Have you ever wondered how all the data from modern tech solutions is generated? Who turns the enormous amount of statistics into meaningful data? Who can read the data that every solution, from a smartphone to a smart home, brings? It is the data miners, acquisition experts, and interpreters who are behind it all. And, this is the reason data scientists are the most sought-after in the modern-day era.

The data miners, as evident from their name, monitor and extract data through algorithms, machine learning, and Big Data. They use a combination of tools to find out information and translate it into something useful. They are the ones who conceptualize, organize, and analyze structured and unstructured data. It is due to them that inarguably every digital process depends on them.

These digital processes happen every day in almost every sphere of life and create a significant impact. Data science digs deep into them to carve out the numbers and refines the end-user experience in the longer run. It is evident in product reviews to business decisions and financial forecasts or studying consumer preferences.

The said points are adequate to aspire one to become a data scientist. However, the process of reaching that absolute peak in one’s career is not easy. It is essential to establish a strong foundation and gain the comprehension of statistical calculations. To do so, one should enroll in a bachelors of data science program to build solid concepts.

But before you do that, you’ll need to know what the field of data science promises for the future. And that’s precisely what we will assist you with. Let us look at the top trends of data science that will shape technology during the year 2020.

• Data Upsurge

During the ongoing year, we can expect to see an increasing number of organizations, businesses, and individuals generate data. We will see an overall upsurge in the numbers and statistics, bringing more insights to data science. To understand this, let’s look at how this data is generated. The fact is that every time we commute, be online on any social media platform, we create data. We also create a massive bulk of data over-time when we order food, go shopping online, or even send a simple text. During the rest of the year, this trend will increase further and bring in more data for scientists.

• IoT Devices

Internet of Things (IoT) is a colossal pillar to today’s data science and brings real-time, credible data to the fore. It is the system that delivers the devices together and makes them interact to produce substantial, tangible data. It is based on this concept that we see continued development in the area of smart cities. In the rest of 2020, we would witness more smart cities coming into being and then changing the way people live. The interconnectivity of the devices is bound to govern many cities, enabling a better standard of living. For instance, a device installed at a house can automatically alert authorities about a fire situation in a smart city.

• Industrial Boost

Big Data is another aspect of the Data Science bound to take it to a higher level of advancement. We can expect to see hundreds, if not thousands of businesses switch to more advanced solutions during the ongoing year. For instance, in sports, team managers are choosing solutions based on data to increase their chances of winning. They are relying on on-field sensors to study how players demonstrate better play. Secondly, the wearable can help players avoid injuries. Also, performance monitoring through the devices can help individual players up their game expeditiously.

Another example of an industrial uplift is how businesses can carry-out competitor analysis based on data. They can find out where they lack in particular compared to their competitors and then work to bring improvement. In 2020, we can see and experience and uplift in all such sectors, based on the data. Also, in the consumer industry, we see many companies leaving giants behind by better studying consumer habits and preferences.

• AI & Automation

We have seen a rising number of computers mimic humans successfully and solving some of the many problems. And, during the ongoing year, we are going to see it go further up the ladder. Until recently, our focus has been on introducing programs that can solve human problems. However, now, we may see them learn some of the issues themselves and give them solutions accordingly. In this scenario, we would see more robots, virtual assistants, and social media monitors.

When computers blend with data science, automation becomes inevitable. From manufacturing units to self-driving cars, we would see further developments concerning automation. Similarly, many companies would move to a more automated process, based on data, thus increasing processes.

• Cloud Computing

It isn’t possible by any means to see automation improve but not the computing. Based on crucial data insights, cloud computing would further emerge as a scientific solution. The storage and analysis of data have become much more beneficial through cloud computing. During the year 2020 and upcoming years, we would expect a more significant rise in the use of data-driven software and applications. We will be witnessing many organizations rising above the limitations by investing more in the cloud solutions.

Final Word

Technology and data science are a natural combination as both support each other to produce insightful solutions. The more data-driven we’re becoming, the better grasp we are having at our processes and lives in general. As we progress, we see more developments in every industry sector. Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and other data science methods are bound to lead the pace of the progress. Quite soon, we’d see more automation, virtual assistance, cloud computing, as well as automation governing the change. As a result, businesses will experience robust growth without limitations.

 

Our world is full of technological advancements. Anyone with a phone or laptop can create professional-looking photos. If you’re a new Mac owner, you must be wondering how to edit photos on Mac computers, especially since it doesn’t offer the usual apps that come with Windows.

Apple and their Mac is Microsoft’s biggest competitor. Many people despise Mac’s operating system. But many others claim that MacOS is superior.

If you’re new to using MacOS, you may have been having some difficulty learning the interface. Mac comes with many features and tools for a better user experience. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to find them.

But don’t worry! That’s what we’re here for. We’ll show you how to edit your photos.

1. Using Mac’s Photos

Photos is a built-in application on Mac. You can find it on any of your Apple gadgets. It’s a great way of organizing photos, but this application also offers advanced editing tools.

Storage and Viewing Tools

If you’re an Apple user, you must already know that iCloud automatically backs up your photos. With Photos, you can sync your images directly to your iCloud. Having an iCloud allows you to view your photos from any Apple device that you have.

If you need to pin a photo, you can click on the heart button. It adds the image to your favorites, so you don’t have to look for it later. Below is a guideline for how to edit photos on Mac computers.

2. Editing with Photos

Mac’s photo editor comes with simple and efficient tools for photo editing. The built-in editor allows you to do simple adjustments like cropping, rotating, and straightening.

To start editing with Photos, click the Edit button on the top right corner of the window. Open the toolbar by maximizing your application. Click View>Always Show Toolbar in Fullscreen.

Mac also provides color correction tools under a dropdown menu called Adjust. To see the adjustments you made, click Compare. Below is a guideline for the color sliders.

• Light. Lightens dark areas and hidden details in your picture.
• Color. Adjusts contrast, saturation, and hues.
• Black And White. It allows you to add a color splash effect by removing unwanted colors.
• White Balance. Adjusts your images to make them look warmer or cooler.
• Curves. Adjusts colors and contrast in a more precise manner.
• Levels. Adjusts the overall tonal balance of your photos. It comes with sliders for mid-tones, shadows, and highlights.
• Definition. Clarifies an image.
• Selective Color. It allows you to bring out certain colors.

The last one is Vignette. It adds a dark gradient to the edge of your photos to focus on a subject.

How To Use Light

Open your image and click Edit. Go down and click the Adjust button. Click on the triangle to open the drop-down menu.

Don’t settle for the first option. Play with the sliders until you get your desired product.

How To Use Color Filter

Again, start by opening your image and select Edit. Click the Adjust button. Select the triangle next to Options to open the drop-down menu.

Use Saturation to control the vividness of the colors. Select Contrast to adjust the distinction of light and shadows.

If you’re editing a batch of photos, you can use Copy & Paste. This tool allows you to copy and paste the adjustments you made previously. This is useful if you want your batch to look or have the same feel.

Mac Photos also comes with filters for quick editing. At the top of the window, you will find an option called Filters. There is a total of nine filters to choose from.

The crop button allows you to do more than crop your photos. This is where you will find the options to rotate, flip, and straighten an image.

How To Crop A Picture On Mac

Select the image you want to crop. Click on Edit>Crop. A rectangle will appear on your image.

Click and drag the photo to adjust its dimensions.

This tool offers options for aspect ratio. Freeform is the default selection, but you can choose whichever one you need.

How To Rotate, Flip Or Straighten An Image

Beside the Enhance button, you will find another button that says Rotate. You can use this to flip your images. Photos will automatically rotate your photos counterclockwise.

To rotate your photos clockwise, press Alt/Option before clicking Rotate. If you want to straighten your image, click the Crop button. You will find a dial next to your image.

Clicking your photo will make a grid pop up. The grid can be useful for balancing a horizon line.

Unfortunately, Apple Photos does not support PDF files. But no worries, we got you! Check out this guide here to learn how to convert PDF to JPG on Mac.

3. Use Adobe Photoshop

Photoshopping on Mac devices is the same as any other device. Adobe Photoshop is a revolutionary software for editing photos. Many consider Photoshop the best photo-editing application across all platforms.

If you have the money, try buying Photoshop! It comes with easy to understand tools that let you create professional photos. If you’re not sure about committing to a purchase, Adobe gives you a seven-day trial period.

4. Try Other Third-Party Applications

If you’re not satisfied with Mac’s built-in photo editing software, you can look for other applications. Photoshop is one of the best, but there are many free options online.

You can open third party applications from Photos. All you need to do is right-click on the picture that you want to edit. Select Image>Edit With, then choose your preferred application.

The great thing about Mac’s Photos is that photos saved are non-destructible. This means you can revert the image to its original state if you ever feel the need.

Now You Know How to Edit Photos on a Mac

With these guidelines, you now know how to edit photos on Mac computers. Mac’s built-in editor provides you with a simple application with intuitive tools. Photos is an excellent application for beginners.

But you aren’t limited to only the Photos application. Feel free to look for software that delivers to your needs.

If you found this article helpful, do consider checking out our available guides here. We have more great content for you to discover.

About 43% of consumers consider the cost of shipping before they buy a product. They also consider the speed and accuracy of shipping.

It doesn’t matter if your business is an auto dealership or an ecommerce store, your business depends on speed and accuracy. Your shipping time will have an impact on how customers perceive your brand.

Read on to learn how you can manage your shipping department to improve accuracy and give customers a better brand experience.

1. Analyze Your Current Shipping Processes

You want to start by looking at what is wrong with your current shipping systems. You should start looking at your systems from the point where the customer places an order.

Look at how payments are processed and how orders are delivered to the warehouse. Then look at how orders are processed and fulfilled.

Once you look at that, then take a look at how packages are shipped and how long shipping takes. Note any bottlenecks in the process and the steps you can take to improve them.

2. Invest in Systems

If you’re looking to reduce the time it takes to process orders, then you need to invest in systems. It’s crucial to have a platform that you can look at that organizes all of the data you need in one place.

When you look for a shipping and logistics system, you need to make sure that you get one that specializes in your industry. For example, an auto parts dealer would want to find a company like InLog CLS.

3. What Can Be Automated?

More companies are investing in smart logistics solutions in their shipping departments. They will automate as much of the shipping process as possible.

As you look at your systems, you’ll want to see what you can automate. This can save time, money, and limit shipping mistakes.

4. Choose a Top Carrier

You want to make sure that you choose the best shipping carrier for your needs. For a B2C business, you may have to rely on FedEx, UPS, or the US Postal Service as they deliver to residential addresses.

For B2B businesses, you may have to choose between FTL or LTL shipping carriers. These are your options when you’re dealing with heavy loads or large loads. LTL carriers will be less expensive because you’re sharing the cost of the truck with other orders.

With FTL shipping, your order is the only one in the truck, so you’re going to pay for that. You want to choose a carrier that is efficient and doesn’t affect the quality of the product.

5. Measure Results

The best way to make your shipping department is to create key performance indicators. These KPIs are ways you can measure progress.

For example, one KPI is to measure is the time it takes for an order to be packed and ready to ship. If you can cut down on the time here, you can get products out the door faster.

Make Your Shipping Department More Efficient

The best thing you can do for your customers and your business is to make your shipping department more efficient. There are plenty of ways to do that.

Start by auditing your current shipping department, invest in the right systems, automate what you can, and measure the right things.

You’ll be able to improve your shipping department in no time. For more great tips, be sure to visit the Technology section of this site.

The horror genre has gone through tons of modifications. In the early 90s, we had pixelated blobs for games like DOOM 2 and the first Resident Evil game. But for that time, these pixelated games would evoke our worst in-game nightmares. We had jumpscares, futuristic guns and hordes of zombie waves that we had to triumph over or else things got a bit bloody. In the present time, the horror genre has faced many makeovers by varied game creators and developers worldwide. Simply compare Doom 2 and Doom 2016 side by side and you will know what we’re talking about. It’s a given that the gaming industry will never get tired of horror games. We get new sequels of the Resident Evil series yearly and the two recent remakes of RE2 and RE3 make the game more novel than ever.

So now you know the stance of horror games in the industry. And since the release of PlayStation 5 is moving up closer, most of you must be wondering if the next-gen console is releasing any horror games or not. Well, the good news is that Sony has confirmed quite a few horror and survival games for PS5. Some might be released on the launch day and for some, we would have to wait until 2021.

Keep reading to know what new horror titles we will be getting to play on PS5!

Dying Light 2

Techland is yet to announce a release date for Dying Light 2 but the game has been greenlit for a spot on the next-gen console PlayStation 5. Dying Light 2 will follow the same in-game mechanics as the original game but this time the gameplay is likely to be more intense, highly combat-based and is an open-world game through and through. Players also don’t have to run a single-player campaign to play it as Dying Light 2 also supports multiplayer gameplay.

Resident Evil: Village

The Resident Evil franchise simply cannot be left out by PlayStation 5. With three major Resident Evil titles earning their name on PS4, now it’s time to see what the franchise has to offer on the next-gen gaming console. Surely the two recent remakes, Resident Evil 2 and 3 turned out to be major hits, fans still anticipated to see a more novel approach on what follows on after Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. We aren’t sure how closely connected Resident Evil: Village will be to RE7 or will be connected at all, but we do know the story and first-person shooter gameplay will be immersive.

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2

The first Bloodlines game was released 16 years ago. Fast forward to today, the title was somewhat forgotten but it’s going to make a comeback on PlayStation 5. The game has scored a visible spot for itself on Sony’s latest console. That’s not all. Bloodlines 2 has also been greenlit for an Xbox Series X release. While the launch date hasn’t been officially announced, it might as well be on the official release day of PlayStation 5.

Quantum Error

Quantum Error will be making its entry on both PS4 and PS5. The release date is unknown but it’s speculated to be in 2021. The game follows the story of a firefighter, Jacob Thomas, who has been sent out to visit the Monad Quantum Research Facility. What he finds in the facility is disturbing, eerie and unknown to the human eye. The game gives off Outlast vibes so let’s see if it will make up to our expectations.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Traditional Japanese horror is no longer limited to horror movies, comics and animated series. Tango Dreamworks’ Ghostwire: Tokyo fuses together traditional J-horror and action gameplay into a fine blend of survival horror. The protagonist has to survive the paranormal happenings in Tokyo by battling strange creatures as he proceeds. The game is set in a first-person view, which complements Ghostwire’s overall aesthetics.

Other Horror Game Titles

A few other titles joining the console are:

• Martha is Dead
• Observer: System Redux
• Returnal

The launch of PS5 is still quite far so there’s the possibility of new titles being added to the list of PS5 games as well. Since the launch date is expected to be in the end of 2020, know that Sony is adding few multiplayer games to the console. You would get to play Fortnite, Warframe, Destiny 2 and some other shooting games on multiplayer mode. Some are also expected to support cross-platform play. What you would need in this scenario is a high-speed internet connection. If you end up investing in PlayStation 5 only to realize your internet connection isn’t as good for multiplayer gameplay then it will give rise to many other shortcomings.

What you can consider getting is an internet connection like Mediacom internet. The internet packages offer decent levels of download speeds and you won’t end up breaking your bank either. Once you are connected to a quality internet connection, it will become a win-win situation and none of your investments will be futile! Until then happy gaming!

 

Playing on the iPhones and Android devices is getting better each passing day. Even there are millions of apps available on Google Play Store that has multiplayer support. With multiplayer games, you can able to play with people from all over the world. As you are playing games on mobile phones, you can carry your phone anywhere you like. If you want to play with several players across the globe, here are some of the games that you must know now-

• PUBG Mobile Game

There are very few people who do not know about the PUBG game. And it is not surprising at all. After the game has been launched, it has generated millions of downloads on the Play Store. It has the top position for the best mobile game, and it will not come down too soon. It is the game that is played in the real-time scenario. The main aim of this game is to survive until the date and win the Chicken Dinner. The area around the games gets reduced slowly, and the surviving rate also gets reduced. Also, the developers of this game introduce online tournaments. If you like real-life fighting and war, you can definitely try this one.

• Fortnite

It is another battle game that continues to remain on top of the charts to date. This game is based on a similar concept to the PUBG. However, it has some more things that do not match with PUBG mobile. In the Fortnite game, you can shoot down your enemies to build the fortifications to hide and save yourself. Millions of people around the world play this game. This game is featured in various movies and videos as well. However, this game is not available on Google Play Store. You have to download the game.

• Bowling King

In this game, you can compete with one-to-one multiplayer with people globally. In this game, you can get in touch with 60+ bowling balls, 27 pins, and Lanes that you can choose while playing the game. You can even enjoy various locations in the game like Las Vegas, Paris, and NYC. You can play this game online.

• FIFA 16 Football

EA is doing great, and now the FIFA 16 is another proof of the work. It is said to be one of the best apps that are best for football fans. The downside of this app is that it is not applicable in Android devices as the requirement of this game is high. Here, in this game, you can manage and make your own football team.

These are some of the popular multiplayer games that you can play. The online gaming industry has witnessed various advancements like graphics, display, and modern techniques.

Apart from these multiplayer games, you can also try out the online casino games. These games will provide you with the opportunity to earn bonuses. These games are really interesting, and you can play wherever you want. You do not have to go to the casino clubs to play now physically, these games are now available online.

 

Finally, all the best online casinos and casino games are collected in one place! Online Casino offers a wide range of free casino games for any taste. Here you can play free slot games, online roulette, blackjack, baccarat, แทงบอล without downloading or registering.

Playing บาคาร่ามือถือ is the perfect way to improve your live casino play, or just to have a good time. That’s because mobile baccarat apps allow players to play at their own pace, without having to worry about other players, excessive minimum bets, or overly speedy play.

Over the course of this guide you’ll learn everything you need to know about mobile baccarat games. Along the way we’ll cover everything from how to find the right baccarat app for your mobile devices to the best strategies for making a profit.

Experienced mobile gamblers know that not every casino game is a good fit for mobile play, especially if your portable device has a small screen.

That said, games involving just a few basic bets and not a lot of cards translate well to the mobile platform. With only three different bets and a maximum of six cards in play on any hand, baccarat is the perfect game for mobile players.

But just because the game itself works well on mobile doesn’t mean that all real money mobile baccarat apps are created equally.

We encourage gamblers to try out demo versions of baccarat apps on their devices before committing to real money gaming. There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting down for a few precious minutes of baccarat on the road, only to find that the version you’ve downloaded doesn’t look or play well on your mobile device.

When done correctly, a mobile baccarat app provides crisp graphics and smooth action – without a lot of lag time. Finding gambling software that works well on your mobile device doesn’t take very long and pays off in time spent gambling.

Please note that there’s a big difference between desktop baccarat games and mobile baccarat apps.

Mobile baccarat apps are optimized to work well on smaller screens without giving up functionality or graphic quality. A native desktop application that’s been ported to the mobile space is usually going to lose some nuances when presented on the second format.

We’re not drawing any conclusions about desktop baccarat apps as a whole but the differences between native desktop and native mobile apps is clear to anyone who has used them.

HOW TO PLAY

Because casino baccarat is generally played with six or eight decks of cards, it’s not something that most of us have ever played at home. Throw in the myriad of quirky casino baccarat customs that can be tricky to navigate and all of a sudden grabbing a chair and sitting down at a baccarat table becomes a very intimidating experience.

Underneath all those high rolling trappings, the basics of baccarat are very easy to master. In fact, if you’re comfortable playing mobile casino standards like blackjack and craps, picking up baccarat shouldn’t be tough at all.

The core elements of baccarat are the Player and the Bank. Each of these positions is dealt two cards and the hand that comes closest to nine is the winner. Aces-Nines are carry face values of 1-9 (just like blackjack); tens and face cards are valued at 0.

When the combined total of the two cards is greater than ten, ten is subtracted from the total. For example, if a player is dealt a 10 and 2 for a total of 12, the 10 is subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 2.

There are some pretty specific rules for when additional cards are dealt, which have a big impact on the game. We’ll get back to those later. For now, that’s all we need to know.

As soon as the whole lot is exposed , baccarat boils down to two basic bets, Player and Banker. (There’s also an absolutely terrible Tie bet, but it should be avoided at all costs.) Gamblers simply bet on which of those two hands they think is going to come closest to totaling nine.

Because so much of people’s lives take place online, it’s more important than ever to ensure that all of your dealings over the internet are protected from those who may seek to cause you harm. However, many people aren’t aware of just what they should be doing on a regular basis to safeguard their sensitive information and bolster their cyber security.

To help you learn what measures you can and should be taking within your own personal network, here are three ways you can protect your home network from online threats.

Protect Your Router

To access the internet from your home without using the data from your phone, you’ve got to connect to your WiFi through your router.

According to StaySafeOnline.org, when your router is first installed, it comes with a default name as part of its factory settings. This is something that many tech-savvy people are well aware of, including those who might like to take advantage of this knowledge in order to hack into your router and potentially gain access to your network. But by simply changing the default name of your router, you can add another layer of protection to your home network.

Frequently Update All Passwords

To best keep all aspects of your home network as secure as possible, the smartest move you can make is to require passwords for any access.

Not only should you have strong passwords in place, but David Nield, a contributor to Wired.com, shares that you should also change your passwords on a regular basis, especially the password you use to log on to your WiFi network. When you change this password, anyone who may have gained access to your network previously will now be kicked off, offering you stronger protection for yourself.

Keep All Software Up-To-Date

As with all forms of technology, the best way you can ensure that you’re taking advantage of all the protections offered to you is by keeping any software you’re running up-to-date.

When software companies notice mistakes in their code or areas where they can improve, they’ll patch things up by making an update to the software. However, the NSA shares that you’ll only receive these improvements once you make the updates. So as soon as you notice that updates are available on any part of your home network, make sure you get them taken care of.

If you want to ensure that your internet access is protected, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how you can better protect the network that you use to access the internet when at home and keep cyber intruders from stealing any of your sensitive information or using your network for their own personal gain.

If you’re looking to download new apps to your iPhone which will make your life a little easier, you’ve come to the right place. Listed below are a few of the best iPhone apps which are definitely well worth downloading onto your iPhone.

Dr.Phone:

If you want to transfer whatsapp from iPhone to Android phone or laptop to your iPhone, it’s well worth downloading and using Dr.Phone. It makes life much easier for you when you are changing your phone, lose your phone or unfortunately have it stolen. As a bonus you’ll also be able to use Dr.Phone in order to retrieve data which you may have lost. Such as photos or messages which you may have mistakenly deleted. You can easily restore whatsapp messages by using Dr.Phone.

Duolingo:

If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language but don’t have the time to attend weekly language classes, it’s a great idea to download Duolingo. An innovative language app which you can use to learn a wide variety of popular languages. Some examples of which include French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Korean. One of the reasons why Duolingo has taken the world by storm is that it’s fun to use, so you’ll actually look forward to your daily language lessons.

Uber Eats:

While you may already use Uber on a regular basis in order to get from a to b, you may not have tried UberEats. A meal deliver app which will allow you to quickly and effortlessly order meals from your favorite eateries to your front door.

Netflix:

Chances are high that you’re already subscribed to Netflix and have the official Netflix app downloaded onto your iPhone. Part of the beauty of using Netflix is that you can pre-download TV shows and movies to your phone, while you’re at home and have free unlimited Wi-Fi. So that you’ll be able to binge watch new TV shows and movies on the go.

EDX:

If you are interested in taking free college courses from some of the world’s most prestigious colleges such as Harvard, it’s also well worth downloading the EDX app. Which will allow you to take college courses and to take lessons and complete quizzes on your smartphone. You can even earn verified certificates for completing each course, which you’ll be able to link to your LinkedIn profile or social media profiles such as FaceBook.

Facetune:

If you want to ensure that you look the best that you can in all of your photos, you’ll love using Facetune. Which happens to be one of the best photo editors available. You can even use Facetune to get rid of imperfections such as pimples and dark circles under your eyes. So next time you want to post a photo or series of photos on social media, make sure to edit your photos first, using Facetune.

Zoom:

Zoom has quickly become one of the world’s most popular video chat apps and allows users to talk to up to 9 individuals at one time. You’ll even be able to play casual games with your friends and family members when you take part in Zoom chats.

Hopefully you’ve discovered at least one new app which you’re excited to download onto your iPhone and which will make your everyday life a little easier.

 

With PlayStation 5 firmly on the horizon, and Epic Games showcasing their new engine running within PS5 hardware, showing the capabilities and speeds that it will be able to pull off with new game experiences as the market grows and evolves, there has never been a more exciting time to be a fan of Sony’s video game products.

Are you a PlayStation owner or fan, and want something to look forward to in the coming weeks and months throughout 2020? Here are some different examples of titles coming to PlayStation that you won’t want to miss, as well as some general information about the company’s new branding and treatment of its first-party titles.

The Last of Us Part II

The sequel to one of the greatest games on the PlayStation 3, and even perhaps one of the greatest video games of all time, The Last of Us Part II will tell the story of Ellie specifically, with players taking control of her rather than Joel as they did in the last game. Originally announced in December of 2016, fans have been waiting quite a while for this one, and it has been described by Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann as their “most ambitious game yet”.

It’s been a hard road for The Last of Us, and for developer Naughty Dog. Not only has the game been subject to some leaks surrounding its story, which has been disappointing and upsetting for many fans who wanted to experience the narrative as intended by the developer, but launching in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic has caused some expected logistical issues within the production of the game (likely to do with physical copies and console bundles). Nevertheless, the game has now gone gold, and fans are still looking forward to playing in its sombre, post-apocalyptic world when the game launches at the end of May. Keep an eye out for this one, as it is likely to be a game of the year contender!

Ghost of Tsushima

It’s been years since Sucker Punch Productions has released a game, with their last project being Infamous First Light back in 2014, and with the release date of Ghost of Tsushima so close to The Last of Us Part II, as well as the fact that the game has not been shown an awful lot since its original announcement, there has been quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the title. However, with the recent State of Play showcase giving gamers a clear vision on what the title will look like in its moment-to-moment gameplay when the game launches on the 17th July , minds are a lot clearer and excited!

Here are some of the key features in Ghost of Tsushima that can be gleaned from the most recent PlayStation State of Play showcase, and that are well worth getting excited about:

• Combat in Ghost of Tsushima will take a couple of different forms, giving you the choice to either go in all katanas blazing and fight your enemies head-on, or taking the stealth route and sneaking around villages, assassinating targets as you go. The game also has a beautiful open-world environment, explorable via horseback and directed via wind.
• A homage to the Samurai films of old, such as the classics from the likes of Akira Kurosawa, Ghost of Tsushima even features a fully-fledged black and white cinematic mode, for fans that want to establish a filmic vibe in their samurai playthrough. The game’s visuals and settings already look beautiful as it is, but those playing on PS4 Pro with HDR support on their televisions are in for a real treat, bringing a completely new meaning to ‘fifty shades of grey’.

A New Look

When talking about PlayStation’s future and some different reasons to get excited about the video games, one interesting thing to note that was updated recently was some of the branding and logo treatment surrounding PlayStation Studios. The company announced that their first-party titles would all come under the same umbrella, with each game development studio receiving a PS Studios crest on their game’s box art and also a video segment that will play as the game boots up. The video itself is very similar to the Marvel Studios clip that plays before the Avengers films, showing some of the PlayStation greats that are exclusive to the platform, and playable nowhere else.

Similar to how Nintendo established its first-party dominance back in the day with the ‘Seal of Quality’ badge (something that stays on the boxes of Nintendo games/products to this day), this branding and marking on PlayStation games will let consumers know in the future that they’re looking at benchmark, quality titles.

 

Did you know some of the first cars were electric vehicles?  That’s right, they were DC motors powered by lead acid batteries.  They didn’t go very fast, or far and barely worked in the cold.  But they were some of the first

We have come a long way from then.

Internal combustion engines didn’t become popular until oil companies started producing gasoline as a cheap fuel.  Gas was cheap, easy to transport and the infrastructure needed was easier to develop than that needed for electricity.  You can plop a gas station anywhere and simply ship gasoline to it and you were good to go.

Technology would need to catch up in order for an electric car to be a viable option in the gasoline dominated industry.  1997 was the first glimmer of hope with GM’s EV-1 but it did not gain much traction.

At the turn of the century fuel prices were steadily rising causing the industry to shift and make more room for an electric powered alternative.  The newer cars first came out with a practice range but took a fairly long time to recharge and had a large price tag.  Not really affordable for the average consumer still.

However 20 years on the EV continues to improve.  Their range has expanded significantly to give the every day driver security that they won’t run out of power commuting to work.  Pricing has dropped and government incentives continue to pop up making the purchase even more attractive.  And there is a much better infrastructure of recharging stations.  Most governments have plans to add stations to many public places like in PEI.  

EV Cars and their parts

A traditional vehicle has 2,000 moving parts: pistons, cams, gears, pumps, fans, just to name a few.  That is a lot of moving parts to have to buy and potentially repair.  EV’s typically have less than 100 moving parts.  As those are mass produced on the same scale as their gas powered siblings the costs will significantly go down.  Only 100 potential pieces to break instead of 2,000 means potentially more reliability as well.

Charging Infrastructure

As popularity grows the biggest challenge is being able to provide power to the vehicles in a similar way to that of gas stations.  Sure you can use your home to power your car overnight or when it’s in the driveway but the convenience of gas stations is that you can pop in any time and refill if you’re running on empty.  Consumers need that same convenience when they are out running around town or on a road trip.

As of today there is three types of charging stations level 1, level 2 and level 3.

Level 1 is basically the equivalent to a wall outlet.  It can charge a typical car in about a day.

Level 2 is a step up and would charge your car in about 6-8 hours

Level 3 could charge 80% of your car in about 30min

Typically level 3 is for commercial use.  This is where governments would invest money into placing these charges in public places like malls and parking garages.

Level 2 is something you might consider to install at your home.  This will ensure you come home from work at night, plug in your car and it’s fully charged and ready to go for the next day.

Why go with an electric car?

Well beyond it being more sustainable for a greener earth in the long run it’s likely going to be more affordable for you too.  For a Tesla model 3 it would cost about $15 in electricity for 480km of driving.  Whereas a gas powered car could cost as much as $37 for the same distance.  That add’s up over the cars lifetime.

Where do Solar panels come in from this?

By shifting from a gas powered car to an electric vehicle your electricity costs will undoubtedly go up.  Sure you do not have to pay for gasoline anymore which is great but now some of that cost you will now be giving to places like Maritime electric, BC Hydro, OPG or your local electricity provider.  

Someone has to provide you with electricity for your new demands.

But why not generate that electricity yourself.  Getting solar panels is like striking oil in your backyard!

To learn more about electric vehicles and their role in our future energy consumption visit sunly.ca/blog/electric-vehicles-past-present-and-future.

To learn more about how to reduce your energy costs even further by installing solar panels visit https://sunly.ca/.