Microsoft’s 343 Industries has provided an update on the delayed Halo Infinite, describing it as a “spiritual reboot” of the popular video game series. More important, it has shared some new screenshots and artwork from the in-development game, and they’re a marked improvement over the last, disappointing public preview.
“We have focused on two key themes, ‘Legacy’ and ‘Simplicity,’ when it comes to the visual experience we are building,” Halo Infinite campaign art lead Justin Dinges says. “We really want players to feel like they are experiencing a game that they remember fondly (Halo: Combat Evolved), but with modernized graphics of course. [And] we wanted to ensure that we steer away from overly noisy designs and details which is a key takeaway for the team coming off Halo 5. With Halo Infinite, we wanted to take this new adventure back to its roots and create a visually pleasing experience that doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary complexity where readability and clear artistic composition prevail.”
That sounds wonderful, of course, but the handful of new screenshots that Microsoft provided really drives home what 343 is trying to evoke with this new game.
As for the “spiritual reboot” bit, 343 says that the new game will feature “iconic Halo imagery” and will trigger the same awe and wonder that the original title did 20 years ago.
“We have specifically chosen to begin Chief’s journey in Halo Infinite within the Pacific Northwest forest biome on a new Halo ring, a deliberate ode to the past,” Dinges says. “We have [also] taken the visual design of the Jackals and Grunts back closer to their appearance in Halo 3 and previous titles. We want players to feel a nostalgic familiarity with these designs, like meeting up with an old friend, as they experience all that Halo Infinite has to offer.”
343 is also adding new elements to the game as well, of course. The new Grappleshot is a good example, and while it is unique to Halo Infinite, it will feel familiar to long-time Halo fans and will work as expected. And a new time-of-day dynamic lighting feature can really change the look and feel of environments based on when you’re visiting.
Finally, Halo Infinite will offer what 343 says is “some of the most open-ended play experiences in the history of Halo.” It’s still a sandbox title with clear objectives, but the ways in which you achieve those things is up to the player (or, in co-op mode, players). “There is no right way to use a particular item or feature,” Halo Infinite gameplay director Troy Mashburn says. “I can’t wait to see co-op players doing crazy stuff and combos we didn’t even think of.”
Halo Infinite is still on track for a fall 2021 release after being delayed well past its original November 2020 launch schedule, Microsoft says.
As e-commerce continues to grow and the pandemic pushes more remote, touchless buying, a growing number of car buyers are making and financing their vehicle purchases all online.
Steve Marlin, general manager of Crown Subaru in Chattanooga, says the internet has changed car buying tremendously, especially during the pandemic.
"A lot more people have more time to spend at home, and they are doing a lot more shopping at home," he says. "We've increased our internet staff, and going forward we're looking at an increasing share of online sales and even delivery of vehicles where people live. We want to make people feel as safe as possible. COVID made us all change a bit."
Last year, digital disruptors such as Carvana and Vroom sold more than 300,000 used cars across the United States through their web-based businesses, which deliver the vehicles they sell directly to the buyer's home. But online sales companies still captured less than 1% of the 45,553 used cars and trucks sold in Chattanooga, according to the Hamilton County Clerk's Office.
New cars are still typically sold through auto dealerships for each brand, but growing car brands like Tesla are embracing online sales to bypass dealers and sell directly from the manufacturer to the consumer. Most car companies and dealers use the web as a tool to drive consumers to showrooms, but dealers are beginning to also offer online, touchless buying of vehicles totally outside of the dealer showrooms.
Brent Morgan, president of Integrity Automotive Group, who has worked in the automotive business for over three decades, says the internet is changing how consumers buy cars, just like it has for most every other product, and dealers are adapting their models to accommodate online inquiries, sales and financing options.
"We look at the internet as a positive tool because it does give buyers more and easier access to information about their buying options," Morgan says. "But we do think that there is still a positive side to in-person visits, face-to-face assistance from our product specialists and their presentations, and the chance to drive and try out their vehicle choice."
Photo Gallery
Driven online: How local auto dealerships are adapting to e-commerce with web-based shopping options
Car complexities spur retail visits
As vehicles have become more computerized and automated, the help and instructions of a sales associate have become even more important in evaluating, buying and ultimately driving a new car or truck. But Morgan says the COVID-19 pandemic has propelled the move to more touchless and remote buying and video presentations about each vehicle.
General Motors Co. in late March stepped up the promotion of its Shop-Click-Drive program, which lets customers get trade-in estimates and apply for financing without visiting stores. They can also arrange for home delivery of new vehicles.
Walter Jackson Chevrolet in Ringgold, Georgia, is among the dealers using the Chevy web site Shop-Click-Drive to allow consumers to pick their favorite vehicle, schedule a test drive, arrange financing and even get the vehicle delivered to their home. Cadillac requires all of its dealers to have concierge services to the homes of car owners and buyers.
Ryan Jackson, general manager of the 51-year-old dealership started by his grandfather, says dealers continue to adapt to online sales, like most businesses.
"We can do almost everything online," Jackson says. "But people want to come into the store, talk with someone and test drive a vehicle. I think there is still a lot of value in coming into the dealership and shopping, but during the pandemic, there has been a lot more online and remote sales."
Online sales rise in pandemic
GM executives say purchases through its online service, which started in 2013, have increased during the pandemic by about 40% from pre-COVID levels, with 85% of GM dealers now using Shop-Click-Drive.
"Definitely we'll see more customers wanting to do most, if not all, of the transaction online," GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said at an automotive press briefing in July. "But I don't think everyone will want to do that, and that's why we have to meet them where they're at."
State laws protecting new-car dealer franchises have made a Tesla-style direct sales model difficult in some states. Ten states, including Alabama, ban direct sales of new vehicles online and eight other states, including Georgia, limit direct online sales.
Dealers benefit from getting car buyers into their showrooms where they can often up-sell them on features and add-on services, such as extended warranties. But with most buyers coming into showrooms after doing research online, buyers are more focused in their buying, but they also are more informed about their prices and options and they have easier access to more car-buying options.
Buying options grow
CarMax, which entered the Chattanooga market in 2012 with a store along Interstate 75 that maintains one of the biggest used car inventories of any dealership in the region, makes computer terminals available so customers can view CarMax's nationwide inventory online. For a fee, CarMax can transport any one of 30,000 vehicles from another site to Chattanooga.
Marlin says the worldwide web also opens up vehicle sales to a wider audience for conventional dealers, including his local Suburau dealership, as well.
"If there is a particular model that is in demand, we will get responses on the web from many other cities," Marlin says, noting a recent sale to a customer in St. Louis.
"It's really opened up the market for used cars especially," he says. "A lot of people are negotiating deals on the internet or on the phone and they are ready to close when they come in."
Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation — one of the biggest auto retailers in the country with more than 350 new and used car dealerships — says online sales continue to grow and he expects the trend to continue long after the pandemic is gone.
"This is an inflection point, a strategic shift, and it's not going back," he says.
A global consortium of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers have released a new guidance document demonstrating how the industry plans to advance environmental sustainability through the automotive supply chain.
The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) is a collaborative forum that brings together global automotive manufacturers, those in the supply chain, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government bodies to synergize on a vision for positive environmental impact. The newest project SP members produced is the guidance document, “Sustainable Packaging Specification Recommendations for Automotive Manufacturing Operations.”
The recommendations in the report discuss “opportunities to minimize automotive packaging waste and address potential barriers to recyclability in the design phase, based on proven best practices that have been implemented by industry environmental sustainability leaders.”
Sophia Borroni-Bird sustainability lead at General Motors (GM), speaks about the benefits of the partnership, saying, “the collaboration drives down the cost of the materials. More importantly, creating a circular economy and addressing climate change can’t be done in a vacuum.”
GM has been a member of SP for years, alongside Call2Recycle, Covanta, Audi Mexico, Ford Motor Company, Henkel, Honda North America, Li-Cycle, TerraCycle, Waste Management and others.
“The collaborative platform has allowed trust and relationships to be built over time,” Borroni-Bird says.
When she formally joined the group in 2019, Borroni-Bird brainstormed with other OEM representatives to gauge interest in the formation of a group focused on sustainable materials. The Materials Efficiency Working Group (MEWG) was the result of the discussions.
“The process involved developing common definitions, a mission, and a short-term timeline,” she explains. “We started by only have the OEMs and then quickly realized the importance of extending the group to include suppliers. Since Q4 2019, we have outlined a mission, collected supplier survey feedback, and received proposals on methods to increase sustainable content in common components as well as finalize this packaging initiative to encourage sustainable packaging across the industry.”
The original document, developed by John Bradburn, on behalf of SP member company ERA Environmental Management Solutions, allowed OEMs to share insight into solving some of the biggest challenges in automotive packaging.
Bradburn says, “this project is about companies working together through SP to share knowledge and lessons learned over many years of work to minimize waste across the automotive industry and promoting the thinking and action that is needed to tackle packaging waste minimization and pave the way for others to follow the same path.”
The first recommendation provides a backbone for the remaining guidance, stating “when building business cases for packaging design and logistics, include and communicate to procurement/purchasing/supply chain managers a total enterprise financial scope that considers all corporate goals and strategies including health, safety and the environment.”
Sustainability is an integral component throughout the document, explaining how OEMs can implement it in the value chain, including:
Whenever possible, source parts, modules and other products using returnable packaging and base this decision on life cycle factors.
Avoid using foams in packages that include spacers and dunnage if possible, as most foams (polystyrene, polyurethane and other thermoset products) are difficult to recycle.
If a foam packaging product is sourced, expanded polypropylene (EPP) may be more recyclable than other foam options.
Combination packaging (specifically incorporating multiple materials) should be avoided whenever possible.
Pallet and container separation ease improves reuse and recycling potential.
Avoid using metal clips on plastic banding.
Avoid using metal brackets and wood to reinforce cardboard/OCC boxes.
Whenever possible, avoid one-time use packaging and assembly aids.
Plastic corrugate, which many times is polypropylene, should not be sourced with mixed plastics or metal fasteners unless material is intended for reuse
LDPE plastic bags and bubble wrap and other film can be reused or baled and placed into a plant recyclable film program.
Use of expanding polyurethane foam in packages should be avoided, especially when formed within plastic bags
Wooden crates, even for small batch shipping use, should be designed with ease of disassembly for reuse and/or shredding for recyclability in mind.
Over time, the “participation and engagement from the suppliers, especially those that are commonly shared amongst the OEMs, provides the coordinated savings of larger-scale positive actions,” says Mark Yamauchi, Toyota Motor North America sustainability manager.
Going forward, each automotive manufacturer will adapt the guidelines as appropriate and develop its own set of metrics to measure results. “Thus, it is anticipated that it may be difficult to establish common analytics,” Yamauchi says. “Success may end up be gauged anecdotally.”
Automobiles are more complex than ever, and more dependable than ever.
That's the encouraging news from data analytics firm JD Power which released its 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study last week. The widely watched study found vehicle durability at an all-time high, improving 10% over 2020 — and 25% over 2016 when the industry was backsliding in durability due to the swarm of new electronics debuting on vehicles.
This year's survey also marked a victory for Kia as the Korean brand beat perennial #1 Toyota as the most dependable mainstream brand. Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, continued its dominance as the most reliable automaker overall for the ninth time in 10 years. The Porsche 911 sports car was the most dependable model surveyed.
Just five years ago dependability was declining — by 3% year-over-year — provoking flashing lights from JD Power, especially in so-called ACEN features (infotainment, navigation, in-vehicle communication systems) as automakers rushed to integrate connectivity and autonomy in their vehicles.
But the latest study indicates that that these systems are maturing, with reported defects dropping from 152 problems per 100 vehicles five years ago to just 121 PP/100 today.
"Today's three-year-old vehicles are of higher quality and more dependable than in previous years," said JD Power vice president of global automotive Dave Sargent. "Most owners aren't experiencing their vehicles breaking down or falling apart. In the future, dependability will partially be determined by the ability to solve problems through vehicle updates and the avoidance of technology obsolescence."
The ability to update vehicles over the air is accelerating with, for example, the Ford F-series pickup — the top-selling vehicle in autodom — introducing OTA updates with its 2021 models. Ironically, Tesla — the pioneer of OTA updates — had one of the poorest scores on JD Power's test (172 PP/100) as the Silicon Valley brand struggled with manufacturing quality issues.
The closely watched Vehicle Dependability Study, now in its 32nd year, tracks 33,251 original owners of three-year-old cars (2018 models for this year's study) over 12 months. JD Power covers 177 specific problems grouped into eight major vehicle categories: audio/communication/entertainment/navigation (ACEN); engine/transmission; exterior; interior; features/controls/displays (FCD); driving experience; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and seats.
All categories improved this year, led by exterior and driving experience. The ACEN grouping, where consumers have seen the biggest advances in recent years (from voice recognition software to navigation programs to satellite radio features) showed marginal improvement and remains the category with the most problems reported.
"From early in the ownership experience, many owners complain about these systems being problematic," Sargent said. "It's a recurring theme. With smartphone apps increasingly giving owners an alternative, some will give up on the vehicle's built-in systems that caused that initial frustration."
Among vehicle segments, cars were the most dependable, averaging 111 problems per 100 vehicles. Trucks averaged 130 PP/100 and SUVs 122 PP/100. Given that trucks and SUVs now account for a whopping 80% of monthly retail sales, JD Power noted the industry's attention should be on those segments.
Asian brands continued to lead the way in reliability, a calling card that has gained them significant market share since the 1980s. Owners of Korean and Japanese vehicles reporting the fewest problems — 115 PP/100 — compared with U.S. brands (126 PP/100) and European autos (131 PP/100). Credit this gap in part to Korea's Hyundai Group triumvirate — Hyundai/Kia/Genesis — which were big movers in the survey.
Not only did Kia leapfrog Toyota for most dependable mainstream brand, but the three Korean brands averaged 99 PP/100 — 19 points better than Japanese brands collectively (118 PP/100).
Luxe-brand Lexus put up an overall best low score of 81 PP/100, an improvement of 17% from five years ago when it was also top dog. Rounding out the 2021 Top Five were 2) Porsche (86 PP/100); 3) Kia (97 PP/100); 4) Toyota (98 PP/100); and 5) Buick (100 PP/100) tied with Cadillac (also 100 PP/100).
Kia showed the greatest improvement year-over-year — 37% — followed by Cadillac, Acura, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi.
Per individual models, Toyota led the way with five segment awards: Lexus ES, Lexus GX, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota Tundra.
GM garnered four segment awards: Buick Envision, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Tahoe. Hyundai also racked up four segment awards with the Genesis G80, Kia Optima, Kia Sorento, and Kia Sportage.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s exports expanded for a fourth straight month in February on continued growth in memory chip and car sales, underpinning the trade-led recovery in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
FILE PHOTO: A student walks past an electronic display promoting Samsung Electronics products at the company's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, October 27, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Exports jumped 9.5% from a year earlier to $44.81 billion in February, government data showed on Monday, slower than 11.4% growth in January but matching the 9.5% increase forecast by 12 economists in a Reuters survey.
Average daily exports, however, surged 26.4% year-on-year, the sharpest in over three years, when eliminating the impact from a three-day drop in working days due to the nation’s Lunar New Year holidays.
South Korea’s monthly trade data, the first to be released among major exporting economies, is considered a bellwether for global trade.
Shipments of semiconductors, the country’s top export, jumped 13.2% year-on-year and for an eighth consecutive month, while those of cars, petrochemicals and bio-health products surged 47%, 22.4% and 62.5%, respectively.
Of the nation’s 15 major export items, shipments of 11 items increased last month.
By destination, those to China, the United States and the European Union soared 26.5%, 7.9% and 48.2% each.
Meanwhile, data also showed imports grew 13.9% to $42.11 billion, beating forecasts for a 12.3% jump.
The trade surplus shrank to $2.71 billion from $3.76 billion a month ago.
South Korea’s financial markets are closed on Monday due to a public holiday and will resume trade on Tuesday.
The financial responsibility that comes with buying a vehicle does not end with car loans and insurance payments. All vehicles require preventative maintenance to operate to the best of their abilities and avoid the need for repairs down the road. Carville’s Auto Mart in Grand Junction, Colorado, offers an array of automotive services for local drivers to have done on their vehicles.
The experienced service technicians at Carville's Auto Mart have the knowledge, skills and know-how necessary to provide quality and conscientious repairs and service on each vehicle that enters the garage. because Carville’s Auto Mart is a used car dealership, its staff can provide everything from the general oil changes, transmission flushes, wheel alignments, coolant flashes and other forms of preventative maintenance as well as repairs to components like electrical systems, mufflers and exhausts, brake systems, catalytic converters and more.
Drivers who are interested in scheduling service at Carville's Auto Mart in Grand Junction are invited to do so by dialing 844-542-6041 and speaking with the service department’s receptionist. Those interested in shopping for a used vehicle at the dealership can visit https://www.carvillesautomart.com to view its inventory and read through its website. Carville’s Auto Mart is located at 2507 Highway 6 and 50.
(Photo by Nicolas Liponne/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
When it comes to the great iOS vs. Android debate, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates knows which side he's on.
According to 9to5Google, Gates shared his preferences in a recently audio-only interview via the Clubhouse app. It may not come as a surprise that he's firmly team Android.
Gates told journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin and Clubhouse co-founder Paul Davidson that, after proclaiming he preferred Android in the past, nothing has changed. While he keeps an iPhone on hand in the event he wants to use it for any reason (like using the iPhone-only Clubhouse), he has a day-to-day Android device.
Clubhouse is an app that lets you drop in on audio-only conversations. The social network resembles something of a massive series of podcast-like conversations. Right now, it's currently invite-only and only iPhone users can participate.
Gates prefers the more open nature of the Android ecosystem, as it's more "flexible" about how software interfaces with the OS.
"I actually use an Android phone," Gates told Sorkin. "Because I want to keep track of everything, I’ll often play around with iPhones, but the one I carry around happens to be Android. Some of the Android manufacturers pre-install Microsoft software in a way that makes it easy for me. They’re more flexible about how the software connects up with the operating system. So that’s what I ended up getting used to. You know, a lot of my friends have iPhone, so there’s no purity."
In 2019, Gates admitted the way he handled Microsoft's own mobile phone division was his "greatest mistake." Microsoft ended up letting Google transform Android into the only true rival for iPhone. Microsoft missed out on a $400 billion market at the time, something Gates deeply regrets. In 2017, however, he went ahead and adopted an Android phone.
During the interview, Davidson indicated that an Android version of Clubhouse could be on its way. He called it a "top feature," which could mean the iPhone Clubhouse could soon dissipate.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s exports expanded for a fourth straight month in February on continued growth in memory chip and car sales, underpinning the trade-led recovery in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
FILE PHOTO: A student walks past an electronic display promoting Samsung Electronics products at the company's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, October 27, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Exports jumped 9.5% from a year earlier to $44.81 billion in February, government data showed on Monday, slower than 11.4% growth in January but matching the 9.5% increase forecast by 12 economists in a Reuters survey.
Average daily exports, however, surged 26.4% year-on-year, the sharpest in over three years, when eliminating the impact from a three-day drop in working days due to the nation’s Lunar New Year holidays.
South Korea’s monthly trade data, the first to be released among major exporting economies, is considered a bellwether for global trade.
Shipments of semiconductors, the country’s top export, jumped 13.2% year-on-year and for an eighth consecutive month, while those of cars, petrochemicals and bio-health products surged 47%, 22.4% and 62.5%, respectively.
Of the nation’s 15 major export items, shipments of 11 items increased last month.
By destination, those to China, the United States and the European Union soared 26.5%, 7.9% and 48.2% each.
Meanwhile, data also showed imports grew 13.9% to $42.11 billion, beating forecasts for a 12.3% jump.
The trade surplus shrank to $2.71 billion from $3.76 billion a month ago.
South Korea’s financial markets are closed on Monday due to a public holiday and will resume trade on Tuesday.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s exports expanded for a fourth straight month in February on continued growth in memory chip and car sales, underpinning the trade-led recovery in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
FILE PHOTO: A student walks past an electronic display promoting Samsung Electronics products at the company's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, October 27, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Exports jumped 9.5% from a year earlier to $44.81 billion in February, government data showed on Monday, slower than 11.4% growth in January but matching the 9.5% increase forecast by 12 economists in a Reuters survey.
Average daily exports, however, surged 26.4% year-on-year, the sharpest in over three years, when eliminating the impact from a three-day drop in working days due to the nation’s Lunar New Year holidays.
South Korea’s monthly trade data, the first to be released among major exporting economies, is considered a bellwether for global trade.
Shipments of semiconductors, the country’s top export, jumped 13.2% year-on-year and for an eighth consecutive month, while those of cars, petrochemicals and bio-health products surged 47%, 22.4% and 62.5%, respectively.
Of the nation’s 15 major export items, shipments of 11 items increased last month.
By destination, those to China, the United States and the European Union soared 26.5%, 7.9% and 48.2% each.
Meanwhile, data also showed imports grew 13.9% to $42.11 billion, beating forecasts for a 12.3% jump.
The trade surplus shrank to $2.71 billion from $3.76 billion a month ago.
South Korea’s financial markets are closed on Monday due to a public holiday and will resume trade on Tuesday.
The auto industry has long been the top customer for industrial robots.
But an odd thing happened in 2020: For the first time in recent memory, orders for nonautomotive robots surpassed those for automotive robots in North America. That's according to the Robotic Industries Association. The group, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., is part of the Association for Advancing Automation and has data going back to 1984.
In North America, auto companies and suppliers ordered 15,045 robots last year, worth nearly $830 million. Companies in other industries ordered a combined 15,999 robots, worth about $744 million. Automotive robot orders grew 39 percent, while orders grew 69 percent in the life sciences, 56 percent in food and consumer goods and 51 percent in plastics and rubber.
"In 2020, we saw two trends in particular that propelled growth in nonautomotive orders for robotics technology," said John Bubnikovich, chief regional officer, North America, for Kuka Robotics, in an automation association release.
"First, the automation competence level in general industry has grown, and that matured into greater demand for the technology. Second, consumer behavior shifted significantly, and the expectations created by this shift were tough to satisfy without automation."
Mike Cicco, CEO of robot supplier Fanuc America, sees untapped potential for growth in the robotics industry.
"The pandemic has created a sense of urgency for manufacturing companies to invest in automation like never before," Cicco said in the automation association release.
"Traditionally, companies have implemented automation to reduce cost, increase output, and improve quality. However, the pandemic has added an additional factor that is driving manufacturers to re-examine their supply chain to increase flexibility, minimize disruptions, and move it closer to their customers."
Samsung’s latest Chrome OS laptop, the Galaxy Chromebook 2, is now available for purchase at Best Buy. The Chromebook 2 was first announced at CES in January and features a new QLED display, 360-degree hinge, and a striking red paint job. It starts at $549.99 for a Celeron model and goes up to $699.99 for a Core i3 version, putting it at the higher end of Chromebooks.
That price is the most significant thing about the Chromebook 2 because it’s considerably less than the Galaxy Chromebook that debuted a year ago. The older Chromebook had an 4K OLED screen and came with a stylus — neither of which you’ll fine with the new model — but it also cost just under $1,000 when it came out. In our review, we found despite the gorgeous screen and striking paint job, the original Galaxy Chromebook didn’t justify its cost, particularly thanks to abysmal battery life.
We’ve yet to put the new Chromebook 2 through its paces, but we did get to see the machine in person back in January and it certainly seems like it will be competent. The QLED screen isn’t quite up to the marks of the OLED panel, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice without putting them side-by-side, and the rest of the Chromebook 2’s fit and finish are appropriate for the price Samsung is asking. Importantly, it still comes in that amazing red color, as well. You might notice the extra weight — the Chromebook 2 is about half a pound heavier — but it still falls under three pounds total and should be easily portable.
We will have a full review of the Chromebook 2 in the near future, but if you don’t want to wait and grab one yourself, you might be able to find one in stock at your local Best Buy right now. Let’s just hope Samsung improved the battery life over last time.
Let's face it, mobile phones, even the best ones, just aren't that exciting anymore. They're all way more powerful than we really need, they all have nifty multi-lens cameras and they all look essentially the same. I really hoped that folding phones would give a much needed shot of adrenaline to the industry, but well over a year on from their arrival, they've fizzled out like a damp firework and left me feeling disappointed.
I've worked for CNET for a decade and most of that time I've specifically covered mobile phones. I've seen a lot come and go. I've seen the rise and fall of BlackBerry, I've seen weird phone ideas like the Russian Yotaphone with its e-ink second screen and I saw the brief trend of curved phones like the LG G4 and Samsung's Galaxy Round. But in recent years it's seemed that genuine innovation has been put aside, with every company clamoring to make what could easily be revisions of the same product.
Cut through the chatter
Subscribe to CNET's Mobile newsletter for the latest phone news and reviews.
Think about these phrases: "A big, vibrant screen," "A great multi-rear camera setup," "An attractive metal and glass design." Can you think of many phones that those sentiments couldn't be applied to? The result is that all the phones are pretty good, but it means that they're also equally boring. Each year's refresh adds a few megapixels onto the camera, or an extra bit of screen size. Or a slight tweak to a design that, fundamentally, remains just a rectangular slab.
The LG G5 came apart. And then so did LG's mobile business.
James Martin/CNET
I get it. Innovation is expensive and spending millions of dollars researching a new idea means you need a guarantee that it's going to sell well. LG found this out to its cost with phones like the weird, modular G5, which didn't sell well and now the company is reportedly looking to sell off its phone business.
So when folding phones came along my spirits lifted. Here was innovation. Here was this new technology which genuinely took me back when I saw it in person for the first time and left me excited again for the possibilities of what phones could become. I know I'm not the only one who loved that idea of the phone that you wear on your wrist like a watch and unfold it when you need the bigger screen. But where is that?
The foldables we do have are... fine. The Galaxy Z Flip and Moto Razr's clamshell design is neat in that it makes a big-screen phone more pocketable by folding in half, while the Galaxy Fold 2 and Huawei Mate X are essentially tablets that fold in half to become phones, which is fine, too.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X are both essentially tablets that fold into phones.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
But beyond the bending screen, they haven't really pushed any boundaries. They haven't changed the way we use our phones or brought any revolution that's so groundbreaking that it alters the face of mobile altogether. They use the same version of Android, with only a few small tweaks to some apps to give a bit of additional functionality, but little beyond that. Really, they're the same phone as before, but you can fold them in half. I find it very telling that I have the Galaxy Fold and Z Flip in my house, but they're in a drawer among other past phones and I don't have any great desire to get them out again.
And you pay handsomely for that one fold feature as all folding phones cost significantly more than their respective manufacturers regular flagships. This, in turn, means that adoption is low, which gives those companies -- or third-party developers -- little incentive to think of new and creative ways to use this technology. In time, folding phones may well be cast into the pile of other gimmicks, alongside banana phones, Samsung's camera/phone hybrid and 3D phone displays.
But I hope not. I hope that it sticks around and evolves into something useful and exciting. Frankly I hope that Apple takes up the cause as it does have a tendency of only adopting new technology when they can put it to a genuinely useful use, although perhaps not always (I'm looking at you, 3D Touch).
The original Galaxy Fold was interesting, but it had its problems.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
But most of all I hope that any mobile company isn't afraid to try and innovate and do something a bit different. Phones used to be fun, and phone launch events were genuinely exciting to see what awesome new tech would be unveiled this time.
That excitement isn't where it used to be. It's an ember flickering at the bottom of the fireplace now, with each generic phone launch threatening to be the bucket of sand that could put it out completely. There is a chance that folding phones could yet be the kindling that turns that ember back into a roaring inferno, but I'm not crossing my fingers.
As 343 Industries and Microsoft continue to develop Halo Infinite, teasers of their progress surfaced, offering a glimpse of the kind of visuals fans can expect.
The two companies shared a handful of screenshots that show the progress of the game’s development, and the graphics are looking quite detailed. Fans don’t get to see much of any character, but the screenshots do show a much more realistic world — Zeta Halo — that should be expected in a next-gen title. Halo Infinite is being described as a “spiritual reboot” with the aim of bringing back a similar gaming experience as early Halo titles. To achieve this, much of the visuals will reflect earlier designs, while, of course, pushing forward improved, more refined graphics.
There isn’t a clear release date for Halo Infinite, but sources are suggesting it will land sometime in the fall.
You should switch to Google Messages if you don't already use it.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Have you ever forgotten to send a happy birthday text message to a friend? Or had an idea in the middle of the night that you desperately wanted to share with a coworker but didn't want to wake them? The next time that happens, use Google Messages' new scheduling tool to pick the exact time and date you want to send a message.
Get the latest news, how-to and reviews on Google-powered devices in CNET's Google Report newsletter.
Before you can schedule a message, you'll need to have the latest version of Google Messages installed on your phone. Note that this feature will not work with your phone's default text message app, only Google Messages. If you don't know how to change your default messaging app, don't worry -- the first time you open Google Messages you'll be asked if you want to make the switch. The easiest way make sure you've got the latest version of Messages is to open the Play Store app go to My Apps and check for updates. (I have the new feature with Messages version 7.4.050.)
Below I'll show you how to schedule a text message, including picking a custom send time and how to edit the message if you want to change anything.
Scheduling a message is easy peasy.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
How to schedule a text with the Google Messages app
The first time you launch the Google Messages app and open a conversation after updating to the latest version, you'll see a small pop-up window appear over the Send button letting you know you can schedule messages. This is similar to what you see with scheduling an email in Gmail.
To schedule a text, start typing your message then long-press the Send button. I recommend picking the scheduled time before you fully compose your message, so you don't write out the message and accidentally send it.
After you long-press on Send, you'll see a pop-up with preselected dates and times. You can go with one of those suggestions, or tap Pick date and time. That will open Android's date and time picker that lets you customize when the message will be sent, to the minute. (Handy if you want to wish someone happy birthday at the exact minute they were born.)
Once you're done setting the time, tap Save.
You can then finish writing out your message. You're not limited to scheduling only text messages, but you can also add pictures and videos. When you're done, tap the Send button, which should now have a small clock icon on top of the paper airplane.
You can always edit a message.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
How to view, edit or delete a scheduled text message
A scheduled message will appear in your conversation thread, however, it will have a clock next to it and a note that says Scheduled message underneath it. You can hide the message with a tap on Scheduled message if you prefer.
To edit the message or the scheduled delivery time, tap the clock icon. A menu with three options will show up. Those options are update message, send now or delete message.
Update message will let you edit the text or pick a different time. Send now will immediately send the message. Delete message will discard the text.
Being able to schedule a message is a feature that's sure to be useful, especially if you often remember to send a message at an inconvenient time and then end up forgetting.
Halo Infinite was due to launch alongside the Xbox Series X back in November 2020, but was delayed after fan backlash.
Since then, 343 Industries has been working hard on making the game that they feel fans deserve.
Here is the latest information about the game, it looks like it will have Halo CE vibes.
A Spiritual Reboot
In the past, 343 Industries has described Halo Infinite as a "spiritual reboot" of the series, saying during a recent Inside Infinite blog post that,
"'Spiritual Reboot' is a term we use to describe our approach to introducing new ideas while staying true to what it felt like to play the classic games.
'Feeling' is the key word here because we want to evolve, by creating new experiences and new opportunities, but still maintain the original essence.
The Grappleshot is a great example of adding something new that also super-charges things you are already familiar with like clamber or melee.
You are familiar with clambering up a double stack of crates but the obstacles in Infinite are larger and more organic.
The Grappleshot gives you the same fluid motion as clamber with a much greater range to get to more locations quickly."
THROWBACK: Fans of the original game should be happy with the visuals
Campaign art lead Justin Dinges also discussed the artistic style of the game,
"As a prime example, we have specifically chosen to begin Chief’s journey in Halo Infinite within the Pacific Northwest forest biome on a new Halo ring, a deliberate ode to the past.
Another good example is how we have taken the visual design of the Jackals and Grunts back closer to their appearance in Halo 3 and previous titles.
We want players to feel a nostalgic familiarity with these designs, like meeting up with an old friend, as they experience all that Halo Infinite has to offer."
With Halo Infinite, we wanted to take this new adventure back to its roots and create a visually pleasing experience that doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary complexity where readability and clear artistic composition prevail.
This is our artistic interpretation of a beautiful world to exist within—rather than something that is purely grounded in photo realism."
NEXT-GEN: Halo Infinite will be the first Halo game on the next-gen console.
From the images seen in the blog post, Halo Infinite looks like a throwback to the original Halo: Combat Evolved, with a beautiful landscape full of rocky mountains and terrain.
Fans of the original game should feel right at home with this latest entry.
One of the most unexpected bugs in Android Auto was discovered earlier this year, and it caused Pixel phones to automatically reboot whenever they were plugged into the head unit to launch the app.
1 photo
In other words, the moment you connected the USB-C cable to launch Android Auto, the smartphone automatically restarted, and users explained this happened every single time.
“If I leave the cable plugged in, the phone will reboot then once I swipe up to unlock it will show the Google logo and reboot again repeatedly until I disconnect my phone from the cable. I have tried to boot into safe mode, which sort of works, I can connect my phone to the cable and use the phone still, but Android Auto never connects to the head unit at all,” one user explains.
Google has confirmed earlier this week that it managed to determine the cause of the problem, and as it turns out, Android Auto wasn’t the only one to blame for the whole thing.
Google Chrome, the browser that comes pre-loaded with Android devices, came with a rare bug which alongside an issue in Android Auto caused a combined glitch forcing Pixel phones to automatically reboot on connect.
“A fix has been applied for Android Auto app version 6.1 (currently rolling out in Google Play) and Chrome app version 88.0.4324.181 or higher (available in Google Play for everyone). A configuration change to the Chrome app unrelated to Android Auto caused an unexpected combination of bugs in some head units and the Android operating system,” a member of the Android Auto team confirmed this week.
So there you go, if your Pixel reboots when connected to the head unit in an attempt to launch Android Auto, what you have to do is to install the latest app updates on the device. The issue apparently affected Pixel phones exclusively, so if you run Android Auto with a Samsung device, the rebooting glitch shouldn’t normally occur.
