The week that’s passed since the Radeon RX 480 hit stores has been tumultuous, to say the least. While everyone agrees that the card is incredibly quick for its price, some reviewers have noticed the card draws more power than it should – putting it out of PCI Express specifications. Does that put your PC at risk?
Speaking of risk, Japan’s first VR porn conference encountered a different kind of risk. Overcrowding. Reports say Adult VR Fest 01, hosted in Tokyo, attracted huge crowds despite the venue’s relatively small size. The police were soon called to disperse the crowd. It’s just the beginning of 2016 — and VR porn is already causing riots!
Our main topic of discussion, though, is Acer’s Predator Z35, an expensive and extravagant ultra-wide gaming monitor recently reviewed by our own Brad Bourque. Despite its attractive feature set, the monitor’s low pixel density came as an unexpected setback. The problem brings to light one of the hidden disadvantages to very, very big monitors. Is there a limit past which size is actually a disadvantage, and if so, what size of display should today’s PC gamers have their eye on?
We are, by the way, still taking suggestions for the podcast’s name. After discovering that “Chip Chat” is taken by a long-running Intel series, we’ve settled on “Close to the Metal” for now. Do you think you have a better idea? Leave a comment.
This podcast features Matt Smith, Brad Bourque and Greg Nibler.
Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that focuses on the geekier side of life. It tackles the topics PC enthusiasts argue over in language everyone can understand. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to [email protected]. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Wednesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.
It doesn't feel like long since the start of summer, but believe it or not, Halloween is right around the corner. As the dark nights roll in, fall is the perfect time for Gothic novels, spooky horror movies, and, of course, hauntingly good podcasts -- mug of pumpkin-spiced chai optional. There are plenty of scary podcasts to choose from, whether you're looking for fictional dramas or strange-but-true tales of things going bump in the night. Whatever you're h(a)unting for, you'll find something in our list of the best scary podcasts. And if you're looking for something that won't leave you cowering under the covers, check out our roundup of the best podcasts.
Audio drama/fiction
The No Sleep Podcast
This award-winning anthology of short original horror stories is now in its 18th season, with over 500 episodes to listen to. Each episode has a haunting, atmospheric soundtrack that ensures you're truly immersed in the tale. Be warned, though -- as the name suggests, this is definitely not a podcast to listen to in bed unless you plan on staying awake all night.
Apple Podcasts Stitcher
It's no secret that Spotify has its sights set on total podcast domination, given its high-profile acquisition of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, along with several exclusive launches like The Michelle Obama Podcast and one that features the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But the streaming music giant is still looking for additional ways to attract both listeners and podcast creators to its platform, and its latest move is the introduction of podcast polls and Q&As.
If you're a podcast creator, polls and Q&As give you a free way to increase your engagement with your audience. Normally, a listener has few ways to directly interact with their favorite podcasts, given that most platforms like Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts are essentially no more than a way to find, subscribe to, and play podcast episodes. With Spotify's new tools, podcasts become interactive, with polls and the ability to ask listeners questions, right on the episode page.
Apple will make podcasts a more integral part of its ecosystem with the launch of Apple Podcasts+, a subscription-based service that will offer exclusive podcasts only available to subscribers, along with the wider library of shows available on its existing podcasts app. The entire Apple Podcasts app will also get a redesign, as announced during the Spring Loaded event on April 20.
The premium Podcasts+ service will launch in May with several new shows only available to Podcasts+ subscribers. Along with receiving additional curation options and recommendations for subscribers in the redesigned app via Channels, Podcasts+ subscribers will also enjoy ad-free listening settings, early access to certain shows, and more, yet-to-be-announced features.