Tech News Roundup for March 29, 2022
A slow few days of news, but here are a few of the things I’ve found interesting.
Sony Finally Unveils Revamped Playstation Plus Service
After months of rumours and speculation Sony has finally announced the new Playstation Plus service, which combines the previous service of the same name and the company’s Playstation Now service that offers both streaming and local games from a Sony back catalog.
The new service has 3 tiers, with Playstation Plus Essential being, well, essentially the same as the old Playstation Plus service. It will offer access to multiplayer gaming, cloud saves, as well as two free Playstation 4 or Playstation 5 games per month. Playstation Plus Extra adds in a catalog of “over 400” PS4 and PS5 games that can be downloaded to play. Playstation Plus Premium adds 340 additional games that includ Playstation 3 games via cloud streaming, Playstation 2 games, Playstation games, and Playstation Portable games.
The service will not offer new games at release like Microsoft does with first party titles in Xbox Game Pass, making the service less valuable than Microsoft’s. Then there is pricing. There is no Canadian pricing yet, but the US pricing gets expensive fast. Playstation Plus Essential is priced at the same $10 USD/month or $60/year as the previous Playstation Plus service, Playstation Plus Extra is all the way up to $15 USD/month or $150/year, and Playstation Plus Premium is $18 USD/month or $120/year.
Microsoft’s Game Pass is $10 USD/month for either Xbox or PC games, and $15 USD/month for both Xbox and PC games as well as cloud streaming. It is worth pointing out that Microsoft does not give discounts for a yearly commitment like Sony does. Still, on a per month cost, Xbox Game Pass appears to offer much better value.
The new Playstation Plus service will launch in June in Europe, and “later this year” in the rest of the world.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/29/23001164/sony-playstation-plus-subscriptions-price-release-date
Windows 11 Update Allows Users to Change Default Web Browser
Windows 11 launched without the ability for users to easily change the default web browser away from Microsoft Edge. Microsoft at one point even went so far as to say they would actively break workarounds developed to make other browsers the default. This… did not go over well with users, and the company has had to walk back that stance. This month’s update to Windows 11 is bringing a simplified interface that allows changing the default web browser to any browser installed on the computer, as it should be. Certain system functions like windows search and the widgets interface will still open in Edge, but in most cases, users can now choose a default browser in Windows 11.
ASUS Cutting Graphics Card Prices as Shortages Appear to Ease
It has been nearly impossible to buy computer parts for most of the last 2 years, with graphics cards for gaming the hardest thing to find. This has led to prices as much as 3 times higher than the suggested retail price. In the last 6 weeks or so prices have started to fall a bit, and stock is lasting longer than it has at any time in the last 2 years. ASUS, a company that produces graphics cards for both AMD and Nvidia, says it will reduce prices by up to 25% on most graphics cards as of April 1st. Notably, the company mentions lower import tariffs from China as the biggest reason for the price cuts, but everything will help.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/627378/asus-is-finally-cutting-prices-on-graphics-cards.html
Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball Begins Opening Weekend
Apple’s first foray into live sports programming begins at the start of the baseball season, with the games being features on Friday Night Baseball through June being announced. There will be two games exclusive to Apple TV+ each Friday night. Initially they will be free, but will eventually require the $6/month paid service. Along with live games Apple TV+ will offer other Major League Baseball programming, including a 24/7 stream with game highlights, news, and analysis.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/29/23001613/apple-tv-plus-friday-night-baseball-mlb-sports
Bell Increasing Cellular Plan Prices by $3 For at Least Some Customers
The title says it all. It isn’t clear if this affects everyone, but it probably will. And the other carriers will likely follow suit shortly.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2022/03/29/bell-mobile-monthly-price-increase/
Samsung Quietly Removes Z Branding in Some Parts of Europe
Samsung’s foldable phone line is marketed as the Galaxy Z line, with current models being the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. In at least a few European countries, the company has quietly dropped the Z branding, calling the phones the Galaxy Fold3 and Flip3. There is no official confirmation but it is likely in response to Russian troops using a Z symbol on it’s army vehicles to identify them.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2022/03/29/samsung-ditches-the-z-branding-from-its-flip3-and-fold3/