CAPCOM’s latest action role-playing game just released Friday and fans are eager to get into the massive open world.

The game received rave reviews from critics, but some fans are slamming the game for a controversial feature that went unnoticed before launch.

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 may be one of the best games of the year, but fans have discovered its secret dark spot: microtransactions.

The fantasy RPG’s Steam page currently lists 21 microtransactions, ranging from £0.89/$0.99 to £4.45/$4.99.

They unlock features like the Portcrystal, which allows you to warp to new locations in the game.

Wakestones, which allow you to reanimate the dead, are another in-game item that can be purchased for real money.

Most DLC listings note that these items are also available for free in-game, either through earned in-game gold or through organic discoveries.

Nevertheless, players are suggesting that developer Capcom may have refrained from giving players certain items so they can sell them instead.

In a game that already costs £53.98/$69.99, this extra cost seems particularly vampiric.

In total, buying all the extra bits would set you back $41.79 (or £33.20), on top of the money you’ve already spent on the base game.

Particularly egregious is the character editor for £1.70/$1.99.

This item is called ‘Art of Metamorphosis – Character Editor’ and can only be used once.

It unlocks the ability to change your appearance in the game or that of your main pawn, the character that accompanies you on your adventures.

Like all other items, you can obtain it by playing the game and earning enough in-game Rift Crystals, but many players disapprove of Capcom offering it for real money.

We called the game a masterpiece in our Dragon’s Dogma 2 review, but there’s nothing great about the microtransactions.

Saudi Arabia has announced its latest hugely ambitious construction project for the world’s longest resort rooftop sky pool at 250 m².

Treyam is billed as a ‘raised haven’: a luxury complex stretching over a desert lagoon, with a nearly half-kilometre-long swimming pool on the roof.

It’s the latest vision the kingdom has unveiled as part of its plans to build a massive new futuristic city called NEOM. But it remains to be seen whether the project will ever be built.

The team behind NEOM said: ‘Treyam offers its guests a bold design with minimal land intervention, offering guests an elevated retreat where they can relax, recharge and enjoy the majestic natural environment.

‘Strategically located opposite the opening of one of the most beautiful, azure lagoons on the southern side of the Gulf of Aqaba, Treyam forms a luxurious gateway that invites guests to experiment with an active lifestyle.’

The design shows the 250-room hotel and resort and the 450-metre-long rooftop infinity pool, which sits 36 meters above the water.

It is said that guests will feel like they are floating with ‘breathtaking panoramic views of the lagoon’.

Designs show that the bridge’s facade will create a sunset-like illusion from a distance.

The upper and lower floors offer panoramic views of the tidal lagoon below and the vast sky above, blending into the landscape while maintaining the natural integrity of the coastline.

NEOM says it is designed for adventure and effort.

The resort offers a variety of activities such as sailing, diving and other water sports, as well as land sports.

There will be a luxury spa and gourmet restaurants.

NEOM made the announcement about the latest plan yesterday.

MailOnline contacted NEOM to find out what stage of planning the project is at and whether construction has actually started yet, as well as the expected cost and expected completion date.

Treyam adds to a growing list of extremely optimistic projects that are all part of the new city of NEOM in Saudi Arabia.

NEOM was launched in 2017 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It lies in a vast area of ​​previously largely empty land, about the size of Belgium.

Located on the northern coast of the Red Sea, the location has a slightly cooler climate than the surrounding area.

NEOM has captured global attention since its inception with its hugely ambitious plans – and in terms of ambition, one project clearly takes the top spot.

The line was announced in July 2022 and construction began shortly afterwards.

It is a building straight out of a science fiction film, a half kilometer high, 200 meter wide, completely mirrored strip with a length close to the distance from London to Birmingham.

The idea of ​​having an entire, virtually self-sufficient society within the building arose from the idea that if an urban area is in a straight, narrow line, transportation will be more efficient.

The line would have no roads or cars and would be served by ultra-rapid transportation systems.

Proposed buildings such as the 170-meter-long Line, whose dimensions are large enough to create a self-sufficient environment, are known as arcologies.

When the Line is completed, it will be by far the largest building ever built on Earth.

The Line, like the rest of NEOM, has received a lot of criticism.

Some have said that it is Saudi Arabia that is trying to distract the world’s attention from their human rights abuses.

Others say there is hypocrisy in the environmentally damaging construction processes that create supposedly environmentally friendly buildings.

NEOM reportedly has a completion date of 2050 – and if so, it is believed it will have cost a sum of $1 trillion (£783.5 billion) by then.

META is finally honoring WhatsApp users on Android with a feature that iPhone owners have been allowed to use for almost a year.

Eagle-eyed experts at TheSpAndroid discovered the feature deep within a new version of the app’s code, which should arrive in an upcoming update.

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The feature provides users with a transcription option for voice messages so they can see what was spoken in the text.

While voice notes can be a lot of fun, they can be frustrating messages to deal with if they contain important information.

And sometimes the receiving party can’t listen.

That’s when transcripts come in handy.

WhatsApp automatically transcribes the voice notes, which then appear below a recorded message.

In true WhatsApp fashion, the transcripts – just like the voice notes and standard messages – are end-to-end encrypted.

iPhone owners received this feature last year.

But Android owners have been patiently waiting for it to be rolled out to their handsets.

That time has finally come, according to TheSpAndroid, which spotted the code hidden in a WhatsApp beta version titled v2.24.7.7.

“I need this feature yesterday,” said an onlooker wrote on X.

Another tweeted: “I need that function.”

With the upcoming feature, WhatsApp not only aims to give users more freedom in choosing security, but also protect the app from unauthorized access.

New Delhi: Meta-native messaging app WhatsApp recently introduced the app lock feature, which aims to improve security and privacy for its users. The update included multiple authentication methods to effectively protect user data. In a recent beta update, WhatsApp is working on introducing a new, improved version of this feature. While the app lock feature is designed to provide an extra layer of security for WhatsApp users, the new update app lock feature includes allowing users to unlock the app uses various authentication methods (such as fingerprint, face, or device passcode) to open WhatsApp.

Here are more details about the newly launched WhatsApp App Lock feature.

Feature update for WhatsApp app lock

WhatsApp is reportedly introducing a feature that will allow certain beta testers to unlock the app using different authentication techniques, according to a WABetaInfo report. When this option is activated, accessing WhatsApp requires the use of a fingerprint, face, or other unique identifier (such as the device passcode). Users who chose other methods or whose devices did not have biometric sensors were limited by the fact that this option was previously only available with biometric authentication. With the addition of additional unique identifiers, such as the device passcode, to its authentication options, WhatsApp now serves a broader range of users with different device capabilities and preferences.

How can the WhatsApp App Lock feature help?

The new feature will likely add this extra layer of security, marking a significant improvement in user privacy and personal data protection. By offering different authentication options, WhatsApp not only gives users more freedom, but also strengthens the security of their accounts against unauthorized access. Moreover, the feature will come in handy especially for users who have faulty or broken biometric sensors on their devices. They might find this functionality particularly useful. With this update, WhatsApp ensures that users experiencing such issues can securely access their accounts by offering the option to use alternative authentication techniques, such as a device passcode.

WhatsApp Other recent updates

Another feature WhatsApp is working on is mentioning contacts in status updates. Users are notified immediately when they appear in a status update. In a future edition, users will have the ability to include specific contacts directly in their status updates. As a result, their updates will more easily attract and maintain attention.

With the new update, the engagement between users using the status updates is significantly increased through the mentions feature. The feature that allows users to post contacts directly into their updates will improve their communication with the people who matter most to them. Additionally, WhatsApp can enable better communication by ensuring that users are regularly informed of relevant status updates. When users receive notifications when they are mentioned in a status update, they are more likely to engage with the content by commenting or taking action.

SPOTIFY has been making a big change that users have been asking for for years, and that will certainly be the case on YouTube as well.

The popular music streaming service is adding full-length music videos to the platform for the first time.

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Premium users in the UK and ten other countries can now watch music videos from artists including Ed Sheeran and Ice Spice.

But American music fans will have to wait for now.

A new ‘Switch to Video’ button will appear on songs with an associated clip to watch.

Users can rotate their smartphone into landscape mode to enjoy videos in full screen.

Spotify is the world’s most popular music streaming service with more than 236 million subscribers.

Fans have welcomed the announcement, saying, “You can finally watch music videos on Spotify!”

Another said: “Amazing, takes me back to the good old days with MTV.”

A third wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Music videos definitely add a new dimension.

“While it’s similar to YouTube Music, I’m curious to see how you integrate them into the platform.”

How to watch music videos on Spotify

The ability to watch music videos on Spotify is currently in beta, meaning the app giant is still testing.

It will initially be rolled out to 11 countries, namely:

• The UK
• Germany
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Poland
• Sweden
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Philippines
• Indonesia
• Kenya

While it’s rolling out, you may not immediately see the option in your Spotify account.

And it only works on songs that have video music uploaded – it will take a while before all music videos are available.

If a song has a music video, you’ll see a “Switch to Video” toggle.

You can go back to audio only by tapping the ‘Switch to Audio’ button that appears.

The feature works on eligible accounts via iOS, Android, desktop or TV device.

A SIMPLE iPhone setup can make your battery last much longer.

It is designed to dramatically improve performance health of your iPhone battery.

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All lithium-ion batteries – including the batteries inside them iPhones – degrade over time.

They age chemically for many reasons: the way you charge your iPhone and even its temperature can cause a battery to degrade faster.

This means they hold less charge than when they were new, meaning you’ll need to charge more often.

Last year, Apple unveiled a new feature designed to protect your battery and keep it “healthy” for longer.

It’s called the “80% limit” and is designed to keep your iPhone’s battery healthy for longer.

When a battery is fully charged, it is put under pressure – and that is not good.

When this feature is enabled, your iPhone will not charge more than 80% (except in specific circumstances).

You can find it with three taps by going to Settings > Battery > Battery status & charging.

Apple explains: “If you choose the 80% limit, your iPhone will charge to approximately 80 percent and then stop charging.

“If the battery charge level drops to 75 percent, charging will resume until the battery charge level reaches approximately 80 percent again.”

Apple added: “When the 80% limit is enabled, your iPhone will occasionally charge to 100 percent to maintain accurate battery health estimates.”

But there’s a catch: this setting is only available on the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple notes that not using this feature “may increase battery wear and shorten its lifespan.”

And that means you’ll have worse battery life in the long run – and you may need to upgrade your battery or smartphone sooner.

iPhone fans raved about the trick in a Reddit thread, with one proverb“I love this feature!”

Another said: “I’m using this feature too. I hope it actually extends my battery life as I usually pass my phones on to family members!”

One added: “From an environmental point of view, it’s better to have a battery last longer than one that runs out sooner. Less replacements in general, you can’t deny that.”

And another commented: “I’ve always charged to 100%, but with iPhone 15 Pro I’m going to give the 80% feature a try. In some ways it makes a lot of sense, like you I have chargers everywhere, and it doesn’t take long to refill the battery.”

OPTIMIZED!

You may see the other mode under Battery Status in your iPhone settings app has optimized battery charging.

This is available on multiple iPhones models – not just the 2023 batch.

It is enabled by default when you set up your iPhone.

Apple explains: “With the feature enabled, your iPhone will delay charging beyond 80% in certain situations.

“Your iPhone uses on-device machine learning to learn your daily charging routine so that optimized battery charging only activates when your iPhone predicts it will be connected to a charger for an extended period of time.

“The algorithm aims to ensure that your iPhone is still fully charged when disconnected.”

You’ll know when optimized battery charging is active because a notification will appear on the lock screen.

This notification indicates when your iPhone needs to be fully charged.

If you want to fully charge it sooner, you can press and hold the notification and then press Charge now.

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A LITTLE-KNOWN iPhone feature is being hailed as the main reason people have been reunited with their lost handsets.

Not only is it a lifesaver when it comes to a lost phone, but it can also make a real difference in life and death situations, users say.

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People rely too much on Apple’s FindMy feature, according to an airport worker with extensive experience dealing with lost phones.

“I work at a good sized local airport and I can’t tell you how many locked iPhones and Androids are turned in to lost and found without emergency contact details filled in,” they say. Posted on Reddit.

“And since they’re locked up most of the time, the only way to find their owners is through the emergency information.

“And I’ve never had anyone use FindMy and ask for their phone.”

iPhone owners are encouraged to set up Apple’s emergency contact feature, as this is truly the last resort to get your device back.

The feature, which has been around for several years, could also mean the “difference between life and death” for some iPhone owners, an X user. tweeted.

If your iPhone has Apple Smart Crash Detection enabled, the iPhone will automatically send a message to the owner’s emergency contact if the device detects that they have been in an accident.

Set up an emergency contact on iPhone

1. Open the Health app and tap your profile photo.
2. Tap Medical ID.
3. Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.
4. Tap the Add button to add an emergency contact.
5. Tap a contact and then add his or her relationship.
6. Tap Done to save your changes.

It is important to know that you cannot set the emergency services as an SOS contact.

For more information about setting up a Medical ID on your iPhone, Apple has an entire page dedicated to it here.

Read all the latest news, prices and rumors:

SKY customers may not realize that there is a secret code on their remote control that instantly frees up the storage space on their box.

The remote trick is available to anyone who subscribes to Sky Q.

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The hack is useful for those who urgently need a complete cleanup and want to delete all recordings.

So make sure there are no shows you want to hold first.

The code is simply 001, but you have to go to a certain part of the settings to get it to work.

TikTok star @wadesramsey has revealed the exact steps.

Start by pressing the Home button on your Sky Q remote.

Then scroll all the way down to Settings not Click here.

Here you have to press the 001 buttons, followed by the center selection button.

Finally, go down Reset then move on to Reset hard drive.

This will completely delete all your apps and recordings on Sky Q.

If you have Buy & Keep purchases, you can retrieve them by visiting sky.com/restore.

Please note that you should only do this if you want to wipe your machine and start over.

It’s also a very handy trick if you’re getting rid of your Skybox. It’s a good idea to clean it before returning it.

OTHER TRICKS FOR CLEANING THE ROOM

There are other ways to quickly delete content on your box.

You can clear entire series in one go with another Sky TV trick.

To delete episodes individually, press the Sky button at the top of your Sky remote to go straight to your recordings.

Scroll to and select the recording you want to delete.

Then scroll further and select delete.

To delete all recordings of a TV show, scroll down to Sort by and then select AZ.

Scroll down to the TV show you want to delete and swipe right. Select Delete All and then Confirm.

HIDDEN REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON

Your Sky TV remote has a hidden button that is clearly visible.

But it’s actually very useful.

We’re talking about the Sky logo on your remote – yes, it’s a button!

If you press it (and you definitely should), it will bring up your recorded TV shows and movies.

That saves you the need to search through the various Sky menus to find what you’ve saved so far.

Everything you recorded on the Skybox will appear.

And you can press the button anywhere in the Sky menu to navigate directly to those recordings.

MOVIE QUOTES

A clever Sky TV hack is perfect if you always forget the names of movies.

This allows you to quickly track down a movie simply by using a famous quote.

You simply use the voice control function on your Sky remote control.

Press the microphone button and then say the famous quote.

For example, if you say, “You can’t handle the truth!” will bring up A Few Good Men.

And “My Precious” gives you The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

There are dozens of quotes to help you try out the feature.

More tricks for your Sky remote

Try a whole host of Sky tricks to take your TV to a whole new level.

Finding your way will become a lot easier thanks to an upcoming change to Google Maps.

Users have noticed a small but potentially important new feature in the popular app used by millions.

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Many of us rely on Google Maps not only to get from A to B, but also to find shops, restaurants and attractions nearby.

One particular problem you may encounter when trying to reach these places is finding the right entrance, especially at larger locations.

Well, that problem could be a thing of the past according to leaked screenshots.

Smartphone nerds discovered the feature tucked away in a test version of the app.

It shows two brand new icons that clearly indicate the entrances and exits of a building.

Apparently the useful symbols only appear when you have selected a place on the map and zoomed in enough.

Android Policewho discovered the feature says it worked in places like hotels, supermarkets and doctor’s offices in New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco and the German capital Berlin – but only in “some” buildings, suggesting Google is still working to the option.

They also claim that some access icons were not in the right place.

So it’s clearly still in its early stages, but at some point, when Google has refined the idea, the new markers could save people a lot of time looking for the right entrance to a building.

“This will be so useful in big cities,” wrote one user on Reddit.

“I’ve had it for a few days now and that’s a little feature that doesn’t seem like much but is extremely useful,” wrote another.

A third added: “Not surprised at all as Google Maps has been asking if you can find the entrance for years.”

It’s not clear when – or even if – Google plans to make the feature official.