Microsoft is fixing some major gaming shortcomings of its Windows Store platform. An update today lets gamers turn off v-sync, and use Nvidia’s G-sync or AMD’s FreeSync, in games purchased from the Windows Store, according to Ars Technica.
Gamers, it needs to be said, are not impressed with Windows Store so far. More than most PC users, gamers like to tweak their settings to get as much power as possible out of their hardware. Until today’s update, games distributed via the Windows Store have not given access to some key preferences, upsetting gamers who want to get the most out of their systems.
If you bought the latest Tomb Raider title on the Windows Store, for example, V-sync is enabled and cannot be turned off. This means that framerates are locked to 60 frames per second or, if your hardware can’t manage that, some lower division of that, such as 30 FPS. And it gets worse, because Nvidia’s G-sync and AMD’s FreeSync technology, which allow monitors to adjust the refresh rate to prevent tearing, are not supported.
The result? Gamers who invested in high-end hardware can’t get the most out of it.
This is frustrating, but hopefully today’s update will make the Windows Store versions of games possible to configure for gamers. What remains to be seen is if gamers will embrace the platform.
Microsoft has been working hard to promote gaming titles on the Windows Store, at one point turning the Windows 10 lock screen into a fullscreen advertisement for Tomb Raider’s release on the platform.
Currently, online distribution of games is dominated by Valve’s Steam. Microsoft would love to change that, and start getting a cut of games sold on the Windows platform, but Steam is over a decade old and has a rabidly loyal fanbase. Technical shortcomings aren’t helping, so Microsoft addressing gamer’s concerns could prove vital. We’ll see how gamers react.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.