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The graphics giant Nvidia has announced that it will limit the cryptocurrency mining efficiency of its RTX 3060 GPUs. At the same time, the company has also announced Nvidia CMP HX, a series of dedicated cryptocurrency mining processors for professional mining.
The cryptocurrency boom is on the rise and recently we have seen the meme-inspired Dogecoin scoring big on the popularity charts. More and more people are using powerful graphics cards to churn out as much crypto juice as they can.
With that said, the question that needs to be answered is why Nvidia chose to limit the cryptomining powers of its GPU. The company has announced that RTX 3060 software drivers will detect traces of the Etherum crypto mining algorithm and reduce hashing rate by 50%. For reference, Etherum is currently one of the most mined crypto coins on the market.
As mentioned above, more people are mining crypto, which means they’re buying more GPUs. This is one big reason Nvidia took the decision because the shortage of GPUs is leaving gamers empty handed who are the company’s target customers.
“With the launch of GeForce RTX 3060 on Feb. 25, we’re taking an important step to help ensure GeForce GPUs end up in the hands of gamers,” Nvidia said in a blog post .
And that makes sense because GeForce GPUs are fitted with technologies designed for games, ray tracing, AI-assisted image upscaling, to name a few. However, these programmable graphics chips can be used for various other applications like weather simulation, robotics, gene sequencing, etc.
This brings us to reason number two.
Nvidia has announced a new cryptocurrency mining hardware called CMP HX. The shortage of GPUs in the market couldn’t be the sole reason the company would make such a move. GPU shortages due to cryptomining have been there in the past, so it isn’t a coincidence that the graphics giant chose to throttle its GPUs right now.
In other words, how would you convince people to buy your new cryptocurrency miner when they already have an easy way out!
But Nvidia explains the new CMP miners have considerable changes that make them a better fit for cryptocurrency mining.
For example, CMP doesn’t pack display outputs which improve the airflow and allows it to be more densely packed. Also, to boost mining power efficiency, Nividia has toned down the peak core voltage and frequency on CMP GPUs.
“With CMP, we can help miners build the most efficient data centers while preserving GeForce RTX GPUs for gamers.”
The new CMP HX GPUs are available from authorized partners, including ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, etc.
The post Here’s Why Nvidia Won’t Let You Mine Cryptocurrency On RTX 3060 GPUs appeared first on Fossbytes .
The first developer preview of the next big Android update is finally here — Android 12 Developer Preview 1 (DP1). As always, it is only available for Google Pixel devices for now.
The Android 12 supported device list includes Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5.
Unfortunately, the Android update is not available for Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and the original Pixel. While the outcome was obvious for the original Pixel, we were hoping that Google might deliver one final update to the Pixel 2, despite the device losing guaranteed support .
Also Read: 12 Biggest Android 12 Features
Nevertheless, if you have a Pixel 3 or higher device, here’s how to install the Android 12 first developer preview on your device right now —
You will need ADB and Fastboot tools on your PC to install Android 12 on your smartphone. For those who don’t know, read this guide to download ADB and Fastboot for your PC.
While this method won’t wipe your data, we recommend that you backup your device in case any issue occurs while updating the device.
Once you have installed the Android 12 Developer preview, all the following updates will arrive over-the-air (OTA).
Did you find our how to install Android 12 guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below.
The post How To Get Android 12 Developer Preview On Your Pixel Device? appeared first on Fossbytes .
Torrent sites have always faced scrutiny from law enforcement agencies owing to their notoriety for allowing users to download copyrighted content. This is the reason why some of the best torrent sites like Pirate Bay, Extratorrent, and Kickass torrent have been blocked in several countries. Another torrent site that has faced the brunt of the laws is Yify movies or YTS. Yify movies is one of the best torrent sites as it’s regarded as one of the popular sources in the peer-to-peer sharing community.
If you reside in a country where Yify or YTS does not work, here is a list of YTS alternatives you can always use to download torrent files. These Yify alternatives also have a wide selection of torrent files to download, and most of the alternative sites mentioned here work in most countries.
The Pirate Bay is one of the most popular torrent sites in the world. Recently, we heard the news that The Pirate Bay is back online and will be accessible via its original domain – thepiratebay.org. TPB is a rather renowned torrent site amongst torrent enthusiasts owing to the large variety of torrents you can download from here and its decluttered user interface. Using this YTS alternative, you can download torrents for movies, software, tv-series, music, and more.
If you want to download torrents for movies, apps, and software using torrent and Yify movies isn’t working, 1337x is your next best option. The torrent site has an impressive visual appeal as everything starting from the index page to search results, is neatly designed. 1337x caters to a large audience of torrent enthusiasts owing to the categorization of torrents. You can browse through movies, television, games, music, applications, anime, and more. Besides, there is a trending section at this YTS torrent alternative that offers all the popular and trending torrents without having to go through the trouble of searching them manually.
Kickass Torrents needs no introduction as the torrent website is quite popular on the internet. Emerging as one of the best torrent sites of 2021, Kickass torrent has the potential to serve as the perfect Yify alternative for those who cannot access YTS due to any reason. While the original Kickass torrent site shut down long ago, several mirror sites have appeared on the internet. The mirror domain carries basically the same user interface and layout of options. You can find the torrent catalog, most popular torrents, and Top torrents section at the top. These are complemented by a tag cloud that tells you about the common searches on the website.
Extratorrent was one of the most popular torrent sites until it was shut down in 2017 like other torrent wites. Ever since Extratorrent faced the brunt of officials and law enforcement agencies, several mirror sites of Extratorrent have appeared. You can also use Extratorrent proxy sites if the torrent site is not accessible in your region. Extratorrent caters to a wide audience by offering a large number of torrent files and thus it could be a YTS alternative you can use.
Despite being riddled with advertisements and pop-ups, Rarbg has retained its position as one of the world’s best-known torrent sites. If Yify movies isn’t working for you due to any reason, you can always go to Rarbg for downloading torrents. It has a healthy collection of torrents with ample of seeders. Rarbg is quite popular amongst those who look forward to downloading movies using torrent sites as this YTS alternative features trailers of the latest movies along with a dedicated section to download movies using torrent .
Lime Torrents has time and again appeared in the list of best torrent sites. The torrent website has received a positive response from users, as you can find almost any torrent file on this website. Lime Torrent is one of the best YTS alternatives that you can use to download torrent files if Yify movies is not working. Lime Torrent’s website is updated regularly, making it one of the preferred destinations for torrent lovers. Torrent files hosted here have a healthy number of seeders and leechers.
Zooqle is the last torrent site appearing on our list of best Yify alternatives. It is a new name in the torrent niche that’s cementing its position by increasing the number of torrent files available to download for users. Zooqle also has different categories, including apps, games, movies, music, and software that you can use to get torrents easily. Zooqle has a dedicated section for the most seeded torrents, which is an interesting section that I would like to see on other torrent sites as well.
EZTV was established in 2005 and after a glorious life of 10 years, it was shut down in 2015 after its servers were taken into control by “EZCLOUD LIMITED”. In the past, EZTV has faced several stability issues and was down for a long period of time. Thankfully, this Yify alternative is now up and running and can be used by users to download torrent files. One of the downsides of EZTV is that it is plagued with advertisements that could annoy you.
If Yify movies is not working in your region and your ISP has blocked access to any of the torrent sites enlisted above, these proxies and mirror sites have got your back. You can use these proxy sites as Yify alternatives if the need arises.
Yify Torrents or YTS (Yify Torrents Solutions) is a well-known torrent site that offers a large selection of torrent files and magnet links.
The original Yify website was forced to shut down after the owner faced charges for illegal distribution of copyrighted content. Since then, several Yify alternatives and mirror sites have emerged with a similar user interface to service users.
The original Yify site was shut down back in 2015 but you can still access Yify mirror sites and YTS alternatives we have mentioned above.
If Yify movies is not working for you, there are chances that the website has been blocked by your ISP. In that case, you can use Yify movie alternatives or other torrent sites to download movies via torrent.
The post Yify Alternatives: 8 Best YTS Alternatives To Use In 2021 appeared first on Fossbytes .
You’ve probably arrived on this page looking for the best smart speakers or pondering over whether you should buy a HomePod, Echo Dot, or the slick-looking Google Home Mini. Here are some things you should really consider before buying a smart speaker. After all, ditching your conventional home theater setup for a committed smart speaker is big deal.
Here we’ll talk about what smart speakers are capable of. How feasible is it to have one, and whether you really need one or not? I have an Echo Dot smart speaker at home, and I often use Siri on my iPhone. So I suppose I am in a good position to talk about the topic.
For the uninitiated, a smart speaker is an artificial intelligence-powered speaker. It can answer your queries, play games with you, read the news, set alarms, reminders, play music, control smart home gadgets, and do a lot more.
If you ask me what are the best smart speakers you can buy, there are three answers. We have the Amazon Alexa speakers (Echo series), Google Home , and the Siri HomePod . The smaller speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini are the most sought-after smart speakers. It is so because they’re tiny, powerful, and feature-packed.
That said, we also have bigger smart speakers like the Sonos One, that support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. However, they’re on the more expensive side of the price spectrum. In a nutshell, a smart speaker is a WiFi-connected speaker that uses the same assistants as your phone (Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa).
Smart speakers have come a long way since their creation. They almost feel human when you interact with them, showing a level of refinement in the gadgets. However, all of that refinement and features are only with you as long as you have an internet connection.
They are relay points that listen to your voice, send them to the cloud, process it, and answer your queries. These are WiFi-connected speakers and they need an active internet connection to work.
If you lose internet connectivity and try to use your smart speaker, you’ll hear something like, “Sorry, I’m having trouble connecting to the internet. Please check the help section of your Alexa app.” I didn’t have to look it up because I remember that from my Echo Dot. That is so because there have been connectivity issues in my area lately, which means the internet isn’t stable, which translates to my smart speaker being no good at times.
Another disadvantage of smart speakers is that most of them are not portable. Smart speakers usually don’t come with batteries, which means they need an active electricity supply all the time. So if you have a power outage, you can’t even use it as a Bluetooth speaker because it needs electricity to run.
To summarize, a smart speaker is a regular speaker with a sophisticated circuit. It packs the same artificial intelligence as your phone, which means that it also needs an internet connection, just like your phone. So smart speakers are really smart in terms of design and price since you can get the cheapest smart speaker for as low as $40 (Rs 2,900).
Pro Tip: As an iPhone user, I’ve been using what you can call a “hack” to make any speaker a smart speaker. I pair my iPhone with Echo Dot via Bluetooth, and then use Siri on my phone to play and control music, and do pretty much everything else Alexa can do. That way, I have my reminders and notes directly set on my phone, and Bluetooth pairing means I can shuffle between Apple Music and Spotify. Amazon Echo devices do not support Apple Music by default so this is one way around.
Now that you know what is a smart speaker and the prerequisites of owning one, let’s talk about whether you should buy a smart speaker. If you live in an area with frequent power cuts or unstable internet connections, it’s probably not a good idea to go for a smart speaker.
However, if you’re looking for a speaker that can do much more than just play music, go for it. You can use a smart speaker just to know the weather, news, fuel prices, play music, games, and much more. Just remember it’s all fun and games till the WiFi acts up.
Also, if you’re an audiophile or someone with a refined taste in music-listening, don’t go for the entry-level smart speakers. I have an Echo Dot and I have listened to a Google Home Mini as well. Both miss out on the mid-range and do an okay job with the bass.
Rounding up, it’s functional to have a smart speaker because it can double up as a personal assistant and smart home control. However, you should keep in mind that a basic Bluetooth speaker at the same price might give you a similar, if not better, music quality and portability.
The post The Pros And Cons Of Owning A Smart Speaker: Let’s Find Out! appeared first on Fossbytes .
The WhatsApp privacy policy update debate is back on the roll. It is so because the company is yet again attempting to roll out the update. Although this time with much more clarity, the policies remain pretty much the same, and the questions remain unanswered.
The company announced in the past that it will attempt a second rollout. Since we already know about the WhatsApp privacy policy update for WhatsApp business, you can read about them in detail here . What’s new is that this time, WhatsApp is unapologetic about the policy, and has issued clarifications from its end. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
One of the major things we saw this time is an attitude change in the way WhatsApp is updating its terms. You’ll soon see banners in WhatsApp, clarifying the new privacy policy. In the past too, we’ve seen WhatsApp status defending its new terms of services.
While the new policy applies majorly to WhatsApp business accounts only, it needs your consent whenever you chat with a business account. According to WhatsApp, the new policy allows businesses to use Facebook to manage inventory across platforms. Also, it will let WhatsApp business account holders generate automated replies for some queries.
For instance, when you book movie tickets with your mobile number, you can now receive those tickets on WhatsApp. It is an auto-generated message and it is convenient to be able to use those tickets from your inbox. Aside from these changes, there’s not much that directly addresses businesses or customers.
However, Facebook’s ownership of WhatsApp also means that your WhatsApp data will be used to target ads on Facebook. A simple example of this is when you interact with a business on WhatsApp, you’re likely to see similar “relevant” ads on Facebook and Instagram.
We can appreciate Facebook and WhatsApp for this second attempt at updating the policies. The company is trying to counter any confusion around it which is good. What it lacks, is a clarification on how it will treat certain business accounts.
Let’s assume a doctor or a lawyer is using a WhatsApp business account with Facebook integration to manage appointments. So far, it was clear that a doctor-patient chat or a client-attorney conversation is privileged information. This means it cannot be seen by any third-party.
But with the policy update, the automation is likely to feed some data to Facebook and WhatsApp. There are concerns around the privacy of doctor-patient and client-attorney conversations. If there’s any possibility of the private chats being monitor, it needs to be addressed.
We’ve reached out to WhatsApp for a comment on the matter and will update the story if they respond. Till then, it isn’t clear how encryption will work for doctors, lawyers, and other personnel using WhatsApp business and accepting the new policy.
In a recent blog post about WhatsApp privacy policy update, the company briefly talked about alternatives. The post reads, “We understand some people may check out other apps to see what they have to offer. We’ve seen some of our competitors try to get away with claiming they can’t see people’s messages.”
Here, the platform is referring to alternatives like Telegram and Signal, which became popular as people didn’t want to accept the new terms of services by WhatsApp. The company said that it wants to make its apps safe and reliable, hence requires some data to do so.
We also partially agree with this. WhatsApp has indeed grown into a simple and powerful app in the past few years. However, the new policy that shares user’s data with Facebook to target ads is somewhere out of tune with WhatsApp as we know it.
The post WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update Take 2: Sorry But Not Sorry appeared first on Fossbytes .
Torrent sites have always irked copyright watchdogs and original content creators, which is why many of the best torrent sites have been banned in several countries. Rarbg.to is another popular torrent site that is not available in several countries because it hosts torrent links to copyrighted content. Rarbg movies torrent links are particularly popular amongst torrent enthusiasts. As an alternative, users have resorted to Rarbg proxy sites and mirror sites to access the torrents.
Since the website is not available in many regions, there are many ways to unblock blocked websites including torrent sites. You can use proxy websites and mirror websites if a website is not working in your country.
If you’re not able to access Rarbg website from your country, you can check whether the website is globally accessible or not. If not, you have got the option to use Rarbg proxy sites to get Rarbg unblocked in your region.
Here’s a list of Rarbg proxy sites and mirror sites that we have collated from the internet. The Rarbg proxy server list below is updated regularly and all the Rarbg mirror and proxy sites could be accessed in 2021. All the proxies and Rarbg alternatives mentioned here were working at the time of writing —
Rarbg Proxy Name | Rarbg Proxy URL |
Rarbg Proxy 1 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index53.php |
Rarbg Proxy 2 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index80.php |
Rarbg Proxy 3 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index52.php |
Rarbg Proxy 4 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index54.php |
Rarbg Proxy 5 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index55.php |
Rarbg Proxy 6 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index56.php |
Rarbg Proxy 7 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index57.php |
Rarbg Proxy 8 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index58.php |
Rarbg Proxy 9 | https://rarbgaccess.org/index59.php |
Rarbg Proxy 10 | https://rarbgunblock.com/index70.php |
Rarbg Proxy 11 | https://rarbgaccess.org/ |
Rarbg Proxy 12 | https://rarbg.unblockninja.com/ |
Rarbg Unblock | https://rarbgget.org/ |
Rarbgmirror site | https://proxyrarbg.org/ |
Rarbg mirror site | http://rarbgto.org/ |
To check the status of Rarbg, you can enter the Rarbg website (www.rarbg.to) in down detectors available on the internet. At the moment, you cannot access Rarbg in the following countries:
If you’re living in any of the countries and want to access the torrent website then you can use the mentioned Rarbg proxy sites or Rarbg mirror sites.
If your government or ISP has blocked Rarbg in your country or region, you can still access the website using proxies and Rarbg mirror websites. These websites bypass the imposed geographical restrictions to help you unblock Rarbg. A proxy server acts as an intermediate between your computer and the destination server to obscure your IP address. You can visit the below mentioned Rarbg alternatives to download torrents from the website.
In case you are facing issues in accessing Rarbg proxy sites we have mentioned above, here are some alternatives that you can refer to:
Rarbg is one of the most popular torrent search engines out there. It has a neat interface with a large collection of torrent links. With our provided list of Rarbg proxy servers, you can access the website even if it is banned in your country.
However, if the provided Rarbg alternatives are not working for you, you can also check out our Pirate Bay proxy list and Kickass proxy list to download files.
The post Rarbg Proxy List 2021 [100% Working Rarbg Mirror Sites & Proxies] appeared first on Fossbytes .
The first developer preview (DP) of Android 12 which is the next major update for Android devices, is finally here. Although many are still waiting for their Android 11 update but that’s past the point.
Android is the most popular smartphone operating system in the entire world. Naturally, many are excited about the latest features of Android 12.
In this article, we will talk about Android 12 best features, Android 12 release date, Android 12 supported devices, what Android 12 will be called, and a lot more.
For those of you who are looking for the Android 12 name — we hate to break it to you, but Android 12 will be called Android 12. That’s because Google stopped assigning dessert names to Android versions starting in 2019. For the past two years, it has been Android 10, Android 11, and now Android 12.
However, last year we learned that Google is still internally assigning desert names to the latest Android versions. For instance, Android 11 (R) is internally called “Red Velvet Cake.” Based on Android 12 leaks, the next Android version i.e. Android S will be internally known as “Snow Cone.”
Based on the Android 12 roadmap, Google is planning to release three Android 12 Developer Previews in February, March and April. Presently, the Android 12 Developer Preview 1 is out for several Pixel devices.
Then in the month of May, we can expect the first beta of Android 12. Google plans to release three more Android 12 betas in June, July and two in August.
Finally, Google will release the Android 12 stable build in the month of September. Naturally, Pixel devices will be the first to receive it. But from there, other Android devices will gradually start getting the Android 12 update in Q4 of 2021, with most of them getting in 2022.
Here are the best Android 12 features based on the first developer Preview of Android 12. We will update this article when Android 12 DP2 comes out.
One of the biggest new features of Android 12 is the UI changes in the Android settings. Right on the homepage, the search bar has been redesigned; now featuring rounded corners and the profile picture has shifted outside the search box.
Apart from that, some settings can be seen with a blue hue in the background hinting of the arrival of a new in-house theming system that has been in rumors for quite a while now.
Unlike Android 11, which added a big new feature called “Conversations” to the Notification panel, Android 12 appears to be focusing on design changes.
The notification shade is now more transparent, and there appears to be more space between the notification sections. Another big change we are seeing is the addition of a new clock icon in the notifications which opens up the snooze menu.
When you long-press on a notification, there is also a new “Automatic” option (currently in the works) that will enable Android to decide for itself whether a notification should give a ring or vibrate.
Speaking of the big Android 12 features, it appears Google has given a lot of attention to the Media Player.
It is much bigger with larger playback controls and features a bigger album art. Also, there is now a small icon to denote which audio device is playing the music. Tapping on it opens a new pop-up where you can easily pair a new Bluetooth device.
Apart from that, there is new settings page where you can choose which media player should show up in Quick Settings for an extended period.
Speaking of Quick settings, Android 12 also features a new “Reduce Bright Colors” toggle that reduces screen brightness.
Google has added toggles to disable cameras and mute microphones entirely in the Android 12 privacy settings.
Similar to how you can disable location access, you will now be able to restrict all apps at once from accessing the camera and the microphone. Presently, this feature is not available to everyone.
The new in-house one-handed mode is one of the best features of Android 12. The Android 12 feature scales down the screen, therefore allowing users to easily use the device with a single hand. As seen in the screenshots, toggling the feature also magnifies some settings as well.
But unlike the one-handed mode in other Android-based UIs where the screen shrinks vertically and horizontally, in Android 12, the screen only scales down vertically.
The One-handed mode is available as the “Silky Home” feature flag in the Android 12 DP1.
After years of delays, Google has finally added the Scrolling Screenshot feature in Android 12. A scrolling screenshot is where the device captures a normal screenshot, scrolls down and captures another one, stitches the two, and produces a long screenshot.
As of now, the feature is buggy and is disabled by default in the Android 12 Developer Preview 1. However, we are hoping it will be one of the biggest Android 12 features.
Double Tap is a new Android 12 feature that works similar to the Back Tap in iOS 14 — you can double-tap on the back of the device to perform quick actions such as waking up the Google Assistant, opening the Notification center, opening a particular app or a setting, etc.
The double-tap gesture feature first appeared in earlier builds of Android 11, however was left out of the final release. Even now, while the Double Tap has arrived with Android 12 DP 1, the toggle appears to be non-functional.
As rumored, Android 12 features enhancements in the picture-in-picture mode, such as pinching to re-size and double-tapping the floating window to make it full size.
Much like PiP in iOS 14, Android 12 has also added functionality to hide the Picture-in-Picture window to the side of the screen. In the first developer preview of Android 12, the feature works after enabling a flag.
Google added a Conversation section to the notification panel in Android 11, which enabled users never to miss a message or an update from their friends or family.
Adding on to that, the conversation widget is another big Android 12 feature. The new widget will enable users to view recent messages, missed calls, and status information of a person.
With Android 12, Google may introduce a new split-screen feature called App Pairs. When doing a split-screen, the two apps will now be shown as a pair in the Recents menu.
“Once paired, you should be able to easily swap to using a different single app and then swap back to the pair you created,” writes 9to5Google .
9to5Google reports that Pixel devices may get a new face-based auto-rotation feature in Android 12. With this, the device will use the front-facing camera to see the head orientation and will rotate the screen accordingly.
Presently, Android devices use on-device sensors and rotate the screen to match the device’s orientation. However, it is far from perfect, and often users are forced to lock rotation. Hopefully, Android 12’s face-based option will solve this issue.
Google is expected to introduce a game mode in Android 12. It is being called the “GameManager” service which is described as a “service to manage game related features.”
There is not much information on the Android 12 feature for now, so we will leave it to your imagination.
Every time there is a new Android version in town, this question is always on everyone’s mind. And like always, the answer lies with your smartphone manufacturer. OEMs like OnePlus are known to issue new Android updates quicker, while manufacturers like Xiaomi and Samsung are known to take a lot of time.
Of course, if your smartphone vendor is none other than Google, i.e., if you own a Google Pixel device — there is no doubt you will be the first person to recieve the Android 12.
As of now, the Android 12 Developer Preview 1 is out for the below devices —
As of February 18th, Android 12 first developer preview is officially available for Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, or Pixel 5.
If you own one of Android 12 DP1 supported devices, you can install Android 12 by following this guide .
As the name suggests, developer previews are intended for developers. While they are available to general users, the builds are barely stable and come with several issues. That being said, the excitement and pleasure of getting the latest Android version first are worth the risks.
So this was everything about the latest Android update — Android 12. Do you like these new Android 12 features? Let us know in the comments down below.
The post 12 Biggest Android 12 Features, Release Date, Supported Devices & More appeared first on Fossbytes .
Developed by Bethesda Softworks, Rage 2 was one of the most popular video games of 2019. The first-person open-world game is set in an apocalyptic world where an asteroid hits Earth. Now, all that’s left in the world are some bandits and blood-thirsty mutants.
Of course, Rage 2 didn’t live up to most players’ expectations in terms of story, and it isn’t exactly one of the best open-world games . However, no one can deny that Rage 2 has an extraordinary combat system. If you haven’t played Rage 2 up till now, maybe now is the time. That’s because right now, you can download Rage 2 for FREE and legally on Epic Games Store.
Epic Games Store is currently offering Avalanche Studio’s Rage 2 for free. However, this amazing offer is going to end on February 25 . So, you only have a few days to claim the FPS open-world title for FREE.
First, to download Rage 2 for free, create your Epic Games Store account if you don’t have one already. Then, all you have to do is visit the Store section of Epic Games and scroll down to the Free Games section. There, you will see Rage 2 along with Absolute Drift, which is also free on Epic Games Store until February 25.
Epic Games Store offers two video games, mostly Indie titles, for free every week. However, once in a while, popular games like GTA 5 , Borderlands , and Batman Arkham Knight are also included in the rotation. Now, Epic Games have come forward to give away another AAA title for free. So, if you were waiting to download Rage 2 for free in your Epic Games library, you probably shouldn’t miss this amazing opportunity.
The post How To Download Rage 2 For FREE From Epic Games Store? appeared first on Fossbytes .
Yesterday, McLaren unveiled its Plug-in Hybrid electric supercar Artura. The all-new Artura is the first series-production and high-performance hybrid supercar from the British automaker. McLaren Artura hybrid will deliver a fuel-efficiency of 50+ MPG that makes it the most fuel-efficient car produced by the automaker ever.
Artura is the third supercar to join the company’s portfolio of hybrid cars after P1 and Speedtail. It also builds the foundation for future hybrid cars , as its first model underpinned by the latest McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA).
McLaren Automotive is famous for its extremely powerful cars with jaw-dropping specs. There’s no doubt that Artura can steal the hearts of petrolheads alone from its looks. However, Artura is a lot more to offer as it’s also part electric, fuel-efficient, and low fuel emitting as well.
Here are some small details about this plug-in hybrid supercar.
Under the hood, there’s a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine and a 70 kW electric motor that get its power from a 7.2 kWh li-ion battery.
The above combination produces a total output of 671 BHP and 720 Nm of torque. In addition, the engine meshes with an eight-speed automatic transmission that comes integrated with McLaren’s first electronic differential.
McLaren Artura is one of the quickest accelerating production supercars on the market right now. Thanks to its 70 kW (95 PS) electric motor that delivers an instant torque of up to 225 Nm and allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds.
It can go from 0 to 200 km/h in only 8.3 seconds and 0 to 300 km/h in just 21.5 seconds. Moreover, Artura can achieve a top speed of up to 205 mph (330 km/h).
The plug-in hybrid also features a new rear suspension, electro-hydraulic steering, and Proactive Damping control ensure excellent ride quality, dynamic performance, cornering, and high-speed stability.
The cabin of McLaren Artura simply looks futuristic yet user-friendly. There’s a top-quality 8-inch HD infotainment screen on the center console through which you can access the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, climate control, navigation, and much more.
In addition, all key controls are mounted on the steering wheel for more convenience. The system also supports Over-The-Air (OTA) updates so that it can get better with time.
As mentioned earlier, the all-new McLaren Artura is the most fuel-efficient car among all its siblings. It can deliver a fuel economy of up to 50 MPG and with CO2 emissions as low as 129g/km.
Since it’s a Plug-In Hybrid, it also has a dedicated EV range. Artura can travel up to 30 Km in electric mode with zero emissions.
The automaker is already accepting orders for McLaren Artura. However, for pricing and delivery date, you have to check your respective markets.
In the UK, the hybrid sports car McLaren Artura is available in four specifications, with prices starting at £185,500.
Source : McLaren Automotive
The post Meet The Most Fuel Efficient McLaren Ever, Churns Out 50+ MPG Mileage appeared first on Fossbytes .
Several people claim with evangelical fervor that Mac devices are safer than Windows and a recent report by Malwarebytes also corroborates the claims. However, today, the first malware targeting Apple’s latest M1 SoCs has been spotted by security researchers. This could be a turning point for Apple, and we might see a different report next year because of it.
Here’s what we know so far about the first malware that could bring down your M1-powered Macbook:
When Apple shifted to its own silicon and parted ways with Intel, it also moved away from Intel x86 architecture that has been used by developers to create apps for Macs since 2005. This move also allowed developers to integrate security features right into the processor, which wasn’t possible earlier. In order to run apps natively on M1-powered Macs, they have to be recompiled using Rosetta emulator
.
Now, they can develop applications that can run ‘natively’ on M1 processors without translating
x86_64
(Intel) instructions into native
arm64
instructions.
It seems that hackers have also engineered a technique to tailor malware for M1 chips using the transition.
Popular Mac security researcher Patrick Wardle has published a report on his website detailing the incredibly easy process of adapting and recompiling malware to run natively on the M1 chipset. He spotted a malicious Safari extension named “GoSearch22”, originally made to run on Intel x86 architecture, which has been re-engineered to run on the M1 processor.
According to Patrick, GoSearch22 belongs to the infamous Pirrit Mac adware family. It is known for its evading techniques to avoid detection by security researchers.
GoSearch22 extension looks like a normal extension but in the background, it collects all user data and also floods users with ads and popups that could lead to other malicious websites.
Patrick found in his research that the extension was signed with an Apple developer ID on November 23, 2020, but Apple has already revoked the certificate of the extension.
A Red Canary intelligence analyst, Tony Lambert says, “ Watching malware make the transition from Intel to M1 rapidly is concerning because security tools aren’t ready to deal with it .”
As per Patrick, GoSearch22 isn’t the only malware that has been adapted to run on Apple M1 chips, there are many more to come, and the threat detection tools need to gear up for forthcoming Apple M1 malware.
Source: Wired
The post First Malware Infecting Apple M1 Chip Appears: Here’s What We Know appeared first on Fossbytes .
Xbox Game Pass has become one of the most popular platforms to get cheap deals on Xbox and PC games. Several best Xbox game pass games make it worth paying for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
What’s even amazing is that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial costs only $1 for three months. So, you can play some amazing Xbox Game Pass games by paying almost nothing. However, the Xbox Game Pass games list is so large that finding out the best games can become a head-scratching task. That’s why, in this post, I’ve mentioned the 7 best Xbox Game Pass Games you can play in 2021.
S.No. | Best Xbox Game Pass Games (2021) |
---|---|
1 | The Medium |
2 | Control Standard Edition |
3 | The Yakuza Remastered Collection |
4 | Gears 5 Game Of The Year Edition |
5 | Halo: The Master Chief Collection |
6 | ARK: Survival Evolved Explorer’s Edition |
7 | DOOM Eternal Standard Edition |
Also Read:
The Medium by Bloober Team is a psychological thriller-horror video game released on January 28, 2021. The Medium is available to play on Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X/S, so it’s no surprise that it is also included in Xbox Game Pass.
The Medium tells the story of Marianne, who can travel to the spirit world. Marianne’s psychic abilities let her help troubled spirits to leave this life and move ahead towards the light. However, Marianne could also interact with hostile forces in the spirit world because of the same power. So, if you’re into horror games, The Medium is one of the best Xbox Games Pass games you could play in 2021.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
The Medium
Control is a third-person perspective action-adventure video game that was released in 2019. The game is available for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Luna. Fortunately, Control is also included with Xbox Game Pass, meaning Xbox and PC players with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription can download the game without buying it.
Remedy Entertainment’s Control tells Jesse Faden’s story, who is searching for her younger brother Dylan. In her search, Jesse has to go against an entity trying to enter this world from another dimension. The action, story, music, and trippy clips make Control one of the best Xbox Game Pass games you can play right now.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms
: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
Control Standard Edition
Saga’s Yakuza is considered one of the best Japanese video game series of all time. The Beat Em’ Up format of the Yakuza series makes every video game in the series incredibly entertaining.
The hand-to-hand combat with the enemies in Yakuza is something you will never forget. Honestly, the Yakuza series sets a landmark for all the upcoming Beat Em’ Up video games. Moreover, the action-adventure and open-world elements in Yakuza give more flexibility to the gameplay.
It’s safe to say that the Yakuza Remastered Collection, which includes Yakuza 3, 4, and 5, is one of the best things about the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in 2021.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms
: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
The Yakuza Remastered Collection
Gears 5 is a third-person shooter game developed by The Coalition. Published by Xbox Game Studios, Gears is the sixth edition in the Gears franchise and the sequel to Gears 4. The game is available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, and it is one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass list in 2021.
Gears fans already know this, but you’ll be fighting a lot of disgusting creatures in Gears 5. From combat to the story, everything about Gears 5 is nothing less than awesome. You’ll absolutely love bashing the brains of acid-creatures with your dominating weapons. What’s more, is that Gears 5 offers a multiplayer mode as well. So, even after completing Gears 5 campaign, you can enjoy the third-person shooter with your friends.
Xbox Game Pass Platform
s: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
Gears 5 Game Of The Year Edition
When we’re talking about Xbox Game Pass, how could we not talk about Halo The Masterchief Collection? Of course, Xbox players are already familiar with Halo The Masterchief Collection. However, for most PC players, Halo is still an unexplored territory. That’s why, for new players, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is one of the top Xbox Games Pass PC games in 2021.
For those who don’t know. Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. So, you’ll get to enjoy several Halo games through the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms
: PC
Install:
Halo The Master Chief Collection
ARK: Survival Evolved is a prehistoric open-world adventure game developed by Studio Wildcard. For players who love massive survival games, where you can pet Dinosaurs, Ark: Survival Evolved is one of the best Xbox Game Pass games in 2021. The dynamic open-world of the survival game never stops surprising you as there is so much to explore in ARK: Survival Game.
In this Xbox game, you can craft weapons and build bases to defend yourself against animals and dangerous humans. What’s interesting is that you can play ARK: Survival Evolved in both third-person and first-person perspectives. So, if you were looking for a reason to buy an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you’ve got one.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms
: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
ARK: Survival Evolved Explorer’s Edition
Bethesda’s DOOM Eternal is considered one of the best first-person shooters of all time. The game was released in 2020 for Windows, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch. So, you could say that it is one of the new Xbox Series Pass games.
In DOOM Eternal, one thing you’ll be doing a lot is taking down some nasty demons and sending them straight back to hell. To go against the demons, your player will use powerful weaponry with some insane combat skills. In short, if you haven’t played DOOM games, you are going to fall in love with DOOM Eternal’s gameplay. When it comes to the Xbox Game Pass games list, DOOM Eternal is one of the best ones.
Xbox Game Pass Platforms
: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Install:
DOOM Eternal Standard Edition
These are the 7 best Xbox Game Pass PC and console games you can play in 2021. Of course, Xbox Game Pass might feature several other awesome games in the future. So, we are going to update the list accordingly. Meanwhile, you can try out these games by getting an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Also Read: Best Xbox Game Pass Subscription
Xbox Game Pass is a popular video game subscription service from Microsoft that was launched in 2017. The service provides a massive video game library for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. By paying for a monthly subscription, players get access to video games from various publishers.
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial for $1 lasts three months. Players can access the incredible Xbox Game Pass library through the Xbox Game Pass trial. After the trial period ends, the monthly subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $14.99.
Yes, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is definitely worth buying. If you own an Xbox Console or a decent Windows PC, you can play several video games through Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft regularly updates the library by including the latest video games in Xbox Game Pass.
The post 7 Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2021 | Top Xbox Game Pass List appeared first on Fossbytes .
OnePlus is gearing up for the release of the OnePlus 9 series and the tech town is flowing with the rumors of the upcoming smartphones from the company.
Several leaksters and tipsters have come up with rumors related to the OnePlus 9 release date, price, and the specifications we could see in the smartphones. To pacify your curiosity, we have gathered up all the leaks of the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro in one place.
Rumors have indicated that we can see an earlier than expected release of the OnePlus 9 series. Here’s what we know about OnePlus 9 series:
Going by the history of OnePlus, the company usually launches its new series in April. For instance, the OnePlus 8 was launched on the 14th April 2020. However, last year’s report by Android Central said that OnePlus 9 series launch might be earlier than expected.
We’re hoping that OnePlus will launch the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro sometime in March. You can expect OnePlus to send invites for the launch event in the first or second week of March. Both OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro will be released on the same day.
OnePlus 9 & 9 Pro Design:
There are ample leaks on the internet hinting at the possible design of the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro. Back in November, 91mobiles released the renders of the OnePlus 9 revealing a triple camera setup along with a punch-hole display.
Later that month, notable leakster Steve Hemmerstoffer released the renders of the Pro variant, giving us our first look at OnePlus 9 Pro’s possible design. The leaks show a curved screen and a rectangular camera array that seems to be inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Note 20. Notably, the OnePlus 9 Pro has a quad-camera setup in this leak.
Coming to the latest OnePlus 9 Pro leaks, on February 8, Youtuber Dave2D released a video giving us a clear glimpse at the Pro variant of the upcoming OnePlus 9 series. Interestingly, the video again showed a quad-camera setup alongside branding from Hasselblad, the leading camera lens manufacturing company.
From these leaks, it is almost confirmed that the OnePlus 9 Pro will have a curved display and a quad rear camera setup. If this is the final design that we’ll see at the OnePlus 9 release; it does look refreshing for OnePlus standards.
OnePlus 9 Specs:
OnePlus 9 Pro Specs
There have been several leaks around the specifications of OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. It is a no-brainer that the upcoming OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 pro will come equipped with Snapdragon 888 SoC. Leaks have indicated that the OnePlus 9 will have up to 8GB RAM whereas the elder sibling will have up to 12GB RAM.
Last year, both OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8T had a 120Hz refresh rate, therefore, it is given that OnePlus 9 Pro will arrive with the same refresh rate. However, we’re not certain about OnePlus 9 and there are no leaks to point towards it.
Other than the refresh rate, the OnePlus 9 is expected to arrive with a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and the elder variant will have a larger screen measuring a 6.78-inch QHD+ display.
OnePlus 9 (Source: Phonearena)Several leaks have indicated that the OnePlus 9 is likely to arrive with a straight or non-curved display and the OnePlus 9 Pro will have a curved display.
OnePlus has always received criticism for its camera quality. Could 2021 be the year where we will finally see a major change in the camera department change? Let’s have a look at OnePlus 9 camera leaks and the specifications we can expect.
A report by 91Mobiles back in November suggested that the OnePlus 9 might be equipped with a 48MP primary sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide lens, accompanied by a tertiary sensor of unknown megapixels. It could be monochrome or macro lens.
OnePlus 9 Pro on the other hand has been seen with Hasselblad branding hinting that OnePlus could team up with the international brand. It remains to be seen whether this collaboration will bring something substantial to the overall camera performance or not. This should be seen as a Huawei-Leica or Nokia-Carl Zeiss partnership.
Now that we have got the OnePlus 9 camera leaks, it seems that we are not in for any major hardware upgrade in terms of camera.
However, an APK teardown of the OnePlus camera app by XDA Developers has indicated that we could see some new photography features such as tilt-shift mode, moon mode, starburst mode, hyperlapse, and more.
Personally, I am excited to see what OnePlus has in store for those who have been disappointed by their camera performance in the past.
As far as the battery is concerned, leaks by Max Jambor have suggested that we could see a 4,500mAH battery in OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The OnePlus 8T arrived with 65W wired charging and the company hyped it at the launch event. We’ll most likely see the same in the Pro variant of the upcoming flagship. We’re not sure if OnePlus will bring it to the standard variant.
As far as wireless charging goes, Max Jambor says that OnePlus 9 Pro will feature 45W wireless charging which is an increment over 30W wireless charging in OnePlus 8 Pro. Not to get you excited, but according to him, we’ll see a reverse charging feature as well in the Pro variant of the OnePlus 9 series.
You could say that I’m evil for adding this section at the bottom of the roundup because this is why you all are here in the first place.
In the pricing department, we don’t have enough leaks to point at a specific figure, but going by the trend, the OnePlus 9 could be launched at Rs 48,999 and the OnePlus 9 Pro could be priced around Rs 54,999 in India.
Lastly, there are also rumors about a budget smartphone in the OnePlus 9 series which could be dubbed OnePlus 9E or OnePlus 9 Lite but we recommend you to take this information with a pinch of salt as several rumors of similar kind have arrived before without any concrete result.
The post OnePlus 9 Release Date, Specs, And Price: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Fossbytes .
Due to COVID-19, recruitment drives and employment opportunities saw a major dip and volatility last year. However, the tech industry turned out to be more resilient than expected.
According to Hired.com , a marketplace that helps companies across the world hire talents, the IT sector witnessed a steady overall growth in employment, with an average software engineer salary of $107,000 in 2020.
Hired states, “In December 2020, the unemployment rate for the tech sector was only 3% compared to 6.7% for the overall U.S. economy, with tech jobs growing by an estimated 391,000 positions in that month.”
Today, technology is the central driving force for change in business. Hence talent demand continues to outstrip supply. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2026, the shortage of engineers in the U.S. will exceed 1.2 million.
Also Read: Best Programming Languages In 2021
Here are the top software engineering jobs in 2021 that tech companies across the world are offering:
No. | Software Engineering Role | Job Description |
1. | Backend Developer | Development of server-side web application logic and integration of the work Frontend developers do |
2. | Full Stack Developer | Designing and creation of scalable software. Writing clean, functional code for the front and back end. Testing and fixing bugs or other coding issues |
3. | Frontend Developer | Structuring and designing of the UI in web pages and apps |
4. | Data Engineer | Finding and analyzing trends in data sets and developing algorithms to help make raw data more useful to the enterprise |
5. | Mobile Developer | Creation, testing, and development of applications for mobile devices |
6. | Machine Learning Engineer | Development of self-running AI software to automate predictive models and resolve data set problems |
7. | Search Engineer | Develop, maintain, test, and optimize the search engine for a company’s platform |
8. | Security Engineer | Prevention and mitigation of security breaches that may arise within the company’s computer systems |
9. | NLP Engineer | Development of Natural Language Processing applications that can process and analyze natural language data |
10. | Computer Vision Engineer | Automation of various functions that the human visual system can do |
11. | Game Developer | Development of games for various platforms |
12. | Embedded Engineering | Design and development of embedded software and writing code for microcontrollers and microprocessors |
13. | AR/VR Engineer | Designing, analyzing, debugging, and developing AR and VR prototypes |
14. | Blockchain Developer | Secure digital transactions by creating systems to record and store blockchain data in a way that prevents changes or hacks |
15. | Engineering Manager | Planning and coordinates projects, supervising junior engineers in architectural and engineering companies |
Below is the visual graph published by Hired pertaining to changes in demand for each software engineering role in 2019 and 2020.
For the last two years, Google’s Go was the most in-demand coding language on Hired. So candidates with knowledge of the Go programming language received an average of 9.2x interview requests. Scala and SASS were next in line, getting candidates 2.2x and 2.1x more interviews than average, respectively.
However, Redux.js saw the highest demand overall in 2021, landing 2.9x more interview requests than the marketplace average. Here is the complete chart for your reference:
Also Read: Popular Programming Languages
Here are the popular programming languages ranked from most to least favorite on Hired:
As you can see, Python, Java, and JavaScript are the top three most requested coding languages on Hired. This can be largely attributed to their useful and well-maintained libraries and packages, and the resources available for learning and development.
R, Kotlin, and Typescript were ranked as the least favorite languages for software engineers.
Whereas, React and Node.js are the most in-demand frameworks, and AWS is the top specialty skill, showing 8x the demand compared to Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure skills.
Kubernetes and Docker are also among the 10 highest in-demand skills — mostly because of the increasing shift to the cloud and containers, which has been accelerated further by the pandemic.
The post These Are The Top Software Engineering Jobs & Coding Skills In 2021, According To Hired appeared first on Fossbytes .
All petrolheads love sports cars and want to own the best of them. However, some people don’t even think of buying one due to their low bank balance. Masses prefer affordable and fuel-efficient cars. Without realizing the fact that in today’s world there are sports cars that are both cheap and offer decent fuel economy, they made a buying decision.
Considering the above facts, we have prepared a list of some of the most affordable sports cars that offer best-in-class performance and unparalleled fuel economy. These sports cars are good enough to give you the feel of an adrenaline rush in your body while accelerating your car. We have also included one electric car in case you are planning to switch to EVs.
Also read : List of Best Electric Cars
Sports Car Name | Fuel-Efficiency |
Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback | Highway – 30 mpg, City – 21 mpg |
Tesla Model 3 | Electric Range – Up to 322 miles |
Dodge Challenger | Highway – 30 mpg, City – 19 mpg |
Chevy Camaro 1L RWD Coupe | Highway – 30 mpg, City – 23 mpg |
BMW 330i sedan | Highway – 30 mpg, City – 26 mpg |
Subaru BRZ | Highway – 33 mpg, City – 24 mpg |
Kia Stinger | Highway – 29 mpg, City – 22 mpg |
Mazda MX-5 Miata | Highway – 35 mpg, City – 26 mpg |
Fiat 124 Spider Classica | Highway – 35 mpg, City – 26 mpg |
This legendary sports car will be on the list of every car guy. It is one of the fastest and cheapest Mustangs ever.
The 2021 Ford Mustang Ecoboost is powered by a 2.3-liter GTDI Inline 4 cylinder engine. It generates about 310 HP and a peak torque of around 350 lb-ft. Owing to this powerful engine, this muscle car has a top speed of 155 mph (249 kmph). Additionally, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Not only this, but the Mustang returns decent fuel efficiency numbers as well. The sports car delivers a mileage of 30 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg in the city.
The price range for the Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback starts from $27,155 (ex-showroom). When combined with these factors, this legendary sports car sits at the top of our list.
Tesla Model 3 electric car has been a game-changer for Elon Musk, the CEO of the company. It’s one of the most affordable and best-selling electric car in the world. The price of the electric vehicle starts from $36,490 for the standard plus variant. Tesla Model 3 has a decent range of up to 353 miles (568 km) for the base model.
Don’t be fooled by its four-door sedan look; the Tesla Model 3 is just as sporty as the rumors at your local drag-strip describe it. With a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of only 3.1 seconds, the Model 3 punches well above its weight.
You also get an autonomous driving system that keeps getting better with each update.
The best part about owning a Tesla is Over The Air updates or OTA. You can get paid upgrades like heated seats just entirely online. Tesla continuously releases paid and free updates for the Model 3 at regular intervals. So there’s a good chance that the longer you own your car, the more features it’ll have.
It is one of the fastest yet affordable sports cars, the price of this Chevy Camaro, starts from $25,000 (ex-showroom). This legendary car has a 2.0-liter Turbo 4 cylinder engine. By adding a Turbocharger, this small engine churns out 275 HP and torque of around 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).
Like its rival Ford Mustang, the Camaro has a top speed of 155 mph (249 kmph). However, it lags by almost a second in the 0 to 60 mph sprint. The muscle car can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.
Similar to Mustang, the mileage of Camaro is 30 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city.
Let’s bring upfront the negatives first. Dodge Challenger is not as fuel-efficient as other sports cars on this list. This american muscle car delivers a mileage of 19 mpg in the city, up to 30 mpg on highways, and combined you get 23 mpg.
However, keeping aside the fuel economy, it’s a disguised beast when it comes to performance. It’s powered by a V6 engine which is usually used in sports and high-performance cars. Unlike the in-line engines, V6 engines are aligned in V-configuration and mounted lower than in-line. This is done to achieve better stability, lower center of gravity, and ultimately high speeds.
Anyway, the 3.6-liter V6 engine of Dodge Challenger produces over a whopping 300 HP and 363 Nm of torque. The engine comes meshed with an eight-speed automatic transmission system and RWD as standard.
The higher variant also comes with an AWD powertrain and even better specifications.
Speaking of the price, it starts at $28,095 (ex0showroom), which also makes it one of the most affordable sports cars to have a V-type engine.
Though it may not fit perfectly in the list of cheapest sports cars, if you can stretch your budget a little bit, then the BMW 330i Sedan should be on your radar. The BMW 330i is powered by a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine that creates about 255 HP with a maximum torque of around 294 lb-ft (398 Nm).
Apart from superb ride quality, the car also delivers peppy performance. The sedan can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds with a top speed of around 250 kph (155 mph).
Another main highlight here is the fuel efficiency of this beautiful car, BMW 330i has a fuel efficiency of 36 mpg on the highway.
However, due to the premium tag, it’s relatively a bit expensive. The price of the car starts at $41,250.
Subaru BRZ is an affordable sports car from the Japanese automaker. The cost of the base model starts from $28,845.
The standard model comes with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer engine that creates 205 HP and around (156 lb-ft) 212 Nm of peak torque.
Additionally, the car has a respectable fuel economy of 33 mpg on the highway. However, the engine is mated to an automatic transmission to provide this level of efficiency. It might be a problem for some people, but it’s still a great car to drive.
Kia Stinger is a dire wolf in regular wolf clothing. This car is a blend of sports and a luxury car at a reasonable price. The Kia Stinger GT-Line is the fastest among all the vehicles on this list with a top speed of 167 mph (269 kmph).
The car is powered by a 2.0L 4-Cyl Turbo with 255 HP using an 8-Speed Auto Transmission. Peak torque is a decent 259 lb-ft (352 Nm).
However, you might have to compromise on fuel efficiency as with 29 mpg on the highway, Kia Stinger lags behind a bit. Moreover, the price of this starts at $33,090 (ex-showroom). In short, it is one of the best and cheapest sports cars you can get on the market.
Powered by a 2.0L DOHC engine, Mazda MX-5 Miata can produce 181 HP and a peak torque of around 151 lb-ft (205 Nm). Though not as powerful as the other cars on this list, it’s still the most sought-after entry-level sports car, due to its impressive performance to weight ratio.
With superior aerodynamics, the sports car provides a peppy performance. The vehicle has an EPA-certified fuel economy of 35 mpg on the highway.
Well, with a price tag of $26,830, the Miata, could easily be the default sports car for many first-time buyers.
The Fiat 124 Spider Classica is one of the most underrated and affordable convertibles out there with a starting price of $25,390 (ex-showroom). The car is powered by a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo Engine that makes around 160 HP and 250 Nm of peak torque.
Furthermore, the Fiat 124 Spider has a fuel economy of 35 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg in the city. The price of this cute monster starts from $25,390 (ex-showroom).
So these are some of the most appealing and affordable sports cars that you can have at an affordable price.
Our personal favorite is the Mazda MX-5. It is light, it is fast and therefore delivers more horsepower according to its weight.
As already mentioned, it is fuel-efficient as well, so we can drive it daily without the fear of burning a massive hole in our pocket.
However, if we consider performance and driving pleasure only, then hands down to the Ford Mustang.
Which one would you buy? Is there anyone that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Top 9 Cheap Sports Cars With Great Fuel Economy You Can Buy appeared first on Fossbytes .
A Reuters special report has revealed that Amazon India has been bending rules and cutting corners to expand in the country. While India’s small retailers have been crying foul over Amazon’s business practices for a long time, these documents add fuel to the fire.
According to the report by Reuters, Amazon has been bending rules just enough to not get into legal trouble in India. For instance, the Indian FDI (foreign direct investment) rules prevent Amazon or other e-commerce retailers to control inventory in India.
This means Amazon can be the platform where buyers meet sellers but it cannot control how the sellers sell things. However, the report says Amazon found a way to control the inventory. So here’s everything you should know about the recent investigation into Amazon India’s business model.
Amazon India’s advertisements are currently running on the slogan “Aapki Apni Dukaan” which means “Your own Store.” The model is built around the platform connecting buyers with sellers. It says it has independent sellers that put up their products for sale on Amazon.
When you, as a customer, buy those products, Amazon gets a fee out of every sale. Sounds like a fair model, considering small businesses are likely to make better sales online. Well, the Reuters investigation says otherwise.
Amazon’s internal documents reveal the creation of a “Special Merchant (SM)” in 2014. This special merchant, namely Cloudtail, is one of the biggest sellers on Amazon, accounting for over 40% of the platform’s sales.
Cloudtail was created as a collaboration between Amazon and the Infosys founder, N.R. Narayana Murthy. Amazon wanted it to control more than 40% of sales on Amazon India. This would’ve made it a $1 billion business, whose profit would, indirectly, go to Amazon.
What’s alarming is that Cloudtail is created and controlled by Amazon, which means it directly flouted the Indian FDI rules.
Moreover, leaked notes from Jay Carney, a top Amazon official reveal that only 33 Amazon sellers account for about a third of the value of all the goods sold on the website. In simple terms, Amazon has been supporting and promoting a handful of sellers, causing loss to the rest of them.
In its home country, the United States, Amazon has an entirely different model. It has warehouses where it stores all the goods and sells them through its website. This model is one reason why the platform is in the bad books of the Department of Justice (DoJ).
The U.S. Congress Antitrust report also showed leaked emails from Amazon officials. These emails talk about how Amazon sold goods at a loss just to kill the competition. However, in India, the platform has an entirely different model.
Also Read:
Amazon India created Cloudtail and helped it “acquire key relationships” with big tech, hosting exclusive mobile sales and deep discounts. The hefty discounts and exclusivity are how you get almost everything at a better price on Amazon. These discounts are also a reason why the offline markets were badly hit.
One of the leaked slides in the report says “Test the Boundaries of what is allowed by law.” I think it sums up Amazon’s business model in India. When Amazon was told to not control inventory, it created a seller (Cloudtail) to control it. Later, the government made a rule that one seller shouldn’t control more than 25% of inventory. To get around that, Amazon bought from Cloudtail and sold it to other sellers.
Be it Facebook, Apple, Google, or now Amazon, everyone loves small businesses. So much so that when Facebook’s privacy policy was under question, it said small businesses will be at loss. Apple also recently reduced the App Store commission on small businesses (developers).
As for Amazon, the company has made a solid foundation in India as a friend of small businesses. Jeff Bezos visited India in January 2020 for the Small Business Summit. However, when it comes to business models and being fair, companies start offering bizarre justifications.
Amazon doesn’t reveal which sellers make the most of its sales on the platform. However, the leaked documents suggest that the small businesses are running into losses because of Amazon’s practices. The company is already facing scrutiny from the Competition Commission of India and the Enforcement Directorate.
It is high time for big tech to revisit their business models. While government compliance is good, the quest for loopholes in doing so always ends with someone getting hurt. In the case of Amazon India, small businesses and actual offline markets seem to have taken a hit because of the company’s practices.
Source: Reuters
The post The Great Amazon India Document Leak: All You Need To Know appeared first on Fossbytes .
Google introduced us to the Android split screen as a productivity feature first in Android 7.0 Nougat. It enables you to use two apps at the same time. For example, you can run a YouTube video on one side of the screen and reply to a text on the other.
Over the years, the feature has seen few enhancements, therefore not many people know that you can split the screen on any Android device and use two apps at the same time. In this article, we will tell you how to use Android’s Split screen mode.
While most Android devices feature multi-window support, the steps to toggle the feature might be slightly different on smartphones running their own custom Android skin. That being said, the Split screen toggle is usually located in the Recent apps menu.
Also Read: Best Android Launchers: Customize Your Phone
For the purpose of this article, we will show you how to enable Split screen mode on MIUI/Xiaomi device:
You will observe a black bar separating the two apps while in Split screen mode. You can drag it up or down to increase the size of an app. To remove the split screen mode on Android, drag the black bar entirely towards the edge of the screen.
In Xiaomi devices, you can also toggle the Android split-screen in an app by long-pressing a navigation button while. Head over to the Additional Settings > Button Shortcuts > Functional Shortcuts to enable it. Non-Xiaomi device owners can download the Split Screen shortcut app from the Google Play Store to get this functionality.
Please note that some apps may not run smoothly in split-screen mode, and very few might not support Android’s Multi-window feature. However, you can force an app to run in split-screen mode by enabling “Force activities to be resizable” in Android’s developer settings . Make sure your restart after toggling this option.
Also Read: Best YouTube Video Downloaders
Presently, the split screen mode on Android does not allow users to play two videos simultaneously. If you have opened YouTube on one side and try to open it again on the other side, the app will simply reopen on the first screen.
You can do two videos side by side if the other video is not from the same platform, however Android will still not allow you to play the videos together. Similarly, you can also view photos side by side as long as they are opened on two different platforms.
So, this was how you could use the Split screen in Android. Were you able to enable the Android split-screen on your device? Let us know in the comments down below.
The post How To Use Split Screen On Android And Run Two Apps Side By Side? appeared first on Fossbytes .
Last year, Fedora versions 32 and 33 introduced a new ISO snapshot Comp-NeuroFedora lab and Fedora IoT as official editions, respectively.
The Fedora project has already approved another new Fedora i3 Spin, featuring a very well-known and lightweight i3 tiling window manager for the next Fedora 34, which will be released in April this year.
Now, continuing the streak of bringing new official ISO with every Fedora release, the Fedora Engineering and Steering Committee (FESCo) has approved another new ‘Fedora Kinoite’ spin to debut as the official edition in Fedora 35, which will arrive in October 2021.
As its description says, Fedora Kinoite is an immutable desktop operating system based on the same technologies as Fedora Silverblue such as a hybrid image or package system RPM-OSTree, software deployment and universal package management utility Flatpak, and container management tool Podman.
Interestingly, instead of the GNOME desktop, Fedora Kinoite will feature the KDE Plasma desktop environment.
So, if you wanted the immutable Fedora Silverblue but with KDE desktop environment, then Fedora Kinoite is coming to fulfill that wish.
Fedora Kinoite is to the Fedora KDE Spin what Fedora Silverblue is to Fedora Workstation.
Speaking of the Kinoite name, it is chosen mainly for three reasons:
If you want to try this KDE version variant of Fedora Silverblue before its stable release, you can check out its unofficial preview and test using the instructions given here .
Since Fedora Kinoite is still under development, it currently has several limitations such as partial Flatpak support and no rpm-ostree support in Discover.
Via — Phoronix
The post ‘Fedora Kinoite’ To Debut In Fedora 35: KDE Version of Fedora Silverblue appeared first on Fossbytes .
BMW has changed itself and its latest version of its 3 Series happens to be for the ‘back seat driver’. Let’s take a look at what it’s all about.
BMW has always been about driving pleasure before anything else, and its 3 Series is perhaps one of its most iconic cars worldwide. Despite SUVs gaining popularity, the 3 Series continues to hold ground for its design, performance, and also having that quality plus driving appeal, which makes it different. The new Generation 3 Series, launched last year, was a shift since, along with being bigger than its predecessor; it was also tuned to be a bit more comfort-oriented.
The steering and ride were changed, which was not a bad thing since that is what the segment demands. However, in some ways, BMW also managed to keep the basic driving pleasure DNA embedded in it via the excellent new 330i and also the diesel. However, this move to launch the 3 Series Gran Limousine is surprising at first, it does make sense when thought after some time. This BMW is meant for the owner who would like to be driven around and not drive it themselves. And on top of that it is a 3 Series which has always been about its driving!
The reason for the shift is the changing requirements and the success of its arch-rival Mercedes. Mercedes launched its E-Class with a long wheelbase some years back, and since then, it has completely dominated this segment. It has space that no other car in its class has due to its longer wheelbase over its rivals. BMW has done the same, but instead of choosing to launch the 5 Series with a long wheelbase, the 3 Series has been chosen due to its cheaper cost and higher sales potential. As a result, we have the 3 Series Gran Limousine or in other words a 3 Series with a longer wheelbase. Along with that, BMW has also changed the positioning and made the 3 Series a more appealing car for those who would look at a chauffeur-driven car. It is the only car in its class to have a longer wheelbase.
The 3 Series Gran Limousine is fitting a gap between the 5 Series and the 3 Series. It is the replacement for the 3 Series GT that has been discontinued worldwide. The 3 Series Gran Limousine is defined by numbers as the wheelbase plus length has been increased plus some small tweaks. From the front, the 3 Series Gran Limousine can be mistaken for the regular 3 Series with the same kidney grille, plus the front is the same as the BMW 3 Series Luxury line.
It is a sporty-looking car with the kidney grille nicely stretched out and a nice shape for fog lamp enclosures. There are also 3 Series design details, including the short overhangs plus the long bonnet.
When seen from the side, you can see the difference between the standard and the long-wheel version. A long wheelbase means the wheelbase or the space between the wheels have been increased. Hence it is the same with the 3 Series Gran Limousine where there are longer doors now being added to the rear of the GL.
As a result, the new BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine is now the longest car in its class, with a length of 4,819 millimeters. That makes the difference with the 3 Series Gran Limousine having a much more classy appearance, whereas the standard sedan is much sportier. Thanks to its length, it’s more about elegance, while the appearance is of a much bigger car or a car from a segment higher.
Move to the rear, and it is a classy but sporty look with the three-dimensional L- shaped LED taillights along with two large tailpipes. This is the Luxury Line, whereas the MSport trim gives it a much more aggressive appearance, however, we think this version suits the 3 Series Gran Limousine more. The build quality plus the paint finish is, of course, brilliant. Speaking of which, there are four colors available with the BMW 3 Series GL namely – Mineral White, Melbourne Red, Carbon Black, and Cashmere Silver.
The 3 Series Gran Limousine is all about the interior since that is where the extra space has gone to. However, before that, let us take a look at the interior design. The design itself is simple and somewhat less flashy than rivals or sporty, but the quality of materials with the leather to the chrome or metal used is all top quality.
The new 3 Series is a lot more appealing and luxurious than the earlier one, plus there are some nice details like the glass gear-lever. There is a big 10.25-inch touch screen which is intuitive to use and it also has a high-quality display. Move to the steering wheel and it is a sporty looking one, true to BMWs but behind it, the old dials are changed with new digital dials which is 12.3-inch in size.
Now let us talk about the rear seat since this is what the car is all about. In plain numbers, the 3 Series Gran Limousine has an extra 110 millimeters of wheelbase being added to it, which automatically also means that the rear doors are now 110 millimeters longer when compared to a standard 3 Series sedan.
In terms of plain rear seat space, there is an extra 43 millimeters of legroom now in the rear seat, which means it has the most space in its class here. Upon testing the rear seat, we have to say that it is by far the most spacious sedan as you can really stretch out with so much legroom and a good amount of headroom. You relax after a long day at work and the extra space makes all the difference. However, the big central tunnel means that this is best for two persons at the back. The seat itself is more comfortable plus the angle is set at a more relaxed angle. Also changed is the Vernasca leather upholstery being given here plus there is a newly designed headrest along with a new central armrest between the rear seats.
In terms of features, the 3 Series Gran Limousine is very well equipped and even gets more features than a standard 3 Series. It all starts with a bigger panoramic sunroof, which is crucial as it adds an airy feel to the cabin. Then you have ambient lighting with six colors while new here is the illuminated strip on the back of the front seats. Other features include a three-zone automatic climate control with active carbon filters (which cools the cabin down quickly), a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system with 16 speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (useful and convenient), wireless charging, parking Assistant with rearview camera, etc.
There is also the MSport which gets Gesture Control which recognizes hand gestures and there are six of them, including turning up the volume or answering/rejecting a call. Another important feature is the heads-up display which brings more information to the drive without the need to look down at the instrument cluster. In terms of safety, you get features like six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), electronic parking brake with auto hold, and ISOFIX child seat mounting.
The 3 Series Gran Limousine is available with two engine options. The petrol is the 330Li which is a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged making 258hp and 400Nm. The diesel is also a two-litre four-cylinder, which makes 190hp and 400Nm. Standard is an eight-speed automatic transmission while you also get paddle shifters which give you manual control. There are also launch control and drive modes like Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+.
The BMW 330Li is the pick of the bunch as it is smooth and extremely refined. There is barely any sound when you push the start button while compared to the standard 3 Series the ride is less busy and the suspension more silent. The Gran Limousine rides very well plus the refined engine adds to the luxury experience. The softer suspension is the key to the 3 Series Gran Limousine having a better ride over the standard 3 Series. Even if you drive the car does not feel big in its size and it is agile while the engine is superb. It is silent when you want it to be, but lets out a lovely snarl when driven in “S” mode. Overall you can really have some fun driving this car fast. Of course the sharpness and the handling brilliance of the standard 3 Series have been toned down and the soft suspension brings some body roll but for most drivers, this car offers enough thrills behind the wheel. The steering feels light but direct and weighs up with an increase in speed.
Now when you do sit at the back you will notice how the car rides and the suspension does not make you move around. The tyres and the suspension absorb more of the road, hence making it a very comfortable chauffeur-driven experience. However, the 135mm ground clearance and the longer wheelbase means going over speed breakers requires more caution.
The 3 Series Gran Limousine is heavier and drinks more than the standard 3 Series but 12kmpl is very much possible while driving it fast will make it around 7/8kmpl for 330Li petrol.
The 3 Series Gran Limousine starts at Rs 51.50 lakh while the top-spec MSport is Rs 53.90 lakh (all prices ex-showroom). In terms of pricing, the 3 Series GL is about Rs 9 lakh more expensive over the standard 3 Series plus is also amongst the most expensive in its class. However, the extra money you pay goes into the longer wheelbase which makes this car stand out amongst its rivals. No other sedan offers this much space while it is still great to drive like any 3 Series. Overall, in short, it is the most complete luxury sedan in its class right now.
The post BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine Review [Comfort, Features, Images] appeared first on Fossbytes .
Smart speakers owe all their smartness to their WiFi connection. In the case of Amazon Echo, you have to know how to connect Alexa to WiFi in order to make the most out of it. You can easily connect your Amazon Echo speaker to the internet using the Alexa app on your smartphone.
I have an Amazon Echo Dot, and it flashes a red light when it has trouble connecting to the internet. When that happens, you’ll have to manually connect your Alexa to WiFi again. This method works fine with my speaker, so it will be pretty much the same for your Alexa Echo Dot or any other Alexa speakers.
If your Amazon Alexa has lost connection to the internet for any reason, here's how to connect Alexa WiFi using the Amazon Alexa app on your Android or iOS smartphone.
The Action button is the button with a single dot in its center. Keep it pressed for 5-7 seconds till you see a flashing orange light.
Once your Amazon Alexa device says 'Now in pairing mode,' release the action button, and then press it again for 5-7 seconds. The device will exit pairing mode and try to reconnect to WiFi on its own. If it doesn't, enter setup mode again and move to step 3.
Turn on WiFi and Bluetooth on your phone. Now open the Amazon Alexa app, go to Devices > Echo & Alexa > Select the name of your Amazon Alexa device you're using.
Tap on WiFi Network and follow the on-screen instructions to connect Echo Dot to WiFi. Once that is done, your Alexa speaker will say “Your Echo is ready.”
If you’ve just purchased an Amazon Echo speaker, you can go through our detailed work on how to set up Amazon Echo . Here, we’ve covered what Echo and Alexa are, how to set up Echo, Amazon Echo configurations, and how to use Echo and Alexa commands.
You can use Alexa as a Bluetooth speaker with practically any device that is Bluetooth enabled. Once you set up Alexa, say “Alexa, turn on Bluetooth pairing,” and it will start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices.
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone/laptop and look for your Echo speaker . Tap on it to pair, and you can now use your Echo as a Bluetooth speaker when streaming Netflix from your phone or laptop. Since Alexa and Apple Music integration seems like a distant dream, for now, this is one way to listen to your Apple Music playlists on your Alexa speakers.
Yes, you need an active WiFi connection to use your Amazon Echo Alexa speaker. You can use it as a Bluetooth speaker if you don't have WiFi.
Alexa is a cloud-backed AI assistant from Amazon. You can set up Alexa on your phone or your Echo speaker to interact with it.
Alexa skills are voice-based commands that let you make the most out of your Amazon Echo device. For example, you can say, “Alexa, start movie man” and Alexa will start a movie dialogue quiz.
Yes, you can delete your Alexa voice recording from the Amazon Alexa app. Open the app and go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review voice history .
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