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New Pokémon Games Coming Out in 2022

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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The Pokémon Company, the company that handles the Pokémon franchise, recently announced the release of Pokémon Violet and Pokémon Scarlet in late 2022. 

The announcement of the new Pokémon video games was made during a Pokemon Presents video presentation on Pokémon Day via an online stream. The two new games are the latest installments in the Pokemon games series after the release of ‘Pokémon Sword and Shield‘ in 2019. 

“Trainers will once again embark on an epic journey of discovery and exploration,” The Pokémon Company CEO and President Tsunekazu Ishihara said. “Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will be an adventure unlike any other, and I cannot wait to share this incredible experience with all of you.”

The trailer shows that the graphics look a bit similar to ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus‘. “Welcome to the open world of Pokémon,” The Youtube description of the trailer states. Familiar characters such as Pikachu, Meowth, Magnemit, Hoppip, Lucano, Combee, and Drifloon were included in the trailer.

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet take a new spin in the series as trainers can explore an open environment where border-less towns blend with the wilderness. Gamers will encounter Pokémons on the streets, in the ocean, and in the sky.

The main character’s outfit will depend on which game they choose – Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. To start the journey, gamers can choose a Pokémon to join their adventure. The three choices are Fuecoco, the fire croc Pokémon, Quaxly, the duckling Pokémon, and Sprigatito, the grass cat Pokémon.

Fuecoco

  • Category: Fire Croc Pokémon
  • Type: Fire
  • Ability: Blaze
  • Height: 1′4″
  • Weight: 21.6 lbs.

Quaxly

  • Category: Duckling Pokémon
  • Type: Water
  • Ability: Torrent
  • Height: 1′8″
  • Weight: 13.4 lbs.

Sprigatito

  • Category: Grass Cat Pokémon
  • Type: Grass
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Height: 1′4″
  • Weight: 9 lbs.


Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet can be linked with Pokémon HOME which lets gamers keep their Pokémon collection in one system. 


Image Source: www.gamespot.com

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LinkedIn Launches Its Own Podcast Network

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Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: www.unsplash.com

The famous audio format is now entering the spheres of social media network LinkedIn.

Podcast creators can register to be a part of the LinkedIn Podcast Network. The platform is gearing up to hosts podcasts around the world. It is created by the internal teams and external experts.

“Starting today, we’re piloting an exciting new way for you to connect with leading professional voices with the launch of the LinkedIn Podcast Network. With this pilot you’ll have access on LinkedIn to programming and conversations from industry leading creators such as Morra Aarons-Mele, Jonathan Fields, and Mita Mallick and Dee C. Marshall, as well as shows created in-house by LinkedIn News,” the platform said.

The topics will range from topics such as mental health at work with ‘The Anxious Achiever’, to technology with ‘The Big Technology Podcast’, and tips on how to navigate workplaces for women of color with ‘Brown Table Talk’.

LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman will be the co-host of ‘The Start-Up of You’ alongside entrepreneur, investor, and author Ben Casnocha. The podcast will provide tips from Silicon Valley startups that listeners can apply to their own lives.

These shows will also be available on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Users have to follow the hosts and subscribe to their newsletters, this is a way for LinkedIn to provide a new service allowing interaction between podcasts hosts and listeners. 

The professional social network has not provided details on the monetization of this content.

LinkedIn is giving the platform a new option to promote creators in its network. Applications are also open for broadcasters to join the network’s stable of podcasts.


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Sony Unveils PlayStation VR 2

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: www.roadtovr.com

Playstation VR 2‘s design has been revealed.

While PlayStation fans are still waiting for PlayStation 5‘s next-gen VR headset’s price and release date, Sony has already provided details such as the design, a confirmed game, and specifications.

A new design was introduced showing how the headset’s color matches with the PS5 and a headband-type visor that looks similar but is smaller compared to Sony’s first PSVR. The PSVR 2 has eye-tracking capabilities, high-resolution, vibrating, and is camera-equipped. It is a USB-C tether to the PlayStation 5.

Sony provided details about the expected next-gen VR headset. This is an update to Sony’s PlayStation VR release for PlayStation 4 in 2016.

The specs were revealed in January, while its VR controllers were introduced in 2021, which is similar to PS5’s DualSense controllers.

The game confirmed for release is Horizon Call of the Mountain, which will be in the same setting as Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.

The VR headset will showcase unique vibrating feedback, eye-tracking, 110-degree view, foveated rendering, and controllers with advanced haptics. 

It is compatible with headphones that come with a standard headphone jack. The four tracking cameras allow users’ movement in VR to be tracked without the use of a TV-connected camera bar. It should work similarly with other VR headsets. The built-in eye-tracking feature is expected to provide better graphics and allow eye control and eye contact. The foveated rendering focuses on where the eye’s fovea is looking to get more graphics but less pixels.

When is the release?

Sony has not confirmed an exact date yet but said that the PSVR 2 is coming out in 2022.

What’s the price?

Sony has not provided details about PSVR 2’s price yet. PlayStation VR costs USD $400. There are speculations stating that it could end up costing as much as the PlayStation 5.


Image Source: www.roadtovr.com

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Virtual-Physical Interconnections: Infosys Metaverse Foundry Launched

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Sam Claren dela Paz
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Digital services and consulting company Infosys introduced Infosys metaverse foundry to boost the enterprises’ metaverse exploration.

The company has developed 100 templates and use cases that can help out consumers in discovering and reusing elements and connect to the metaverse with Infosys’ platforms.

Infosys’ move comes at a time when companies are paying more attention to the metaverse and are investing in the niche.

Infosys President Ravi Kumar S stated that the metaverse is no longer a buzz and will have a key role as the world enters post-pandemic age where many people would choose to live in the hybrid of virtual and physical spaces.

“The reason why we came up with the concept of Metaverse Foundry is because while some consumer businesses know what the use cases are, a large number of our clients are curious. So, the Foundry is this experimental infrastructure where you can discover, create and scale,” he stated.

“Once you discover and create, we are hoping that you (clients) will scale with us. Therefore we have the opportunity to help you scale that infrastructure over a period of time.” Ravi Kumar added.

Infosys is already working with clients such as Roland Garros and the Australian Open where they created a virtual world where users can make purchases. The company is also developing digital twins where a manufacturing plan can be established in the metaverse for simulation.

Ravi Kumar believes that the metaverse is still young at this point. “We will see the metaverse evolve over the period of time. But we are on that runway and catching that runway through this Foundry so that our clients can be on the runway ahead of their peers,” he added.

Image Source: www.simplus.com

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Neon Launches World’s First NFT Vending Machine

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Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: portal.neondistrict.io

Solana‘s NFT marketplace Neon introduced its own NFT vending machine which is the first in the world.

Neon’s NFT vending machine makes it easier for people to venture into the NFT space even without prior knowledge or expertise on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

How Does It Work?

The vending machine can operate 24 hours a day according to a Business Wire report. User can use their USD debit and credit cards to get a unique code in a box from the NFT vending machine. Codes are redeemable on Neon for Solana NFTs.

“Giving people the choice to use vending machines and an easy online platform that decouples cryptocurrency from NFT participation means we can engage the widest possible audience. NFT buying and selling doesn’t need to be a mystery and you shouldn’t be required to hold Ethereum, write a smart contract, pay gas costs or bridge blockchains to participate.” said Birnholtz

Neon CMO and Co-Founder Jordan Birnholtz said that the goal is to enable artists to put their art up for sale to anyone who wants to collect NFT assets.

Birholtz mentioned that 80& of Americans own credit or debit cards while 2% hold digital wallets, which is the rationale behind why the vending machine will accept credit and debit cards.

The NFT Craze

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have become popular for running transactions that involve digital artworks in replace of crypto tokens. NFTs are predicted to be used by creators and artists in many ways, becoming the platform for real-world artworks and experiences and in-game purchases. Neon aims to expand the opportunities and access the platform offers.

Energy-Efficient Blockchain

Founders and engineers of Neon are working with the Solana blockchain which features smart contracts because it leverages proof-of-stake, is energy-efficient, and can manage 65,000 transactions in a second with almost zero fees. Transactions conducted in neon are carbon neutral thanks to offsets that the Solana Foundation purchased.

“We wanted to embrace a blockchain that’s fast, green, and meets demand at global scale,” Birnholtz stated. 


Image Source: portal.neondistrict.io

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Google Making Android Apps More Private

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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0
Image Source: www.unsplash.com

Google working to limit data collection on apps on Android smartphones.

The company’s Privacy Sandbox Project is working on a system to lessen the amount of user data that can be gathered by advertisers.

Identifiers are linked to smartphones and used by apps to gather information. Google plans to implement them for at least two years while the company works on a new system.

Google aims to extend its Project Sandbox to Android apps. The company is also working on ways that will limit user data sharing and “operate without cross app identifiers, including advertising ID”.

“We’re also exploring technologies that reduce the potential for covert data collection, including safer ways for apps to integrate with advertising SDK (software developer kits),” Google mentioned.

Not everyone in the industry is happy with Google’s move. Apple and privacy policies from Google will be some of the first moves on how user data is gathered and utilized. 

In 2021, Android’s rival Apple put their developers to work to get users’ permission before collecting their information. The company is positioning itself as an advocate of privacy.

Android Security and Privacy Vice President of Product Management Anthony Chavez stated in a blog that “the industry must continue to evolve how digital advertising works to improve user privacy”.

This comes at a time when Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been getting scrutiny from regulators across the globe for dominating the digital advertising niche.

Google’s design proposals can be checked by developers and provide feedback on Android’s developer site. The tech giant is planning to roll out developer previews this year and a beta version by the end of 2022.


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Meta Allows Reels Makers to Profit From In-Video Ads

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: www.facebook.com

Meta introduces new ad features which creators can earn more from.

The company is taking Reels to new heights, this is Meta’s short-form video feature. Instagram and Facebook’s parent company introduced more ways for creators to profit from Facebook in-video ads. 

Reels creators can now earn 55% of ad revenue from banner ads. This will appear as a semi-transparent overlay at the bottom part of a reel as well as sticker ads that can be included in the video. 

This new monetization feature is Meta’s latest effort to attract TikTok content creators. During Meta’s fourth-quarter earnings discussion, CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that TikTok is becoming a threat but also mentioned that he is optimistic that Reels would bring in more revenue due to the rapid growth of short-form videos.

The new Reels ads will also come with safety features such as inventory filters, publisher lists, delivery reports, and blocklists. Meta is also testing immersive ads in between Reels. Users will have the capability to like, comment, share, save, and even skip these ads. 

Content creators who are already involved in Meta’s in-stream ads program are eligible to profit from their publicly-shared Reels that have ads. Meta is also planning to test a “Stars” feature wherein the company pays the creators a cent for every ‘star’ a view sends. 
Creators can now also make their Reels up to a minute long and can now save their videos to drafts. Reels can now be remixed as well, similar to TikTok’s duet and stitch features. Live or long-form recorded videos can be turned into Reels in the coming months.


Image Source: www.facebook.com

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Bloomreach Reaches $2.2 Billion Valuation

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: www.bloomreach.com

Cloud-based e-commerce platform Bloomreach has a new investment of $175 million, raising the company valuation to $2.2 billion.


This comes after the company received a $150 million investment in January 2021. Bloomreach stated that it plans to use the additional funding to invest in more personalization use cases and the expansion of its marketing team for continuous business growth.

“This has been a transformational year for Bloomreach. We view this funding as a validation of our unique commerce experience strategy, as well as a reflection of the e-commerce market’s urgent need for technology that allows businesses to stand out from the crowd, rather than simply stand up a store,” Bloomreach Co-Founder and CEO Raj De Datta said.

“Bloomreach has always thought differently about what data-powered personalization can achieve, and with the capital and resources that Goldman Sachs brings, we can accelerate our relentless pursuit of magical and measurable experiences for people and businesses worldwide,” he added.

De Datta also stated that Bloomreach is ready for IPO in the next five years as it meets the metrics to be a successful public company. “I think it would be natural as we chase this $20 billion opportunity. It’s certainly on the cards… We’ll be watching market forces.” he said.

The e-commerce platform has been helpful in meeting the evolving demands of digital shoppers and helping businesses meet consumer expectations. Bloomreach uses AI to provide a seamless shopping experience across platforms and offer hyper-specific recommendations. The platform does it without slalking consumers online. Future-proofing its own clients, as Firefox, Safari, and soon, even Google are looking to block third-party cookies for the sake of privacy.

Bloomreach caters to around 850 brands such as Torrid and Williams Sonoma with its tools such as personalized email, SMS marketing campaigns, blogs, and SEO recommendations within the categories of engagement, content, and discovery. 


Image Source: www.bloomreach.com

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Thought-To-Text Typing Hits 94% Accuracy

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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Image Source: www.blackrockneurotech.com

Tetraplegic and quadriplegic patients are given the capability to manage computers, control robotic arms, and thought type at 90 characters per minute which shows 94% accuracy thanks to new brain-computer interface technology.

Blackrock Neurotech along with technology licensed from Stanford University has created a new brain-computer interface technology which is set to be released in the market this year. This technology allows 10x faster communication compared to other products in the market.

For some members of our society, the link between the body and brain has been affected due to accidents or illnesses, and can no longer move at will. This is where brain-computer interface technology comes in to help. Establishing a connection between our minds and technology is a growing niche that could have a value of over $5 billion by 2030. This includes non-invasive technologies such as encephalography, electrocorticography, and magneto as well as invasive products that use direct neural interfacing.

“This technology … picks up signals directly from individual neurons, takes that data out of the brain, does something cool with it, sometimes brings it back into the brain, and the effective outcome is that … a tetraplegic patient can move a prosthetic arm around, grab a glass or a canned bottle of water, and then drink themselves again for the first time since having tragic accidents,” Blackrock Neurotech Co-Founder and CEO Marcus Gerhardt said.

“It can allow a person who can’t communicate, let’s say an ALS maybe locked-in patient, to use this interface to communicate again.” he added.

The product is set to come out this year but pricing has yet to be finalized. The company assures that “the cost has to be in line with what the healthcare industry is generally used to,” They also stated that it would be in reach for funding campaigns and fits within insurance reimbursement.


Image Source: www.blackrockneurotech.com

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What’s next for blockchain technology?

By
Sam Claren dela Paz
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0
Image Source: www.unsplash.com

A lot of people are into the blockchain craze and it is here to stay.

Blockchain assets such as cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are starting to gain more popularity as more people are starting to get into blockchain applications.

According to Professor Salil Kanhere from UNSW School of Computing Science and Engineering, blockchain has just started to take off.

What is next for blockchain? Let’s discuss.

Metaverse

One of Prof. Kanhere’s predictions is that virtual properties in the metaverse will become a big hit. Facebook recently shifted its branding to Meta. The metaverse is a network of 3D realms where its users can interact, collaborate, and socialise. People can access the metaverse through virtual reality.

Why would people want to acquire virtual properties anyway? Prof. Kanhere stated that “buying and selling virtual land is possible through blockchain because you can pretty much tokenise anything in the metaverse and sell it on the NFT market,” 

He added that virtual land is all about location as well.

“Areas in the metaverse where people congregate will have a lot more value for advertisers and retailers to get access to the virtual crowd.” the professor said.

Prof. Kanhere also predicts that NFT avatars will go big as more people are starting to get into NFT collectibles, NFT avatars are vital in establishing a sense of community in the metaverse and these avatars also give owners access to certain virtual places that are considered special.

Gaming

Access to virtual reality and live streaming has helped developers provide a new gaming experience. With the involvement of blockchain, things could get more interesting for gamers.

Prof. Kanhere calls it a play-to-earn model as players can earn tokens by accomplishing tasks or acquiring elements within the game.

One of the examples of this is Axie Infinity.

“Tokens are created on a blockchain, and we’re seeing a lot more cases where users either earn tokens for how much time they spend in the game, or if there are virtual battles or quests in the game users earn tokens if they win,” Prof. Kanhere stated

The NFTs earned can also be traded for real money.

Environmental Issue

As blockchain continues to grow big, the discussions about its environmental footprint are also starting to draw more attention.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin require a total amount of energy greater than Singapore and Portugal’s energy consumption.

Prof. Kanhere is optimistic that blockchain will eventually become more eco-friendly.

“Blockchain uses a lot of energy because it runs on a decentralised network to guarantee the fidelity and security of data,” he says.

“And unlike a centralised network, where all the information is stored in one place, a decentralised network relies on all the nodes in the network to agree with each other on what the source of truth is – and this requires executing complex algorithms which use a lot of energy.”

“Cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, have managed to change their algorithm which reduces the energy consumption. It’s a good step in the right direction but we’re going to need to make bigger moves if we want to get serious about reducing its carbon footprint.”

The professor also mentioned that more work is needed for blockchain to be aligned with climate change goals.


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