Technology

In yet another setback for game preservation, Forza Horizon 4, the open-world racing title from Playground Games, is set to be delisted from digital storefronts. The Microsoft-owned studio announced Tuesday that the game would no longer be available for purchase on Steam and Microsoft Store starting December 15, 2024. The move comes only six years after Forza Horizon 4 was released in October 2018.

Developer Playground Games, a part of Xbox Game Studios, said the game was being removed from online stores owing to licensing and agreements with its partners. From December 15, players won’t be able to buy all versions of the game — Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate — and its additional content digitally.

Forza Horizon 4 to be delisted from Steam, Microsoft Store, Game Pass

In addition to Steam and Microsoft Store, Forza Horizon 4 will also be removed from Xbox Game Pass. Players who currently have access to the racing title via Game Pass will no longer be able to play the game once its digital presence is removed.

However, players who already own the game and its additional content, digitally or through a physical copy, will be able to download or install and access all offline, online, and multiplayer features. Playground Games confirmed the game’s servers will remain online even after the delisting.

While the base game will be removed from storefronts later this year, its DLC has already met its fate. All downloadable content has been delisted from online stores from June 25. Players who already own the game’s DLC can download the content and play it normally. Those who access Forza Horizon 4 via Xbox Game Pass and have purchased any DLC in the past, will receive a free game token for Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition starting June 25. This, however, only applies to players who have a full-paid active Game Pass subscription on June 25. These Game Tokens will be sent via the Xbox Message Center and, if unused, will expire on June 25, 2026.

Forza Horizon Festival Playlist changes

Ahead of the game’s delisting, Playground is also bringing a few changes to the online Festival Playlist. Forza Horizon 4’s final series, Series 77, which includes the last Festival Playlist for the game, will be live from July 25 through August 22, after which the playlist screen will become inaccessible.

Forza Horizon 4 is currently available on Steam, Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass. Playground Games is also offering a discount for the game, with a sale coming to the Xbox Store on July 14. On Steam, the Standard Edition of the game can be purchased at a discounted price of Rs. 259 for a limited time.

Microsoft discontinued its foldable devices – known as Surface Duo – in 2023. However, the company is said to have attempted one last shot at a folding phone, and reportedly developed a Surface Duo 3 before scrapping it. A recently discovered patent suggests that the next generation Surface device would have looked like, with a single continuous display and a kickstand at the back. This development comes after the discovery of a similar patent in March which suggested that the Surface might yet have a Lazarus moment.

Microsoft Surface Duo 3 design revealed by US patent

According to a patent application discovered by PatentlyApple, Microsoft may have scrapped plans for a device that could have become the Surface Duo 3. The patent reveals that it would have featured a single continuous display – a big change from the dual-screen Surface Duo which never properly took off and was shut down by the company last year.

Microsoft’s foldable device, as per the patent document
Photo Credit: US Patent and Trademark Office/Microsoft

The device would have featured a magnetically attached kickstand at the back, enabling the user to place it on a table vertically or horizontally, without requiring any third-party accessories or cases. The patent also suggests a triple camera setup at the back of the foldable device with a module similar in shape to Apple’s iPhone Pro models. Another design element of the device would have been its power button, which could be used to unfold it. In theory, this would have made opening it manually redundant.

The patent is said to have been filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on June 20. Although it was filed for a “kickstand for opening foldable computing device”, it mentions a device with a “flexible” display with support hinges which can fold 180 degrees. This device is speculated to be the now-cancelled Surface Duo device. Notably, it was revealed a few months ago that Microsoft discarded plans for a similar device which it codenamed Project Neon.

Interestingly, the patent application also mentions another device with a flexible display with support hinges that can be rotated 360 degrees so that the single continuous display is face-to-face.

The United States and India have extended a standstill agreement on U.S. retaliation over India’s digital-services tax until Sunday, aligning it with a fast-approaching deadline for a global deal to reallocate taxing rights on the world’s biggest and most profitable companies, the U.S. Treasury said on Friday.

In a brief announcement, the Treasury said that a November 2021 political compromise that expired March 31 would be extended through the end of the month, as negotiations on the “Pillar 1” tax agreement continue.

The Pillar 1 deal is in danger of collapse, as the U.S., India and China have failed to agree on key elements of the deal related to calculation of transfer pricing to help determine local tax liabilities.

The stakes of the last-minute negotiations are high. The deal’s failure could prompt several countries to reinstate their taxes on U.S. tech giants such as Apple, Alphabet’s Google, and Amazon.com and risk punitive duties on billions of dollars in exports to the U.S.

The extension of the U.S.-India agreement also aligns it with the expiration of similar deals with six other countries that had enacted digital-services taxes: Austria, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

These countries suspended their digital-services taxes shortly after a two-pillar tax deal was struck in October 2021 by nearly 140 countries to impose a 15% global minimum corporate income tax and complete negotiation on reallocating some taxing rights on large multinationals to countries where they sell goods and services. This was meant to replace the digital-services taxes.

At the same time, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office agreed to suspend planned trade retaliation against the digital taxes while negotiations were completed.

U.S. negotiations are being led by the Treasury, where a spokesperson declined to comment on the state of negotiations.

A USTR spokesperson also declined to comment on next steps, but added: “As we’ve said previously, we oppose digital-services taxes that unfairly target U.S. companies and the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework negotiations offer the best path to address the challenges that digitalization of the economy poses to the international tax system.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters at a G7 finance meeting in May that India and China were hindering agreement on the alternative transfer-pricing mechanism known as “Amount B,” but that talks were continuing.

Italy’s finance minister also blamed the U.S. demands for the inability to agree on terms. Italy is seeking an extension of the U.S. standstill agreement and sources told Reuters earlier on Friday that Italy has asked Google to pay $1 billion in unpaid taxes.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Copilot has reportedly received a new update that gives it the capability of managing certain tasks on a linked Android smartphone. The feature has some requirements that must be fulfilled before it can function as designed, as per the report. After setting it up, users can ask Copilot to send a text message or summarise messages in their smartphone’s inbox. The feature is currently available to some beta testers and is said to be only available on the Copilot web portal.

Copilot AI updated with ability to manage Android phones

Windows Latest reports that the new feature was added as a server-side update, bringing new capabilities to the AI chatbot’s via the Phone Link plugin. The feature is said to be in the beta phase currently, and only those who have signed up for the Copilot beta programme will have access to it.

Copilot AI linking with an Android smartphone
Photo Credit: Windows Latest

To access the feature, users will need to be on Windows 11 and connect their Android 14-based smartphone via the Phone Link app, according to the publication. Alternatively, users can also use the Link Devices feature to connect their handset to the service.

Once connected, the Copilot chat interface will reportedly be able to control certain functions in the smartphone. For instance, users can set an alarm, get text message summaries, and even receive and send messages. The AI chatbot is also said to access the contacts available on the smartphone.

With this integration, users on their PC can ask the AI to check and summarise the latest messages, ask Copilot to draft and send messages, and even ask it to share contact details of specific people.

The main benefit of this setup is that users can carry out several tasks with simple text prompts without needing to scroll through apps or move between interfaces. Since the feature is in beta, there are no clear timelines for when it can be rolled out to the public.

Apple recently unveiled its latest lineup of iPad models after a two-year hiatus. Now, a recent leak suggests that it may be preparing to develop future models, including an iPad mini 7th generation and a base iPad 11th generation. As per the identifiers discovered, a purported iPad mini could be powered by the A17 chipset, which also powers the iPhone 15 Pro models. On the other hand, the next generation of the base iPad may get an A16 chip under the hood.

Leaked iPad Models

According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @aaronp613, 14 iPad models were discovered via identifiers found by Nicolás Álvarez. Out of these, six models are said to have been scrapped by Apple. The list of scrapped models includes two A14 chip-powered base iPad models and four M3 chip-powered iPad Pro models in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, the latter of which was ultimately released with an M4 chip instead at the ‘Let Loose’ event in May.

The leak also suggests that Apple may be planning to introduce as many as eight future iPad models. One of the identifiers is said to be linked to a purported iPad 11th generation, which may get Apple’s A16 SoC under the hood. It is speculated to be available with both Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity options.

Another identifier is claimed to reference an iPad mini 7th generation. This tablet may be powered by the 3-nanometre A17 Pro SoC – the same chipset which also powers Apple’s flagship iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Notably, the iPad (2022) was launched in 2021 while the iPad mini (2021) debuted in 2021, meaning several years have passed since Apple refreshed its lineup.

Although Apple launched new iPad Pro models in May, it is rumoured to be developing the next generation of the tablet, and it may be powered by the unannounced M5 chipset which could be developed based on TSMC’s 2-nanometre fabrication process. The purported iPad Pro is speculated to come in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch, similar to existing models, and may be available in both Wi-Fi and Cellular configurations.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition has been launched by the company in India, and the gaming laptop is available to purchase alongside the MSI Claw, the company’s first handheld gaming console that was launched in India back in March. The gaming laptop runs on a 14th Gen Intel Core i7 processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. Meanwhile, the MSI Claw is available for purchase at a lower price that the one announced by the company earlier this year.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition, MSI Claw price in India

MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition price in India is set at Rs. 1,67,990 and the gaming laptop is available for purchase in a single Core Black colourway via the company’s website, Amazon, Flipkart, and authorised retailers.

Meanwhile, the company also says that the MSI Claw — launched in India in March — is available for purchase at Rs. 78,990 for the base model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chipset and 512GB of storage. The Core Ultra 7 model is available in two variants with 512GB and 1TB of storage, priced at Rs. 86,990 and Rs. 89,990, respectively.

These prices are lower than the ones announced by the company earlier this year. However, the company says that the MSI Claw will be available at even lower prices — Rs. 10,000 off on all three models — for an unspecified period.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition specifications

The MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition features a 16-inch Quad-HD+ (2,560×1,600 pixels) IPS screen with a 240Hz refresh rate. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 memory.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition

You get up 1TB of NVMe SSD storage on the MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition laptop and the laptop runs on Windows 11 Home out-of-the-box. It is equipped with two 2W speakers tuned by Nahimic, a microphone array, and a webcam that can record video at 720p/30fps.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio port. The laptop has a 4-cell 90Wh battery and can be charged at 240W with the included adapter. It measures 359 x 266.4 x 27.9 mm and weighs 2.5kg.

MSI Claw specifications

The MSI Claw runs on the same version of Windows as the Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition laptop, and sports a 7-inch Full-HD (1,920×1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with up to Intel Core Ultra 7 (155H) processors, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and Intel Arc graphics and up to 1TB of NVMe SSD storage that can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot.

You get support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity on the MSI Claw, while the device also has a Thunderbolt 4 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like other handheld gaming consoles, this device features RGB ABXY buttons and thumb sticks, a D-pad, triggers, and bumpers. The device has a fingerprint scanner and packs a 6-cell 54Wh battery that supports 65W fast charging with a USB PD 3.0 adapter. It measures 294 x 117 x 21.2mm in size and weighs 675g.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch 7 Battery, Connectivity Specifications Surface on Certification Website

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Xiaomi’s Mix Fold 4 is said to be in the works as the Mix Fold 3 successor. As we wait for the official launch announcement, a prominent tipster claims that the upcoming foldable will be released in the global markets. But another media report contradicts this rumour.  Xiaomi’s previous foldable offerings have only been available for purchase in Chinese markets. In addition to the phone’s availability, details about its design have also surfaced. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is said to come with an extremely thin profile.

Xiaomi allegedly intends to offer the Mix Fold 4 globally

Tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) on X opined that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 will be released in global markets outside China. It is said to have a 9.xmm thick profile and is claimed to debut as the narrowest foldable phone. It is likely to go against the likes of Honor’s Magic V3 which is set to go official on July 12.

However, a GizmoChina report, citing internal sources, states that Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 will not be released in global markets. It reportedly has model numbers ‘24072PX77C’ and ‘24076PX3BC’. The former is said to belong to the satellite communication version of the device, while the latter reportedly comes without satellite communication. The letter C at the end of the model numbers could be exclusive to China. The device reportedly has the codename ‘goku’ and internal model number ‘N18’.

Xiaomi’s first clamshell foldable phone — Mix Flip — is said to debut in global markets. Unfortunately, the brand has not revealed any details about the availability of its forthcoming foldable. So, it is safe to consider these details with a pinch of salt. The previous three iterations of the Mix Fold were limited to China.

If the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 has global availability, it should compete head-on with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is launching on July 10.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 specifications (expected)

Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is anticipated to make its debut later this month. As per past leaks, it will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and have an IPX8 rating for water resistance. It is tipped to feature a 50-megapixel primary rear camera, supported by a Leica Summilux lens.

Xiaomi is expected to pack a 5,000mAh battery on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 with support for wireless charging.

Google Photos — the default media manager and cloud storage app on most Android devices — has just crossed a major milestone related to downloads on the Play Store. Since it was launched in 2015, Google Photos has become a widely used platform and performs as a photo gallery application on Android phones and tablets. The app offers cloud-based backup for media, along with several photo-editing features, some of which are powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

Google Photos has been downloaded over 10 billion times

Nine years after it was launched, Google Photos has crossed the 10 billion download milestone. Since it comes pre-bundled with Android smartphones, it is unclear if that counts towards the total number of downloads. The app previously crossed the 5 billion mark in 2020.

In recent years, Google Photos has become the premier photo-management app on Android devices. It also comes bundled with most Android phones, except those launched in China. While original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Samsung and OnePlus ship their smartphones with a dedicated gallery app, Google Photos is also pre-installed as part of the Google suite.

Courtesy of the company’s recent advances in AI, Google has also integrated several generative AI features in its Photos app, with some of them being powered by Gemini — its family of large language models (LLMs). One of the most noteworthy AI editing features on the app is the Magic Editor which uses generative AI to make complex photo edits, such as subject or change the background or the sky, with simple gesture-based actions. Other features include Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Portrait Blur.

Although some of these options are exclusive to Pixel devices or available as part of the Google One subscription, others can be accessed on all Android smartphones.

Notably, Google Photos isn’t the first app from the company to cross 10 billion downloads. Apps such as Android Accessibility Suite, Gmail, Google Chrome, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Play Services, Google Search, Speech Services by Google, and YouTube all crossed that mark in the past, although some of them are mandatory to access Google features on handsets.