.
Additionally, for $300, the Mario-themed Switch also includes a screen protector and a special carrying case that includes various symbols associated with the Mario franchise at no additional cost. The Nintendo Switch included with the bundle is the updated model, which includes two more hours of battery life.
If you are planning to buy this console, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the device does not include a copy of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, despite both products having the same release date. Secondly, these limited-edition Nintendo Switch consoles tend to sell out quickly, and there’s no telling if and when it will be restocked.
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