The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust/National Geographic "Agulhas II" deployed two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) into the sea to search for "Endurance." The devices are able to operate up to 100 miles away from the ship. “We could see from the bridge that the ship was bending like a bow under titanic pressure.” very heavy pressure developed, with twisting strains that racked the ship fore and aft,” Shackleton wrote on Tuesday, October 26. The expedition made good progress at first, but as the Antarctic winter of 1915 closed in, the men found themselves trapped in the sea ice. They affectionately referred to him as “the Boss." Shackleton called it “the worst sea in the world.”īut if anyone was prepared for such an endeavor it was the Anglo-Irish adventurer Ernest Shackleton: A veteran of previous Antarctic explorations, he’d been part of the great race to reach the South Pole before Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen claimed it.įor this ambitious cross-continent journey, he’d handpicked the crew and endeared himself by dining with the men, telling jokes, leading sing-alongs, and organizing games. The Weddell Sea, covering an area of more than a million square miles, is one of the most remote and unforgiving environments in the world, littered with icebergs and roiled by strong surface winds. I could feel the breath of Shackleton on my neck."īut the enemy that Shackleton and his men faced was of a different sort. It was “one of those wormhole moments when you tumble back in time. “You see that, and your eyes pop out on stalks,” Bound says. But unequivocal proof soon came literally into focus: a closeup of the stern revealed shiny brass letters spelling out Endurance above a polar star. “You could see the bolt holes, and everything.”ĭirector of exploration for the Endurance22 expedition, Bound says when they saw the first images beamed from the AUV, he and other members of his 65-person team were confident it was Endurance and not another wreck. “I’ve been hunting for wrecks since my mid-twenties, and I have never found a wreck so coherent as this one,” marine archaeologist Mensun Bound, 69, said via satellite phone as he and fellow crew members began their long journey back to Cape Town after more than a month of searching for Shackleton’s ship. "Shackleton was on the lookout platform and everybody else in the tents when we heard him shout, 'She's going boys!' Photograph by Frank Hurley, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Getty Images "It was a sickening sensation to feel the decks breaking up under one's feet, the great beams bending and snapping with a noise of heavy gun fire,” wrote Frank Wild, Shackleton’s right-hand man, of the moment the ship was crushed by sea ice. Right: Expedition dogs survey the wreckage of "Endurance" as it sinks into the sea, 10 months after it first became stuck. As the camera glides over the wooden deck of the ship, video captures century-old ropes, tools, portholes, railings-even the masts and helm-all in nearly pristine condition due to cold temperatures, the absence of light, and low oxygen in the watery resting place." The first images of the ship were transmitted via autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from nearly two miles down on March 5. A team of researchers has announced they’ve located the wreck at the bottom of the treacherous Weddell Sea, adjacent to the northernmost part of Antarctica. While all of the expedition’s 28 crew eventually were rescued, the ship’s final resting place has remained a much-discussed maritime mystery-the unwritten last chapter in a legendary story of survival and triumph. In the fall of 1915, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance sank off the coast of Antarctica, stranding its crew on drifting sea ice and setting in motion one of history’s most dramatic tales of overcoming seemingly hopeless odds.
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All of the dungeons are very well designed and with plenty of different enemies and elements to interact with. The game’s graphics are also amazing for coming out so early in the SNES lifecycle. But Link has a plethora of weapon options that you can collect and switch between. Despite having a pretty straightforward story, you do get to explore the massive world on your quest to collect three pendants to unlock the Master Sword.īesides exploring the map, there is a lot of puzzle-solving and combat in the dungeons. Its unique story came at a time before the intricacies and complexity of the Zelda universe we know today. It is one of the best sandbox SNES games because it lets you freely explore the world, trudging through dungeons in a quest to get the Master Sword and defeat Ganon.Ī Link to the Past is considered by many to also be one of the best games of the 1990s, or even all time. It is also a major improvement over its NES predecessors, going back to the top-down perspective of the first game. Additionally, the graphics still hold up well for an open-world 2D sidescroller.Įveryone loves a good Zelda game, and A Link to the Past is no exception. Because there is so much emphasis on exploring, there aren’t many story elements that would otherwise slow the game down. Gamers who have never experienced the older Metroid games may find this annoying, but it added a level of depth and complexity that was rare in the SNES era. In fact, exploring the map is the most important part of the game, with you needing to find new paths and unlock others, which can require some backtracking. Like the others, the game centers around battling enemies, but more importantly, exploration. Super Metroid is the third game in the franchise, coming after the NES and Game Boy titles. One of the most notable additions is the world map, which is pretty rudimentary by today’s standards, but nonetheless helps the player get a sense of direction. While there were definitely older games that fit the definition of a sandbox title, Super Metroid was the first to pioneer features that are now a staple of the genre. Super Metroid is considered by many to be one of the very first SNES sandbox games. The game also does not have a save function and is very long, so you will need plenty of time if you want to do a full playthrough. Jurassic Park is a massive SNES sandbox game that is fun to play, but it can get confusing since it is easy to get lost. However, the exterior landscapes are well-crafted. You play through these interior areas in the first-person perspective, which does look a bit dated. In addition to exploring the island, you must also enter various buildings where more dinosaurs lurk to find keys that open up the next areas. In your quest to get off of the island, you must explore and shoot or evade dinosaurs that get in your way. The game is set on Isla Nublar, just as in the movie, and you must escape the island with all of its animals on the loose. It’s also worth noting that the SNES version is completely different than the Sega Genesis Jurassic Park game, which is a platformer. Fortunately, Jurassic Park is a pretty good game with a great sandbox to explore. However, most video game adaptations of movies tend to be pretty bad. In the 1990s, Jurassic Park movies were all the rage, and companies were looking to profit from the movie’s success. The game culminates with one of twelve endings, depending on your choices. Playing through Chrono Trigger‘s story, you will notice that there are some linear elements, but you are mainly left to explore. The graphics are really good, but the best part is how some levels use limited power to simulate motion. Plus, you get the option to choose between several characters whose backstories are really well-fleshed out, with each giving you unique abilities.Īs for the sandbox aspect, the game is quite large, which gives you a lot of places to explore. Like other RPGs, you gain points that allow you to level up, which improves your in-game capabilities. There are also boss battles that are complex but they aren’t overly difficult. The game is an RPG with pretty standard fighting elements. But what sets Chrono Trigger apart is just how different it is from any other SNES title, from its story all the way to its vivid graphics. It had the advantage of coming out in the later portion of the SNES lifecycle, meaning it was optimized to take full advantage of the console’s power. Chrono Trigger is arguably one of the best SNES games, not only on this list but of all time. And now the farming fun is even better with the new MyFarm feature: collect gems at each solitaire level and use the gems to build your very own customizable farm, including a special corner for Sam the Solitaire Grand Harvest dog! Upgrade the crates that await at the end of each field for an even bigger harvest, with credits, boosters and more. The free tripeaks solitaire fun goes on: grow new crops as you work your way through each field. Spin the Solitaire Grand Harvest wheel for even more free giftsįind Sam the Solitaire Grand Harvest pup - he always has some credits to share! Harvest your crops throughout the day for more credits Log in each day for FREE bonus gifts to keep the solitaire going! Share your fun farming adventure with others by connecting through Facebook and earn even more free bonus credits. The game stays the same but the rewards are multiplied so you can collect even more gems and build your Solitaire Grand Harvest farm faster.īuild your farm and enjoy the bonuses along the way to make your Solitaire Grand Harvest experience even more fun. New customizable farms added every two months, so you can keep the solitaire Tripeaks adventure going. New free feature, My Farm: Collect gems at every Tripeaks solitaire level and use the gems to build your very own farm. Clear the cards and reap the rewards: credits, boosters, special treats, and now there are brand new gems to collect. Solitaire Grand Harvest is a great way to challenge yourself with fun Tripeaks solitaire puzzles at every level. If you enjoy tripeaks solitaire card games, you are in for a treat with this free relaxing TriPeaks solitaire game. Get bonus credits and bonus cards for longer solitaire streaksįinish each Solitaire Grand Harvest level to win credits and gems Win stars for completing each level: more stars means more great Solitaire Grand Harvest rewards. Start your Solitaire adventure by solving the tripeaks solitaire puzzles at each level Tripeaks Solitaire is a fun and challenging solitaire card game and with Solitaire Grand Harvest you get twice the fun as you journey through your farm, harvesting crops and rewards as you play. Enjoy this relaxing Tripeaks solitaire game and build the cutest farm as you go. Solitaire Grand Harvest: the go-to Free Tripeaks Solitaire game for Solitaire card game fans!Īre you a fan of free online card games? Introducing Solitaire Grand Harvest, a free TriPeaks solitaire card game created especially for you. To unlock the rest again, you need to purchase the premium version which has three subscription plans that all last for one year. After seven days, you can still use it but it will only offer its basic features: real-time protection and Complete Virus Scan. Intego Antivirus has a free 7-day trial that has all features unlocked. There are four sub-sections for this: General, Security, Account, and About. Lastly, Settings is where all other configurations can be done. The Security Reports section has all reports and information about your PC, and you can choose to check on either scan reports, real-time reports, or exclusions reports. You can see the files’ details here, as well. Quarantine is for any infected files found that you can either delete, restore, or exclude from the program’s database. These are pretty easy to set up and the software even supports a drag-and-drop function for Custom Scan. The Scans section is in charge of virus scanning and has four different types for this: Quick Scan, Complete Virus Scan, Custom Scan, and Scheduled Scan. On the left-side panel menu, you can find the Dashboard with four other sections. When you open up the launcher, you’re immediately greeted with the Dashboard, which contains a brief overview of your security status. This program’s interface is also quite user-friendly, with a sleek and streamlined design to make things less complicated. Nevertheless, it’s lightweight and easy on the system resources, so you don’t have to worry about your computer being bogged down. It features all-around PC protection against various kinds of threats-however, it’s just a virus scanner and has no built-in firewall. Similar to Intego’s VirusBarrier X9 tool, this is the flagship antivirus software for this particular operating system. Intego has a product for Windows, too, and this is Intego Antivirus. Its most recommended product is Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9, an all-in-one security suite that contains all of the brand’s utilities to cover all your bases. It offers various tools and packages for 24/7 antivirus protection, an intelligent firewall for both home and hotspot network protection, easy system cleaning and optimization, and secure file backup. Intego is a popular macOS security software brand and its products are constantly one of the top choices among Mac antivirus programs for a good reason. Moreover, it grants a free trial that offers unlimited basic protection. It contains the signature antivirus features that are also present in the brand’s other products. Developed by Intego, this antivirus software is the Mac-oriented security brand’s offer for the Windows operating system. Intego Antivirus is a security and privacy program that enables you to easily protect your Windows PC from malware and the like. It’s worth noting that while the original DnD 5e core rule books have been around since 2014, new versions will be coming out in 2024 as part of the One D&D update. We have a selection of World of Warcraft art, The Witcher art. Fantasy Concept Art, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Art, Illustrations. Abstract watercolour art inspired by characters from your favourite video games and films. If you’re interested in playing, however, The Player’s Handbook will have everything you need to make a character and learn the basic rules of the game. With the release of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition, the beholder appeared in the. Dnd Characters Monster Concept Art Monster Art Fantasy Creatures Mythical Creatures Dark Creatures Blood - The 1st Biblical Plague turn your water to blood. If you’re interested in being a Dungeon Master, you’ll need all three books to get started. Three core rule books form the basis of the DnD 5e system. Roll for transformation Get an eye-ful of the Beholder, one of many of the monsters that populate the realms of Dungeons & Dragons. Shop unique custom made Canvas Prints, Framed Prints, Posters, Tapestries, and more. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes. High-quality Dungeons And Dragons Beholder Wall Art designed and sold by artists. Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV.Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen.Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle.Stranger Things: The Hunt for Thessalhydra.Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse.In addition, we’ve included the abbreviation for each book, as you may see these used by fans and publishers to refer to a specific title online.įinally, we’ve also included upcoming books that have been announced by Wizards of the Coast, and will update this list as new books are published, so check back regularly for new titles. For such a bizarre creature, no other monster has performed quite as well for me as the. For each book we’ve also indicated the date when it was released and noted whether the book is geared towards players or Dungeon Masters. Beholders are one of my favorite monsters in all of D&D. Item preview, Owlbear in Mountains (Black & White) designed and sold by andywynn. Even when it sleeps, its smaller eyes remain open, scanning its lair for threats. Buy Beholder - DnD / D&D / Dungeons and Dragons Art by Andy Wynn as a. It is always looking for concealed attackers. For ease of reference we’ve categorized them by Core Rules, Supplements, Campaign Settings and Adventures. Inhuman Intellect A beholder sees in all directions. For new players and Dungeon Masters, this can often be overwhelming, and it’s hard to know where to start.īelow, we break out the complete list of all DnD 5e books published to date. We break out of every official Dungeons & Dragon fifth edition book published to-date by Wizards of the Coastįirst introduced in 2014, the fifth edition of D&D (better known as DnD 5e) has since spawned dozens of books from publisher Wizards of the Coast. I have an IBM ThinkPad which ships with the RecordNow software for burning. I bet this "ArabianNight" didn't even try out UltraISO.Ĭomming back to this program, I feel UltraISO is heading to become an all-image sorta program, even dealing with multiple formats of HDD and FDD images, which is great! (Although the floppy image functionality is nowhere near WinImage) I wish people like "ArabianNight" should be banned from reviewing. *) Improved MP3/WAV format support for creating audio CD image *) Fixed some compatible problems with Windows 7 RTM *) Fixed a bug with creating PS2 CD/DVD images from some abnormal SYSTEM.CNF file *) Fixed a bug with opening some MDS/MDF images +) New commandline parameters for creating XBOX DVD image (-xdvdfs) and compiling project file (.ui) to ISO +) Can open multi-part ISZ files located at different disks/folders +) Improved write disk image feature, can write more ISO's to bootable USB flash drive including Windows 7 RTM, HP's SmartStart CD and Hiren's Boot CD UltraISO Premium 9.35 (August 31, 2009) changelog *) Fixed a bug with mounting multiple ISOs to virtual drive with isocmd.exe *) Can detect and use virtual CD/DVD drive of Daemon-Tools 4.35 and Alcohol 120% 2.00 +) Show information about time elapsed on burn +) Improved write disk image feature, can write Ubuntu UNR 9.10 image to bootable USB flash drive, and create bootable USB harddisk with multiple partitions (Xpress Write) UltraISO Premium 9.36 (February 8, 2010) changelog UltraISO PE uses the double window unification user contact interface, you have the choice to only use the quick buttons and/or the mouse Drag & Drops, you can handle any CD/DVD image file easily.My only gripe is that in images being altered UltraISO always inserts its copyright. UltraISO can open these image files, directly extract files and folders, edit it and convert other image files to the standard ISO format. UltraISO PE is in sole possession of the intellectualized ISO document format analyzer, it can process at the present time almost all types of image files, including ISO and BIN, it may even support new image files which are yet to be created. You now have the power to make and edit your own ISO files, and then burn them to CD or DVD for your own needs. At the same time, you can maintain the ISO bootable information, thus creating your own bootable CDs and DVDs. UltraISO PE is a CD/DVD image file creating/editing/converting tool, it can directly edit the CD/DVD image file and extract files and folders from it, as well as directly make ISO files from your CD/DVD drive or hard disk. Because the ISO file retained complete data information of the compact disc (including compact disc boot information), you were allowed the convince to use commonly used CD burning software (for example Nero-Burning ROM ) to record the disc with your CD-R/RW over and over forever, it can also be used directly through Virtual CD-ROM drive software (for example SoftDisc ). Along with large capacity hard disk popularity, people were already used to coping compact discs to CD/DVD image files (also called compact disc image document), generally used is the famous ISO 9660 international standards format, therefore CD/DVD image files are called ISO files. The experience is not as elegant as Keeper Password's or Dashlane's desktop app, but it works fine. Double-clicking an item opens it for editing. When you select a category in the menu, the main window populates with a list of relevant entries. The program's blue-and-white desktop application features a simple left-hand menu that gives you quick access to your accounts, identities, secure memos, and more. Sticky Password offers a desktop app for Windows and macOS we tested the Windows 10 version. In this mode, your devices sync directly with each other when they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network. For the super-paranoid, Sticky Password offers an even more secure option: Wi-Fi sync. To sync your passwords between devices, Sticky Password stores an encrypted copy of your data in the cloud. That means that if you forget it, you're out of luck Keeper and LastPass, by contrast, offer recovery processes for lost master passwords. For its part, Sticky Password never stores your master password on its servers. An easily guessable, reused, or weak password negates the benefits of using a password manager if someone finds out that one password, they get access to everything. Make sure to create a strong and unique master password, as this protects all your other passwords. Get Started With Sticky Passwordįirst you need to create an online StickyAccount by providing a user name and a master password. Previously, you could pay a one-time cost of $199.99 to get all the Premium features indefinitely. Sticky Password no longer offers a Lifetime edition. Bitwarden, LastPass, and MyKi offer more-capable free versions that support cross-device syncing. However, these limitations prevent it from making our roundup of the best free password managers. If you don't need cross-device syncing and password sharing, Sticky Password's free version is available to install on as many devices as you like. For comparison, Keeper Password charges the same annual fee, Dashlane costs double at $59.99 per year, and Lastpass is $36 per year. The product's mascot is a friendly, bespectacled manatee. Why manatees? Well, the parent company of Sticky Password is Lamantine Software, and emlamantine means manatee in French. With the premium plan, a portion of your payment goes to protect endangered manatees. Pricing and Platformįor $29.99 per year, you can install Sticky Password Premium on all your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, as well as sync your passwords across those platforms. It does everything you'd expect from a password manager, but it doesn't quite match the advanced features or usability of our top choices. Sticky Password records and securely stores all your login credentials and generates new, strong, and unique passwords to protect your accounts. If you don't use a password manager, you're putting your online accounts at risk, since it is impossible to remember a random, unique password for every website without help. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software. If you require further assistance with using these clients, you will need to refer to the support links provided or reach out to the vendor support portal. We do not directly support the setup of third-party email clients. We have provided links to the most popular third-party email client products as a courtesy. Inbound and Outbound mail server hostnameīack to top Instructions for popular email clients Important: Former Vistaprint email accounts can be accessed on any browser using the link mail.b. Specific setting information is required for the email software to function correctly.īack to top Former VistaPrint customers email client infoįormer VistaPrint customers are on our Enhanced Email cluster B server. Thunderbird normally finds it by looking in a profiles.ini file on your boot drive. Your profile stores your email, address books, settings, add-ons and saved passwords. Enter your email address and password, followed by Login. If the login is unsuccessful, update the mailbox password.Įmail services can be connected to your email client software using an IMAP or POP3 connection. Portable Thunderbird is a third party build of Mozilla Thunderbird that includes a launcher to let you store your profile on the USB drive, along with Portable Thunderbird. Unfortunately Thunderbird Portable does to register itself in Windows as a possiible mailto Handler. This is an important first step to ensure the login credentials used in a mail client are correct. As you know when users click on a 'mailto.' link on a web page the corresponding local email client is called and pre-filled with the given email address. Logging in to the Hover webmail will verify the correct mailbox password. Former VistaPrint customers email client info.Maybe that's what was interfering, because I installed the regular version of Thunderbird and now it's working. Attached screenshots Chosen solution I forgot to state that I am using the Portable Apps version of Thunderbird. We do not directly support the setup of third-party email clients. My Thunderbird executable is on an external USB disk at Q:\.\ThunderBirdPortable\App\thunderbird\thunderbird.exe When I click on a 'mailto' link in a web browser page, the 'system' tries to run 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird. 7/31/23, 9:25 PM more options Screenshot attached. Mail forwards cannot be used with mail clients. Mail setup in a client can only be achieved using a small or big traditional mailbox. Hover supports an IMAP or POP connection only. Hover mail can be set up using third-party email clients like Outlook, Apple Mail, and Mozilla Thunderbird on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. There is a way in Vista to configure 'non default windows programs', but Thunderbird portable does not appear to be selected (only MS outlook and MS live), and there is no way to select Thunderbird portable from my pendrive, because there are not an option to open a browser and select it. ProcessesSection Processes, Lightweight Processes, and ThreadsSection Process DescriptorSection Process SwitchSection Creating ProcessesSection Destroying Processes Chapter 4. IntroductionSection Linux Versus Other Unix-Like KernelsSection Hardware DependencySection Linux VersionsSection Basic Operating System ConceptsSection An Overview of the Unix FilesystemSection An Overview of Unix Kernels Chapter 2.Ĥ Memory AddressingSection Memory AddressesSection Segmentation in HardwareSection Segmentation in LinuxSection Paging in HardwareSection Paging in Linux Chapter 3. Bovet, Marco : O'ReillyPub Date: November 2005 ISBN: 5-2 Pages: 942 Table of Contents | IndexCopyrightPrefaceThe Audience for This BookOrganization of the MaterialLevel of DescriptionOverview of the BookBackground InformationConventions in This BookHow to Contact UsSafari EnabledAcknowledgments Chapter 1. This book will help you make the most of yourLinux the Linux kernel, 3rd EditionBy Daniel P. The book focuses on thefollowing topics:Memory management, including file buffering, process swapping, and Direct memory Access(DMA) The Virtual Filesystem layer and the Second and Third Extended Filesystems Process creation and scheduling Signals, interrupts, and the essential interfaces to device drivers Timing Synchronization within the kernel Interprocess Communication (IPC) Program execution Understanding the Linux kernel will acquaint you with all the inner workings of Linux, but it's more thanjust an academic exercise.ģ You'll learn what conditions bring out Linux 's best performance, and you'll seehow it meets the challenge of providing good system response during process scheduling, file access, andmemory management in a wide variety of environments. But thebook covers more than just the functioning of the code it explains the theoretical underpinnings of whyLinux does things the way it Edition of the book covers Version, which has seen significant changes to nearly every kernelsubsystem, particularly in the areas of memory management and block devices. Probing beyond superficial features, theauthors offer valuable insights to people who want to know how things really work inside their Intel-specific features are discussed.Ģ Relevant segments of code are dissected line by line. Itmanages limited memory so well that hundreds of processes can share the system efficiently, and expertlyorganizes data transfers so that the CPU isn't kept waiting any longer than necessary for the relatively third Edition of Understanding the Linux kernel takes you on a guided tour of the most significant datastructures, algorithms, and programming tricks used in the kernel. The kernel handles all interactions between theCPU and the external world, and determines which programs will share processor time, in what order. Bovet, Marco : O'ReillyPub Date: November 2005 ISBN: 5-2 Pages: 942 Table of Contents | IndexIn order to thoroughly understand what makes Linux tick and why it works so well on a wide variety ofsystems, you need to delve deep into the heart of the kernel. Probing beyond superficial features, the authors offer valuable insights to people who want to know how things really work inside their machine.ġ Understanding the Linux kernel, 3rd EditionBy Daniel P. The third edition of Understanding the Linux Kernel takes you on a guided tour of the most significant data structures, algorithms, and programming tricks used in the kernel. Probing beyond superficial features, theauthors offer valuable insights to people who want to know how things really work inside their Intel-specific features are discussed. Understanding the Linux kernel, 3rd EditionBy Daniel P. Example: dental hygienist Search Understanding the Linux Kernel, 3rd Edition Sony also recently detailed its plan to begin bringing PlayStation 5 games to its PlayStation Plus cloud streaming service. And sure, it doesn't support cloud right now, but future versions could conceivably do so. Sony is also exploring handheld devices for remote play, with its " Project Q" handheld. Sony is looking to grow its cloud gaming footprint with 28 new data centers, which it aims to launch more broadly in Spring next year. Insider Gaming has very well-connected sources within PlayStation recently, and they recently dropped a report on what Sony calls Cronos - the codename for its cloud gaming expansion plan. According to reports, that's exactly what Sony is looking to do right now. Indeed, Microsoft supposedly only has enough capacity for a few thousand concurrent users in the UK - a stat that might be useful to know if you're a competitor looking to leapfrog Microsoft's position. FTC and UK CMA, with Microsoft President Brad Smith even appearing on BBC Radio to downplay its significance to the firm. Microsoft worked hard to undermine its own cloud operations during the regulatory battles with the U.S. There are even some expectations that Microsoft may divest UK cloud gaming in its entirety to a third-party operator, like UK telecoms giant BT. The UK regulator threatened to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the Call of Duty maker on the grounds of cloud gaming after all, it might not be particularly great optics to push ahead with an expansion there. Part of this might be due to the Activision deal, to speculate (perhaps cynically). I've heard that Microsoft has also reduced allocations for cloud servers in certain territories, notably the UK, while Xbox Cloud Gaming continues to suffer from increased queues. I can corroborate a report from Brad Sams on YouTube that Microsoft has been restructuring its cloud gaming business, with some staff being moved to other departments. Xbox Cloud Gaming is the best cloud gaming platform for mobile devices right now, but the gap could easily close. Stands to reason the firm would be an industry leader in cloud gaming, right? With PlayStation's victory in this generation all but assured already, perhaps Microsoft could find wins elsewhere, right? Microsoft is a cloud-first company, with Azure making up the bulk of its envious profit margins in recent years. From what I've heard, Xbox is not exploring a major power revision for the Xbox Series X by comparison, and will likely complete the gen with only minor refreshes like the Xbox Series S Carbon Black - although I wouldn't call that confirmed information as of right now. Meanwhile, Sony is plowing ahead with a much-expected 2024 redesign of its PS5, ahead of a more powerful PS5 Pro for 2024 or 2025. Development on the Xbox console dashboard has slowed to a snail's pace, and many fan-requested improvements have simply not been implemented, although we have seen a trickle of new features for things like Discord and the like. I wrote an article a little while ago noting that with Xbox's focus on its huge Activision-Blizzard acquisition, Xbox cloud gaming, and PC, the Xbox console experience is suffering. |
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