Gaming hardware, software spending falls again as consumers wait for next-gen consoles

In a nutshell: It’s been another depressing month for the video games industry, with spending across hardware, software, and accessories all down by double digits compared to the same period one year ago. As has been the case for a while, consumers are holding back their spending in anticipation of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

According to industry-tracking firm the NPD group, total video game sales for February 2020 totaled $755 million, a 29 percent year-on


YouTube updates app with a new 'Explore' tab

What just happened? YouTube had been experimenting with the 'Explore' tab since 2018 and will soon begin rolling it out to Android and iOS users, giving them quick access to popular content categories, trending videos, and new artists, all in one place.

With its classic desktop interface retiring this month , the video giant has turned to its mobile apps where its 'Explore' feature is now ready for users around the world.

The latest change sees the Trending tab replaced with Explore that will now be

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AT&T suspends its broadband data caps as coronavirus keeps many at home

What just happened? With the US coronavirus outbreak forcing many people to work and study from home, AT&T has become the first ISP to suspend data caps for its broadband internet customers.

With so many companies telling employees to work from home , and schools and colleges switching to online-only classes, households are consuming more data than ever before. Additionally, canceled events and fears over social gatherings mean more people are opting to stay at home, resulting in more streaming and general internet use.

As reported by Motherboard


Patent hints that encrypted displays could appear on future Apple devices

Why it matters: Regardless of the security and privacy measures we take on our devices, the content reaching us through their screens is ultimately susceptible to shoulder surfing and is often the source of amusement for overly inquisitive peers. Although third-party and in-built privacy screens have tried to address the problem and succeeded to some extent, Apple seems to be developing a solution that visually encrypts the display itself to make it impossible for unwanted observers to figure out the actual screen content.

Shoulder surfing remains a common practice among folk

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Intel

AMD discounts its Ryzen 3000 CPUs, gives away Xbox Game Pass with select models

What just happened? If you’re in the market for a new AMD CPU, now might be a great time to buy. The company has announced a new promotion that not only cuts the price of its 3000-series processors but also includes a free Xbox Game Pass with some models.

Ranging from the Ryzen 9 3900X, which we scored 90 in our review , to the fantastic value-for-money Ryzen 3600 ( TechSpot score: 100

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Apple reopens all its China stores as new virus infections fall to single figures

Why it matters: While the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the rest of the world, epicenter China appears to have COVID-19 under control. The number of new infections has fallen to single digits, and in response to the improving situation, Apple has reopened all 42 of its branded retail stores.

At its height on February 13, China added 15,000 new coronavirus cases in one day. Yesterday, the country recorded the first single-digit rise—eight—in new

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Epic Games acquires the company behind God of War's facial animations

What just happened? Epic Games on Thursday announced it has acquired Cubic Motion, a longtime partner and leader in facial animation technology. Financial terms of the purchase were not made public.

Cubic Motion likely isn’t a name you’re familiar with but odds are, you’ve seen their work. The team’s facial animation technology can be found in games like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man. They’ve also worked directly with Epic in recent years, mainly on tech demos like


Work-from-home software firms are struggling to meet demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak

In context: The coronavirus' (COVID-19) impact on the tech industry cannot be overstated. While the virus itself has a relatively low mortality rate, it's led to the cancelation of major trade shows, disruptions to global supply lines, and an increased number of workers choosing to stay home from work and telecommute.

There are pros and cons to that trend, of course, but work-from-home software companies are benefiting quite a bit. As you might expect, in order for workers

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Gearbox says it will 'fix' end-game enemies in Borderlands 3 because they are too easy

In a nutshell: If you are a Borderlands 3 player and have found the end-game levels annoyingly easy, Gearbox is about to make it more difficult for you. It is raising the levels of enemies on these later areas. If you have found them too hard or just right… well, too bad. Players on PC will get the update tomorrow, but consoles and other platforms will have to wait until later this month.

Borderlands 3 has turned out to be a decent new entry to the franchise, but

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Nvidia tweets, then deletes a mysterious teaser showing an animated blinking eye

What just happened? After effectively canceling its annual GTC conference and shifting it to an online-only format (and then later scrapping that in favor of a series of news posts), Nvidia is using alternative marketing strategies to hype up its upcoming announcements. Today, for example, Nvidia's Australia and New Zealand-focused Twitter account, @NvidiaANZ, tweeted a mysterious teaser: an eyeball emoji, a date (March 19, 2020), and a strange video with what appeared to be
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