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MySpace launched exactly 20 years ago today – so if you remember the pre-Facebook beast of social networks, it's time to join us for a celebration of its charms and idiosyncrasies.  As we survey the charred remains of Twitter , it's easy to forget just how massive MySpace was in the early 2000s. Soon after launching on August 1, 2003, MySpace overtook Google and Yahoo Mail in 2006 to become America's most visited website, according to Hitwise data . For the rest of that decade, it was the world's biggest social networking site. So what went wrong? A combination of being acquired by News Corp – who filled MySpace new features and ads – plus the rise of Facebook, meant that the 'place for friends' quickly became slightly embarrassing joke. After a relaunch in 2012 that saw it try to be too many things, MySpace went on a slide that ultimately saw it become the niche music website it is today. (Image credit: 360b / Shutterstock) But that doesn't mea...

Sony has announced US pricing for its A95L QD-OLED TVs, the company’s flagship OLED TV line for 2023. The new models will be sold in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch screen sizes, and will be available for pre-order starting on August 21. General pricing and availability for Sony’s 2023 TV lineup had been announced back in early June, but there was no mention of the A95L series in Sony’s announcement. Last year’s A95K models ranked among the best OLED TVs , so we were anxious to hear news of the new A95L, which we had a positive response to when we performed a hands-on A95L evaluation back in March. Like Samsung’s QD-OLED models for 2022, Sony’s QD-OLED TVs were sold only in 55- and 65-inch screen sizes, and they were pricier than Samsung’s offerings. Based on that information, we speculated that the new Sony TVs would be similarly expensive. As it turns out, Sony has actually reduced prices for its QD-OLED TV line, which now includes a 77-inch model. Here are the US prices for Sony’s A95L ...

As smartphones become more advanced and more expensive, one change we’ve seen is the bezels becoming ever smaller, and with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max we might see them almost disappear completely. This is according to Mark Gurman, a journalist and leaker with a great track record, writing in his latest Bloomberg Power On newsletter , in which he claims that these upcoming phones will have a bezel that's just 1.5mm thick. That’s down from roughly 2.2mm on current iPhones, so while we’re only talking about a reduction of around 0.7mm, that still knocks a third off of their total size. This is apparently thanks to a new display technology, with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max’s screens reportedly being made using low-injection pressure over-molding, also known as LIPO. It’s a process that Apple has already been using on the last couple of generations of the best Apple Watches , specifically the Apple Watch 7 and Apple Watch 8 , in order to allow for a larg...

Sonic Superstars looks set to continue where the Genesis games of the 90s left off. It's being conceived as a new style for the side-scrolling part of the series, which will go on to run alongside the mainline 3D games.  From what we've seen so far, the style of Sonic Superstars is similar to that of the 2.5D sections of games like Sonic Forces and Sonic Generations . And while the game technically has a 3D art style, it definitely harks back to the original Sonic the Hedgehog games. There are even four playable characters to enjoy, as well as the return of a fan-favorite villain. Here's everything we know about Sonic Superstars so far, including a look at gameplay, playable characters, latest news, and trailers. As new details are revealed, this page will be updated. For now, Sonic Superstars might just be one of the most-anticipated upcoming games on the horizon, especially where platforms are concerned. Sonic Superstars - Cut to the chase What is it? A new ...

With the dust beginning to settle from the huge  Samsung Unpacked 2023  event, we can turn our attention towards what  Samsung  might have planned next: and a smart ring seems to be in the company's near future. As per a report from South Korean outlet  The Elec  (via  SamMobile ), mass production on a Samsung Galaxy Ring could begin as early as August, with a decision imminent on the schedule for getting the wearable manufactured and out to consumers. A full launch is slated for some point during 2024 though, rather than 2023. The nature of the device means that it'll need to clear several regulatory hurdles before it can go on sale and start tracking various vital statistics. An early 2024 launch would put the Galaxy Ring on a similar schedule to the  Samsung Galaxy S24  – and it would therefore make sense to launch both gadgets at the same time, perhaps in January or February if Samsung follows its 2023 routine. The story so far Rumo...

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off.  Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's good fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a new variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently.  But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints , you'll probably need some for this game too.  I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #553 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence.  SPOILER WARNING: Information ...

Depending upon your viewpoint, we have good news or bad: Assassin's Creed Mirage will take around 20 hours to complete. For some, this will be welcomed news, allowing people to dive headfirst into an Assassin's Creed adventure, knowing they won't have to dedicate months of their free time to get to the end. This will be disappointing for others, though, as Assassin's Creed games have traditionally offered a lot of bang for their buck and provided hundreds of hours of entertainment.  According to lead producer Fabian Salomon, however, who spoke to YouTuber Julien Chièze earlier this week, the upcoming Assassin's Creed adventure can be completed in 20 hours if players rush through, and around 30 hours for players who take their time and complete every mission. "Given that we do a lot of playtesting internally at Ubisoft, it's part of our process, we really want to get as close as possible to the players, so we'll say that the latest playtimes we...

Highly-anticipated sequel Path of Exile 2 has been delayed. Whilst the action-RPG had been expected sometime later this year, developer Grinding Gear Games has now confirmed that the game won't even be ready for closed beta testing until June 2024. Asked by Eurogamer why the project and its original beta test had to be delayed, director Jonathan Rogers said, "It's a lot of things. I, more than anyone, was hoping for a 2023 beta date as well. We honestly were extremely naive to think that we were going to hit the dates that we previously had." To sweeten the news, the team did confirm that Path of Exile 2 – which started out as an expansion for Path of Exile before breaking away to become a separate, standalone game – will offer closed beta testing from June 7, 2024, and testing will "last months, for sure". "And in terms of what [the beta testing] will be: it will be the game, the whole game. It's not just going to be 'oh here's the...

The smartphone you hold in your hand is the result of an endless series of choices. It's the answers to questions about design, function, pre-installed applications, new features, and old ones. It's all the stuff that adds up  your experience, the customer experience. If there's a single person focused on what it's like to use, say, a new Samsung Galaxy Z fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 , it's Patrick Shomet, Samsung's VP and Head of Customer Experience.  Shomet, who sat down with me at Samsung Unpacked in South Korea, focuses on product design and feature experiences as well as the choice of features, apps, and partnerships that help make them. "We pride ourselves on saying, 'I want the best music.' So we need to work with Daniel Ek at Spotify," said Shomet. Working closely with design and product teams. Shomet helps define products and manage key partnerships like the one with Google. Even though Samsung's Galaxy line of smartph...

Patent applications often give us an interesting window into what a company is plotting, and a new Apple MacBook one just came to light: it shows off a computing device that can have different elements (like a keyboard) connected to it magnetically. The patent (via Gizmodo ) describes the device, which "can be reconfigurable to include one or more electrical devices in various configurations" – and displays and keyboards are specifically mentioned and shown in the accompanying diagrams. It puts us in mind of the Framework DIY laptop in terms of modular laptops, though Apple's plans look substantially different. The patent was first applied for a couple of years ago, though it was only approved earlier this week. As always with patents, this isn't a guarantee that a modular MacBook is ever going to appear – it just shows that Apple's engineers are thinking about ways in which they could innovate with the design and functionality of its laptops. One po...

When it comes to video calls and meetings, having top audio quality is key - after all, what's the point in a meeting if you can't hear what the other participants are saying? The explosion in popularity for the technology has led to a wide number of manufacturers looking to provide the right kind of kit - whether that's basic and easy to use hardware, or something a bit more premium. If you are in the second camp, and prefer a high-end approach, the news that audio icons Bang & Olufsen have released a business headset optimized for the top video conferencing tools is a game-changer. I was lucky enough to try out the Bang & Olufsen Beocom Portal model designed for Microsoft Teams - so how did it stand up to the test? Testing testing First off, as you would expect from a B&O product, the Beocom Portal looks beautiful. Smartly packaged, the headset feels light but solid when first put on, with a range of adjustment options to get that comfortable fit - a...

We're expecting the Google Pixel Watch 2 to appear in the not-too-distant future, and the leak of new watch faces for the wearable would seem to suggest that the device is indeed about to be unveiled. These watch faces come courtesy of Android Authority , and there are four in total. They're all going to be exclusive to the second-gen watch apparently, and they all offer plenty of options in terms of the way they can be customized. The four watch faces are Accessible, Analog Bold, Arc, and Bold Digital, and we've embedded a quick look at them below. If the rumors are true , we'll be seeing these watch faces and the attached smartwatch in October at the Pixel 8 unveiling. While it's disappointing that these faces won't make it to the original Pixel Watch launched last year, it's also worth bearing in mind that Google has pushed several new features to the wearable in recent months. More watch faces to look forward to (Image credit: Android Autho...

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off.  Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's good fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a new variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently.  But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints , you'll probably need some for this game too.  I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #552 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence.  SPOILER WARNING: Information ...

Classic Korean real-time strategy game, Kingdom Under Fire , has allegedly been "hijacked by a crypto-scam company". As spotted by Twitterer Tegiminis, Steam player Arsene Lupin – who's on a crusader to "write a review for every game in [their] Steam library" – posted a review on the game's Steam page , reporting that the "future is here, and it sucks" and claiming that whilst Kingdom Under Fire " was " a "RTS/RPG hybrid that launched in 2001", its current iteration runs "Locus Game Chain" in the background when you're trying to play, "demanding 80-100% of your CPU". Perhaps unsurprisingly, the developer, Bloom Technology, was quick to respond and posted a wall of text explaining there had been "a misunderstanding" and that the developer has replaced the 22-year-old's RTS' P2P networking system - previously known as wargate.net - with its own, Locus Chain. kingdom under fire, a k...

With the dust beginning to settle from the huge Samsung Unpacked 2023 event, we can turn our attention towards what Samsung might have planned next: and a smart ring seems to be in the company's near future. As per a report from South Korean outlet The Elec (via SamMobile ), mass production on a Samsung Galaxy Ring could begin as early as August, with a decision imminent on the schedule for getting the wearable manufactured and out to consumers. A full launch is slated for some point during 2024 though, rather than 2023. The nature of the device means that it'll need to clear several regulatory hurdles before it can go on sale and start tracking various vital statistics. An early 2024 launch would put the Galaxy Ring on a similar schedule to the Samsung Galaxy S24 – and it would therefore make sense to launch both gadgets at the same time, perhaps in January or February if Samsung follows its 2023 routine. The story so far Rumors around a Samsung Galaxy Ring have been ...

These days, the tech world spins like an out-of-control fairground carousel, which makes it tricky to keep up with the latest news. Fear not – whether you've been away on holiday or too busy trashing the final episode of Secret Invasions , we've rounded up all of the week's biggest tech stories here. In our weekly ICYMI (or 'in case you missed it') roundup, we'll be boiling down all of most notable, exciting or controversial tech stories of the past seven days, so you can plug yourself in for a quick firmware update.  And because we're tech teases, we'll be running through them all in reverse order of importance. So grab your coffee, cocktail or meal replacement shake, and settle somewhere comfortable as we take you through the biggest tech announcements from the past week... 7. ChatGPT comes to Android (Image credit: OpenAI) The world's most famous AI chatbot has finally landed on Android phones... well, in a few select countries includ...